In today’s society WiFi is ubiquitous, wireless routers such as 4g router with sim slot and external antenna and cellular 5g router are common devices which installed and used in almost every household, they are essential for communication between computers and networks. With the rise of wireless networks, wireless bridges have become increasingly widespread, they not only allow for flexible network setup but also transmit network data and video. They offer more stable performance and more powerful functions compared to home wireless routers, but few people know it. How exactly do they work and what are the differences between them and how should buyers make the right choice?

What is wireless router?

Wireless router is a network device that connects multiple networks or network segments, can “translate” data information between different networks or network segments so that they can “read” each other’s data and form a larger network. As a hub for interconnection between different networks, router system forms the theme of Internet, international Internet based on TCP/IP, it can also be said that routers form the skeleton of Internet. Its processing speed is one of the main bottlenecks of network communication, its reliability directly affects the quality of network interconnection, so router technology has always been in the core of campus networks, regional networks, even the entire Internet research field and its development history and direction have become a microcosm of the entire Internet research.

Typically wireless routers are used to connect geographically dispersed networks together, making it possible to connect large numbers of computers together. Before wireless routers become popular, bridges were often used for same purpose, it work great in small-scale networks, but problems arised in larger environments. Bridge has to remember all the individual computers in the network, the problem with using bridges to connect large numbers of computers together is that bridges don’t understand network numbers, so broadcasts generated anywhere in network will be sent everywhere in the network. If PC sends a broadcast packet, it sends it to the bridge to all network segments.

What is wireless bridge?

Wireless bridge is a bridge that establishes a connection between one local area network and another, it is a device belonging to network layer. Its function is to expand the network and communication means, forward data signals in various transmission media, extend the distance of the network, selectively send addressed signals from one transmission medium to another at the same time. It can effectively limit irrelevant communications in the two media systems, works on the second layer of OSI (data link layer) and can regenerate signals between different network segments. It can effectively connect two LANs. You can limit local communication to this network segment and forward corresponding signals to another. Network bridges are usually used to connect a small number of network segments of the same type. With the rise of wireless networks, wireless bridges have also become popular.

Wireless bridge is a device similar to router, usually appears in pairs, can transmit and receive signals at two corresponding points. It can establish high-speed remote outdoor connections between buildings, connect two or more wireless networks, provide high data transmission rates and excellent throughput for data-intensive line-of-sight applications. In order to ensure the quality of signal transmission, wireless bridge must be visible between the two obstacles during operation.

What they have in common?

1.Both can carry out wireless signal transmission;

2.Both can carry out video signal transmission under certain conditions;

What’s the difference between wireless router and wireless bridge?

1.Judge from name wireless bridge is a bridge between two ports, with long transmission distance and clean channels;

2.Wireless bridge generally used for signal transmission over large areas and long distances;

3.Wireless bridge mostly used in industrial transmission;

4.Router commonly used in homes and suitable for small-scale transmission over short distances;

5.Router commonly used indoors, while wireless bridge can be used for outdoor bridging transmission;

6.Wireless bridge primarily used to connect two or more local area network (LAN) segments, extending network coverage and suitable for long-distance data transmission and video surveillance. Router mainly used to forward data packets between different networks, enabling interconnection and interoperability, suitable for internet access and data routing in multi-network environments;

7.Wireless bridge usually work at the data link layer (OSI layer 2), while router work at the network layer (OSI layer 3);

8.Wireless bridge couldn’t consider the protocols used by users in the network, while router know the protocols used and can not only control the transmitted data (routing) but also decide how to process specific data according to rules;

9.Wireless bridge do not isolate broadcasts, while router isolate broadcasts;

10.Wireless bridge typically more expensive than router, but offer longer transmission distances and stronger performance; router relatively cheaper but have shorter transmission distances;

11.Wireless bridge has only Lan ports, while router has both LAN and WAN ports;

12.The sole purpose of bridge is to divide a shared physical network into smaller parts to reduce broadcast storms; while router allows them to communicate with each other through network protocols after splitting into different subnets, even if they are different networks;

13.Bridge is purely physical hardware and lacks manageability, while router has both software and hardware;

14.Bridge perform well in small networks, but problems will arise in large environments. Bridge need to remember all the individual computers in the network, the problem with connecting a large number of computers using a bridge is that it cannot understand the network address; So broadcasts generated anywhere on the network will be sent everywhere in the network. 

Wireless bridge and wireless router may seem like two different devices, but their working principles are actually quite similar. The main difference lies in the distance they transmit signals and the coverage area they provide. Users can decide whether to use wireless bridge or wireless router for wireless signal coverage based on their actual needs.