Using Multiple Internet Connections
Combining multiple internet connections from cellular, satellite and Wi-Fi via bonding, load balancing and failover allows RVers and boaters to create a more reliable connectivity solution.
Because each location can have a different best combination of solutions that work well for getting online, what if you could use multiple internet connections simultaneously by combining them - potentially increasing your overall speeds and reliability?
But while it seems simple in concept, combining multiple internet connections with vastly different performance traits can be challenging.
Without careful configuration and understanding the potential gotchas, trying to use multiple upstream internet connections at once can easily prove to be more trouble than it is worth.
But with a bit of understanding, it is indeed possible to set up and configure a solution combining multiple internet sources simultaneously.
Imagine - combining multiple mobile internet connections like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Starlink, public Wi-Fi, and more - all at once!
In this guide, we'll go over the advanced networking topics of bonding and load balancing and the simpler concept of failover.
Most importantly, we will explain when bonding, load balancing or failover make sense and when they might cause unexpected issues!
Many of the features explained in this guide are NOT found on most consumer-focused mobile routers. Make sure to seek out supported hardware options if exploring failover, bonding, or load balancing is something that you are interested in. Additionally, some of these features are available without a dedicated router by using software on a PC or a smartphone.
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Why Combine Internet Connections?
One of the primary benefits of using a router as the heart of a mobile internet setup is that you can configure all your local devices to connect to the router over a private Wi-Fi network or even via a wired ethernet network. Then, you just need to configure the router to select the ideal internet connection at each new stop to allow every device on your network to get online.
But what if it could be even simpler - and you didn't have to manually select a specific connection option at all?
What if your router could automatically decide between the options available - picking the fastest or the cheapest connection automatically?
And why stop with just one connection - what if the router could actually connect to multiple internet sources at once, and somehow combine them?
Imagine automatically using Wi-Fi when you dock at a marina or pull into a campground and then cellular when you're away.
Or perhaps you're traveling with Starlink, but noticing occasional dropouts because of obstructions like nearby trees or buildings - combining the Starlink connection with cellular internet could help smooth out your overall experience.
For those hosting critical video broadcasts and video conferencing, such as telehealth sessions, remote teaching, or a sales presentation - a dropout in your connection could mean losing your job or upsetting a client.
Creating as reliable of a connection as possible for these sorts of tasks becomes not just nice to have but critical.
Achieving this level of "it just works" automatic simplicity across multiple connections is the dream - and if you have the right hardware and a basic understanding of networking fundamentals, it is a worthwhile goal to strive for.
But always remember that automation is not a panacea, and there WILL be times that manual interventions will still be called for.
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Check out the Topics Covered in the Member Section:
Failover & Hot Standby
Explore the differences between a solution that can failover from one active connection to an inactive one, versus setting up a system with multiple active connections at once - such as a multi-modem configuration.
Bonding & Load Balancing Explained
Diving into these two methods of combining multiple simultaneous connections - how they are similar, and what makes them different.
Bonding Options - SpeedFusion & Speedify
How do bonding solutions like Peplink's SpeedFusion Connect and Speedify compare? What is the right tool for you?
Bonding Frustrations
While there are a lot of benefits to be had with combining your connections, there are some serious considerations to make around some unintended consequences - like problems with location services, video streaming, and even blocked sites.
Advanced Concepts
In this section, we dive into WAN Smoothing, Error Correction, and Static IP addresses.
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Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of 