Have you ever gotten frustrated when your internet cuts out unexpectedly? Or felt that your router can‘t keep up with the growing number of smart home devices connected to your network? You may have wondered: could having two different internet service providers alleviate these issues?
It‘s a great question more households are investigating as internet connectivity becomes increasingly vital. In this comprehensive guide from a network engineer‘s perspective, I‘ll explore the ins and outs of getting two internet providers for a single property.
Beyond explaining how it works, I‘ll analyze key benefits and challenges in depth so you can make an informed decision on what‘s best for your home. Let‘s dive in!
Why Households Are Moving Toward Multi-ISP Setups
Americans have more internet-enabled devices than ever in their houses. From TVs, game consoles, and laptops to voice assistants, doorbell cameras, smart thermostats – our tech needs are accelerating:
| Year | Average # of Connected Devices Per Household |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5.7 |
| 2018 | 7.7 |
| 2020 | 10.4 |
And as more appliances and electronics become IoT capable, this density will only increase. Higher demand is straining the capacity of traditional single router solutions.
Let‘s also examine average internet speeds across US households over the past 5 years:
| Year | Average Download Speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 64.17 |
| 2019 | 115.22 |
| 2021 | 131.87 |
While speeds are rising steadily to accommodate more data, ISP technology still doesn‘t scale infinitely. And when multiple family members need reliable WiFi for remote work and schooling, a single congested connection frequently falters.
Enter the appeal of distributing devices across two separate internet sources. With balanced setups and some optimization tricks I‘ll cover later, the case for multi-ISP homes strengthens by the year.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Two Internet Providers
Assuming you can install two distinct services based on location infrastructure limits I’ll detail shortly, what potential advantages and downsides result? Evaluating the tradeoffs helps identify whether pursuing dual ISPs makes practical sense for your situation.
Key Benefits
- Doubles total bandwidth available when both connect at once. Extremely useful for 4K video streaming, gaming, VR experiences.
- Having a redundant backup connection minimizes disruptions if one ISP experiences regional outages.
- Lets you segregate device types across networks. For example, keep smart home traffic separate from your business laptop for security reasons.
- When living with family or housemates, it simplifies splitting internet expenses based on usage needs.
Key Challenges
- Often prohibitively expensive to maintain two fully separate accounts indefintiely.
- Potential for signal interference between competing routers needing careful placement/configuration.
- Remembering which devices connect to which network adds complexity for users. Necessitates more disciplined static IP assignments.
- You must confirm two compatible infrastructure options exist at your exact address. Availability varies widely.
Now that you understand the landscape of considerations around multi-ISP homes, let’s explore implementation specifics.
Adding Dual Internet Providers: What‘s Involved
While it is possible for a house to sustain two internet sources, they can NOT use the same fundamental connection technology. Why? Infrastructures literally compete for the same physical conduit:
DSL leverages telephone lines
Cable utilizes existing television cables
Fiber requires all-new dedicated fiber wiring
Satellite and Fixed Wireless transmit data through the air
So to enable dual ISPs, your house needs some combination of DSL + Cable, Fiber + Satellite, etc.
Two DSL or two Cable providers won‘t work because their signals battled for the exact same copper inside the walls. Make sense?
With that context understood, what general steps facilitate adding secondary internet successfully?
Step 1: Vet Your Infrastructure Options
Start by investigating what type of internet pipelines already reach your house. Common options include:
- Phone-based DSL
- Cable lines for TV service
- Fiber (least widely available currently)
- Satellite dishes
- Fixed wireless antennas
Does your area allow competitors to access existing phone and cable conduits owned by major market leaders? Research which alternative ISPs operate locally before proceeding.
Step 2: Contact ISPs About Availability
For a second internet source to work, that provider must fundamentally access different cabling. Reach out to various companies and describe your current setup. Ask what they can deliver to your address given those existing line limitations.
Be upfront about your dual ISP aspirations so they understand the circumstances before dispatching technicians. This saves everyone hassle down the road.
Step 3: Compare Speeds and Prices
Once you’ve confirmed two workable providers for your home infrastructure, compare advertised speeds and monthly pricing across packages. Will you realistically need 50Mbps connections from both, or could you get by with a slower 5Mbps secondary?
Balance your bandwidth priorities against the expenses of funding two separate ISP accounts indefinitely. Don‘t overbuy!
Step 4: Install Connections Intelligently
When technicians arrive to activate your second network, emphasize that another ISP is already active within the house. Ask them to carefully consider router placements and modem frequencies that minimize signal interference.
The professionals should coordinate installation locations and configurations that give both networks the best chance of coexisting smoothly. Don‘t let them wing it!
While the above summarizes key steps for getting multi-ISP arrangements rolling, what about optimizing the setup long-term? How do you manage the complexity of devices split across two networks? Let‘s explore best practices technology pros use.
Optimizing Dual ISP Setups for Smooth Usage
Once you succeed getting two internet providers coexisting in your home, leverage the following tips to get the most from the setup:
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Give each network unique SSIDs – Using descriptive names lets you easily distinguish which WiFi signal to connect devices to. Examples: SmithFamilyNet, IoTNetwork
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Assign static IPs wherever feasible – Hardcoding device IPs simplifies knowing which internet pipeline they use, even when signals overlap at times.
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Use different subnets – Assign each ISP’s router a separate IP address subnet (192.168.1. vs. 10.0.1.). This enhances isolation.
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Plug routers into different wall jacks – If ethernet ports distribute to various rooms, place routers in separate zones on opposite house levels when possible. Avoid jamming the signals.
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Set up VLANs – Configure virtual local area networks to keep traffic from the two ISPs securely segmented within your internal wiring for privacy.
While not exhaustive, these tips represent best practices I recommend after installing many multi-ISP configurations professionally. They really help streamline day-to-day usage!
Now let’s explore a couple alternative solutions that also address common issues driving interest dual internet accounts.
Two Alternatives to Installing Full Second ISPs
Before taking the plunge into maintaining two simultaneous internet subscriptions, consider simpler options that might resolve your frustrations:
Buy Another Premium Router
Rather than activate a second ISP, purchase an advanced router for your existing provider with robust functionality. Features like guest networks, quality-of-service prioritization, and VLAN capabilities essentially partition your current pipeline.
With robust router management, you can silo devices across virtual networks almost as effectively as dual accounts!
Use Smartphone Mobile Hotspots
If your main irritation is WiFi glitching temporarily when demand spikes, enable the mobile hotspot feature on your phone and share that supplemental signal.
This ad hoc capacity boost gets you by short-term needs without paying for a redundant ISP. Just don‘t stream Netflix on hotspots indefinitely due to restrictive carrier data limits!
Key Tradeoffs Vs. Dual Providers
While the two options above simplify your setup and spending versus dual ISPs, neither matches the full reliability benefits. Having a secondary hardwired internet account remains the best insurance against primary provider outage risks.
But accessories like enterprise-grade routers and personal hotspots do solve many frustrations at a fraction of the effort. Evaluate whether their abbreviated capabilities sufficiently address what specific problems currently plague your home network.
Final Recommendations on Multi-ISP Considerations
As you wrap up this overview examining whether to install two competing internet providers in your house, let me leave you with key takeaways based on years as an industry specialist:
- Clearly determine what problems you hope dual ISPs will fix – if solely needing more bandwidth occasionally, a backup router may be adequate rather than a entire separate account.
- Check that your utility infrastructure offers multiple path options before committing – many regions are still monopolies.
- Accept added complexity choosing devices for each network if pursuing a two ISP home. Establish sound processes upfront to minimize confusion.
- Proactively inform any technicians about existing setups so they take proper care configuring new networks. Don‘t let them take shortcuts – demand diligence!
While multi-ISP home configurations make sense for a growing subset of users contending with congested networks, recognize their extensive demands before signing up. Simpler solutions like supplemental routers may sufficiently boost an existing single pipeline for your needs.
I hope mapping the dual ISP terrain here, including pros/cons and step-by-step guidance, helps you make the most informed choice improving your home’s internet reliability. Let me know if any other questions come up!
