is it possible to have two isps?

gbdavidxgbdavidx Member Posts: 840
does anyone have or thought about getting two? one for downloading/gaming and another one for browsing the web/streaming videos?

is that too much?

Comments

  • meadITmeadIT Member Posts: 581 ■■■■□□□□□□
    You can. Although you'll need a firewall and/or router than can handle the connections.
    CERTS: VCDX #110 / VCAP-DCA #500 (v5 & 4) / VCAP-DCD #10(v5 & 4) / VCP 5 & 4 / EMCISA / MCSE 2003 / MCTS: Vista / CCNA / CCENT / Security+ / Network+ / Project+ / CIW Database Design Specialist, Professional, Associate
  • MiikeBMiikeB Member Posts: 301
    Possible, but seems more hassle than its worth for home use. You would likely either need a device that supports load balancing (a router or something like untangle box) or two separate routers if the gaming devices are separate from the downloading devices.
    Graduated - WGU BS IT December 2011
    Currently Enrolled - WGU MBA IT Start: Nov 1 2012, On term break, restarting July 1.
    QRT2, MGT2, JDT2, SAT2, JET2, JJT2, JFT2, JGT2, JHT2, MMT2, HNT2
    Future Plans - Davenport MS IA, CISSP, VCP5, CCNA, ITIL
    Currently Studying - VCP5, CCNA
  • instant000instant000 Member Posts: 1,745
    I have considered it, but only from the standpoint of having a backup in case the primary went down (thinking availability). Then, I just decided that if push came to shove, I could tether through a phone, and that'd be good enough to tide me over.
    Currently Working: CCIE R&S
    LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lewislampkin (Please connect: Just say you're from TechExams.Net!)
  • olaHaloolaHalo Member Posts: 748 ■■■■□□□□□□
    When I still lived with my parents we had 3 separate ISPs in one home.
  • NetworkVeteranNetworkVeteran Member Posts: 2,338 ■■■■■■■■□□
    You could just pay for a higher-bandwidth plan, unless you're maxing out. Most ISPs these days offer a variety of data rates. Less equipment. Less complexity. Going with two is more typically done for high availability.
  • networker050184networker050184 Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
    I agree with NetworkVeteran, just get higher bandwidth plan. Cheaper and easier than getting a second.
    An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made.
  • datgirldatgirl Member Posts: 62 ■■□□□□□□□□
    You could just pay for a higher-bandwidth plan, unless you're maxing out. Most ISPs these days offer a variety of data rates. Less equipment. Less complexity. Going with two is more typically done for high availability.
    I would opt for a commercial account with the same ISP. The OP would be able to purchase multiple IPs as needed, as well as purchase more bandwidth, and would have less maintenance complexity as pointed out.
  • Master Of PuppetsMaster Of Puppets Member Posts: 1,210
    We used to have 2 ISPs at one of the offices for availability. Not very popular though.
    Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for.
  • JDMurrayJDMurray Admin Posts: 13,023 Admin
    Two or more ISPs are standard for facilities that must have redundancy for Internet connectivity. If one ISP or communication service becomes unavailable business can continue over the other. This is also why big data centers are connected to two or more power grids as well.
  • TheProfTheProf Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 331 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Definitely possible, at one of the companies I worked at, we used two ISP's.
  • SteveLordSteveLord Member Posts: 1,717
    For business, sure. But for home....why deal with the additional set of idiots? Two ISPs is also good for separating your main network from something like a guest/public Wifi.
    WGU B.S.IT - 9/1/2015 >>> ???
  • earweedearweed Member Posts: 5,192 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Two ISPs are for redundancy. I just installed backups (wireless usb modems) at a couple businesses where the wireless are just failover and it is almost instantaneous.
    No longer work in IT. Play around with stuff sometimes still and fix stuff for friends and relatives.
  • cyberguyprcyberguypr Mod Posts: 6,928 Mod
    I toyed with the idea of two ISPs a while back but ended up doing what datgirl said, going with business class services. Got the basic package with 5 IPs and it has been solid for 1.5 years. Plus support is way better than the scripted drones on the residential services side of the house.
  • bigdogzbigdogz Member Posts: 881 ■■■■■■■■□□
    A while back (20+years ago) I worked for a company and we had a fractional T1 and a xDSL as a backup. Back in those days the lines were not as reliable.

    As a small ISP some time ago we used 2 ISP's and it helped a few times.
    Now we are a bigger MISP and we do this as a way of business. We provide multiple routes depending on the technology and/or architechture.

    If you are not looking for redundancy you can split up the data lines to perform the same task. The ISP will just open your pipe a little bigger.
  • pitviperpitviper Member Posts: 1,376 ■■■■■■■□□□
    I would say for redundancy it's a good idea - but for additional bandwidth it's probably cheaper to just increase your existing connection.

    What do you have currently?
    CCNP:Collaboration, CCNP:R&S, CCNA:S, CCNA:V, CCNA, CCENT
  • SinemaSinema Registered Users Posts: 11 ■□□□□□□□□□
    If you are looking for affordable you should always contact your ISP and look for something for existing customers. I find customer rewards a lot and also if you say you are trying to budget they usually will create a program for you to give you better speeds at lower prices for a period of time.
  • SteveLordSteveLord Member Posts: 1,717
    What? Major ISPs never offer anything to existing customers. Those that do sure don't give you anything near the new customer rates. Crooks.
    WGU B.S.IT - 9/1/2015 >>> ???
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    SteveLord wrote: »
    What? Major ISPs never offer anything to existing customers. Those that do sure don't give you anything near the new customer rates. Crooks.

    Well, depends. Here in the UK my ISP (Be) gave me 50% discount on my broadband rental when I said I am off ..
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
Sign In or Register to comment.