Podcast: What's the difference between wireless bridges and wireless access points?
Key Highlights:
- Understand the distinct roles of wireless bridges and access points in industrial networks.
- Explore how these technologies interconnect devices and network segments across large facilities.
- Learn practical deployment strategies for various industrial environments.
- Gain insights into selecting the right equipment to ensure reliable and scalable connectivity.
In manufacturing environments, reliable wireless networks are just as critical as the machines on the plant floor. Yet designing one isn't simple—cables can only go so far, and coverage gaps can disrupt productivity. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest's Editor-in-Chief, Laura Davis, explores the differences between wireless bridges and access points, and why most facilities will need both to keep operations running smoothly. Listeners will learn how each technology works, when to deploy them, and the real-world benefits they deliver across industries from logistics to oil & gas.
This episode is based on an article originally written by Henry Martel, a field applications engineer at Antaira Technologies. Whether you're building a new industrial network or upgrading an existing one, this discussion provides a clear, practical look at the backbone technologies that make modern manufacturing possible.
Below is an excerpt from the transcript:
OK. Let's start with the basics. A lot of people use the terms "bridge" and "access point" interchangeably. But in practice, they're built for different jobs.
A wireless bridge connects two physically separate networks. Think of it as a link across the factory floor—or even across a campus—that ties different network segments together.
A wireless access point, or WAP, is like a doorway. It lets devices like sensors, AGVs, IP cameras, or laptops connect to the larger wired network.
In short, bridges connect networks, while access points connect devices.
So how do they work?
Here's where it gets a little technical. Bridges operate at what's called Layer 2 of the OSI model—the data link layer. Their job is simple: look at the destination address of each data packet, then decide if that packet should move across the bridge or stay where it is.
Most bridges you'll find today are transparent bridges. They're invisible to the rest of the network and quietly decide whether to block or forward data. They're simple, reliable, and still the go-to in industrial environments.
Wireless bridges used to require long Ethernet cables, but now they can connect segments over the air using radio frequency signals. This can span buildings, connect machinery, or even cover miles—so long as you've got a clean line of sight. That makes them a great fit for large, dense facilities where pulling cable just isn't practical.
Access points work differently. Instead of connecting two networks, they create a wireless bubble that devices can join. An access point plugs into a switch or router, then broadcasts a signal for all your wireless-capable devices.
In industry, that might mean scanners in a warehouse, sensors on a line, or a fleet of AGVs. They can be installed on ceilings, poles, or walls—basically anywhere you can run Ethernet.
Some access points can even double as bridges, extending coverage across longer distances. You'll hear about point-to-point setups—great for high-bandwidth needs—or point-to-multipoint setups, which are better when you've got lots of devices spread out that each need a smaller slice of bandwidth.
About the Podcast
Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast offers news and information for the people who make, store and move things and those who manage and maintain the facilities where that work gets done. Manufacturers from chemical producers to automakers to machine shops can listen for critical insights into the technologies, economic conditions and best practices that can influence how to best run facilities to reach operational excellence.
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About the Author
Laura Davis
Laura Davis is the editor in chief of New Equipment Digest (NED), a brand part of the Manufacturing Group at Endeavor Business Media. NED covers all products, equipment, solutions, and technology related to the broad scope of manufacturing, from mops and buckets to robots and automation. Laura has been a manufacturing product writer for six years, knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry along with what readers are looking for when wanting to learn about the latest products on the market.