Internet - Balance TL - R 480 T

[TotallyOz]

Has anyone heard of or used the Internet - Balance TL - R 480 T, the machine that helps a lot to keep data moving fast as it is coordinating TWO internet service provider to max out performance.... cost for machine and installation/setup your PC about 6,500 to 7,000 Baht.

 

I have some issues with my Internet from time to time and have decided to go with 2 different providers. I was told this was possible as the phone line has 4 wires and each Internet Company only needs 2. I have a friend that has used the above and he loves it. He is in a home and not a condo. I thought I would be able to use 2 modems and just switch them around from time to time. He said this was not necessary and to use the Balance machine as it is always on and always uses the best connection. It does not combine the speeds. For example, I have a 16M connection and I will get another 8M connection. I will not then have a 24M connection. I will have the use of the connection for that point in time that is the fastest.

 

While most net users do not need this, I find that if it works, I would want it. Just curious if anyone else has used it?

[mahjongguy]

..have decided to go with 2 different providers. I was told this was possible as the phone line has 4 wires and each Internet Company only needs 2.

It's not clear if you are in a condo or house, but in either case probably the inside wiring has 4 wires, enough for two ADSL lines. If you order service from two different providers (e.g. TOT & TTT) then you will have protection against some (but not all) types of failures.

 

Be aware, though, that ADSL failures are usually fairly brief, but international link failures can last all day, and that sort of problem will probably affect both your providers.

 

The router that you mention is known as a "fail-back" device and will probably perform as desired.

 

I keep a TOT 2mb ADSL as backup to my 8mb internet cable service. I can switch from one to the other just by powering up the ADSL modem and pulling one cable off my router. It's not ideal but it's sufficient.

[Guest Patexpat]

You are referring to what is commonly called a 'load balancing switch', and yes we have installed several, and yes they do what it says on the box.

[mahjongguy]

You are referring to what is commonly called a 'load balancing switch', and yes we have installed several, and yes they do what it says on the box.

The word "switch" probably shouldn't be used for this device. It's a router.

 

I'm very glad to hear that it works well. My only disappointment is that it doesn't appear to be available with a built-in WiFi access point.

[Guest Patexpat]

The word "switch" probably shouldn't be used for this device. It's a router.

 

 

yup, you are correct, just using the term by which it is commonly referred to.

[bkkguy]

I am sure the two techos from the two ISPs will not be arguing about it being a switch or a router, they will be too busy arguing about who gets which 2 of the 4 wires in the phone line as they both try to plug their ADSL modems into the one phone jack

 

and what is the point of having a "balancing" router if it does not utilise the speed available on both lines only falling back to one of the lines when the other is down?

 

perhaps we should stick to how much to tip the ISP techo for a blow job rather than look for technical info here!

[mahjongguy]

..and what is the point of having a "balancing" router if it does not utilise the speed available on both lines only falling back to one of the lines when the other is down?

Although the bandwidth of the two ISPs cannot be summed and used by a single PC, the router can be set up so that one PC is mapped to provider A and the other PC is mapped to provider B. In a setup like that, one user could be downloading music without slowing down the other user's surfing, and both users would be protected against failure of their default provider.

 

It's just a matter of convenience. You could accomplish the same thing in a minute or two by swapping cables, although then you may not have a way of noticing when the failed provider comes back online.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I am having trouble just installing a new LinkSys routher on my ADSL. I intalled as per the meager instructions, but it doesn't work...it connects ok but won't flow any traffic to the computer. I want to get my one ADSL and make available to a second computer, and wifi for my boyfriends laptop. Will just have to keep working on it!!

[bkkguy]

Although the bandwidth of the two ISPs cannot be summed and used by a single PC, the router can be set up so that one PC is mapped to provider A and the other PC is mapped to provider B. In a setup like that, one user could be downloading music without slowing down the other user's surfing, and both users would be protected against failure of their default provider.

 

this type of setup does not require an expensive load balancing router, it could be done simply with two modems, and your setup does not provide protection against failure for either user but it does at least use both bandwidth allocations at the same time

 

GT in the original post said the router "always uses the best connection. It does not combine the speeds" so I repeat my question - what is the point of having a "balancing" router if it does not utilise the speed available on both lines?

 

the documentation for the router says it "allows two connections to the Internet at the same time, provides you double-bandwidth access ... with fail-over and automatic load balancing"

 

It's not clear if you are in a condo or house, but in either case probably the inside wiring has 4 wires, enough for two ADSL lines.

 

while four wires is required for two ADSL connections, it is not enough to have those four wires running just through your house, they need to run all the way back to the exchange - that is you need to have and pay for two telephone lines running into the house before you can get two ADSL connections

 

and GT or his friend in the original post is similarly confused - "the phone line has 4 wires and each Internet Company only needs 2" - actually a phone line has two wires as a twisted pair, his house wiring may have 4, 8, 16 or 2048 wires but that is just to make it ease for the phone company to connect additional phone lines without having to do new wiring inside the building

[PattayaMale]

In regards to having two "telephone" lines, now it is not necessary to have any telephone connected. Service can be without the telephone I believe.

 

Now that Somphom Cable is also offering service through their TV service, could you not have one service with CAT or 3BBB and one through TV Cable. Most condos have the cable already installed.

 

Many DSL providers base the service on a shared line. Some priced for 5 users, some for 15 or 16 users. Will this also effect the speed, even if you are balanced?

 

Is it those gamers and torrent users that grab much of the bandwidth?

[Guest TOQ]

In regards to having two "telephone" lines, now it is not necessary to have any telephone connected. Service can be without the telephone I believe.

 

Now that Somphom Cable is also offering service through their TV service, could you not have one service with CAT or 3BBB and one through TV Cable. Most condos have the cable already installed.

 

Many DSL providers base the service on a shared line. Some priced for 5 users, some for 15 or 16 users. Will this also effect the speed, even if you are balanced?

 

Is it those gamers and torrent users that grab much of the bandwidth?

 

If I am not mistaken doesn't Sophon offer their Internet through a separate cable line and not the one used for TV?

[mahjongguy]

If I am not mistaken doesn't Sophon offer their Internet through a separate cable line and not the one used for TV?

It is true that currently Sophon is running a separate coax to the house for the Internet service. They could use a "combiner" out on the pole but so far as I have heard they are choosing not to do that, not at this time.

[mahjongguy]

GT in the original post said the router "always uses the best connection. It does not combine the speeds" so I repeat my question - what is the point of having a "balancing" router if it does not utilise the speed available on both lines?

 

As mentioned, for me the point (the only point) is that the router would handle fail-over without me having to get up and move a couple of cables. Lazy as I am, that's not enough for me to spend 8,000 baht.

 

But, the documentation on TP-Link's website describes this product as suitable for small business or an Internet cafe, so consider an arrangement of more than two users. Two ISPs and six computers. The boss has a 4Mbps ADSL line and everyone else is mapped to an 8Mbps cable provider. The boss is insulated from the heavy load of porn downloading by everyone else, but he and the rest are protected from an outage on one ISP.

 

Bottom line: for two users it's a luxury option, because with two ports in and two ports out there's nothing to balance.

[bkkguy]

In regards to having two "telephone" lines, now it is not necessary to have any telephone connected. Service can be without the telephone I believe.

 

in many countries if you are buying a "line" from a service provider that provides both voice and ADSL then they will often provide the option of paying for voice only, ADSL only or both voice and ADSL on the "line" but I am not currently aware of TOT or anyone offering this choice in Thailand but they may be. either way if you do not intend to use voice on your ADSL line you do not need to plug a phone handset in

 

Now that Somphom Cable is also offering service through their TV service, could you not have one service with CAT or 3BBB and one through TV Cable.

 

absolutely, and this is an example of where you may want to use a load balancing router

 

Many DSL providers base the service on a shared line. Some priced for 5 users, some for 15 or 16 users. Will this also effect the speed, even if you are balanced?

 

services offered via cable modem are also shared, though the concept of "shared" is different, and using a load balancing router cannot reverse the service decline that results from this "sharing"

[bkkguy]

But, the documentation on TP-Link's website describes this product as suitable for small business or an Internet cafe, so consider an arrangement of more than two users. Two ISPs and six computers. The boss has a 4Mbps ADSL line and everyone else is mapped to an 8Mbps cable provider.

 

you keep suggesting these scenarios that are unrelated to real situations where a load balancing router might be used so I will leave you to go off on your own and read up on and understand the concept of load balancing routers!

[bkkguy]

While most net users do not need this, I find that if it works, I would want it.

 

I stand by my first post on this thread that you should stick to how much to tip the ISP techo for a blow job rather than look for technical help here because most of the responses so far are incomplete, misleading or just plain wrong - you, your friend and most of the posters here don't seem to understand what a telephone line or a load balancing router is - this is the reality you face when posting technical questions into non-technical forums!

 

the best advice is for you to compare your Internet usage patterns with those of your friend, compare the typical slowdowns and failures of the two ISPs you want to use with those your friend uses, and get your friend to accurately quantify the performance increases he has seen in specific circumstances and see how well these match with the performance increases you want to see in the circumstances you want to see them - then you can make an informed decision as to whether the expense of a second telephone line, a second ADSL account, a second ADSL modem and a load balancing router with fallback are really worth the expense, because none of the other advice here is really going to help you!

 

alternatively, you have already said on another thread that the iPad saved your bacon when your ADSL connection was down, perhaps consider why you need more than what the iPad offered at that time or why your mobile phone that probably already has an Edge/3G data account is not enough when functioning as a WiFi access point or tethering your PC/notebook when you main ADSL connection is down.

[mahjongguy]

you keep suggesting these scenarios that are unrelated to real situations where a load balancing router might be used so I will leave you to go off on your own and read up on and understand the concept of load balancing routers!

The scenario I described is paraphrased from the brochure of a load-balancing router. I doubt that it is unrealistic or incorrect.

 

There is much more to be said on the topic, of course, but as you say yourself this is not a techie forum so I have limited my remarks to simple and practical advice. It puzzles me that you have been so dismmissive.

 

In any case, I think the fail-over function is what's most interesting and useful to the home user, so fine, let's forget about load balancing.

 

- Having two Internet providers is affordable and useful.

- For the home user who merely seeks reliability, having a dual-Wan router is a luxury; reasonably affordable but far from necessary.

[Guest]

For me, I need the dual Internet provider in case of Internet failure of one of my providers. I do business via Video Conferencing in several time zones across the globe. When I have an online meeting, it is unprofessional to say, "sorry, my Internet is down." It just doesn't work.

 

The Balance box is something I am going to try. I went ahead and had a next day install of an emergency back up provider but it was not cheap. Their tech staff did not know how to split the 4 cords so they installed in another bedroom and I'll use wireless through them if there are issues. And, the BF now has a line that he can dedicate to his online games.

 

I've been in contact with CAT and ToT. These were the two that I have narrowed down to the ones to include with my 3BB. I'm sure I'll get CAT as an extra line. They are a bit higher in price but they say their line is only 5 people share.

 

I am not a casual Internet user so I don't mind paying the extra price for high speed. I do miss the 40M down and 4M up that I was getting in LA. I know it will come to Thailand in a few years but until then, I'll just have to keep playing with the dual providers to make sure I get some decent Internet at all hours.

[bkkguy]

The scenario I described is paraphrased from the brochure of a load-balancing router. I doubt that it is unrealistic or incorrect.

 

really? which brochure? which router? I would love to read it

[bkkguy]

Their tech staff did not know how to split the 4 cords so they installed in another bedroom and I'll use wireless through them if there are issues. And, the BF now has a line that he can dedicate to his online games.

 

so you installed another phone line and they still could not manage to cope with the internal wiring or you are still on the one "4-wire" phone line?

 

 

I am not a casual Internet user so I don't mind paying the extra price for high speed.

 

but you were willing to pay thousands of baht for a router that would not give you access to the combined speeds of the two ISP lines you were paying for, just give you fallback if one failed - I have this bridge I would like to sell you

[Guest travelerjim]

"I have this bridge I would like to sell you"

 

Where is it?

How much is selling price?

Toll bridge?

Annual revenue?

Is it in need of repair?

 

Might we get some of those BIG American stimulus $$$ to fix it?

 

With the right %%% investment return..GT just might be interested.

 

tj

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The bridge was already sold and it is in the Arizona desert. The Brits are still laughing about it.

[Guest]

With the right %%% investment return..GT just might be interested.

 

One thing I have learned over the years. I will NEVER, EVER, NEVER buy any business in Thailand.

 

Well, never say never. But most likely I'll never buy anything.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

IMO, that is a wise decision.

[bkkguy]

you know the old joke about how does a Westerner make a small fortune in Thailand - he starts out with a large one!