WiFi Ranger Load Balancing Router issue

[X-OEM]

I'm not very tech savvy so here is the dumb question of the day. What exactly does a "load Balancing Router" do?

Bought an Aspen from Wi-Fi Ranger - got is mostly set up, got some help from the tech folks at Wi-Fi Ranger. I was so focused on getting my hotspots connected to it that I forgot to ask them the question.

It would appear that it just connects to one device at a time and doesn't balance anything?? Thought it would switch automatically between hotspots or do something. If it doesn't, I could have just hooked my TV or laptop directly to the hotspot and saved the money.

Help.......

[Spdracr39]

Load balancing means it connects to multiple internet sources IE cellular and wifi or two cellular connections some will do more than two. It splits the bandwith over those connections to maximize your data speed available for your devices. Think of two water hoses vs one supplying water. Pinch one and the other picks up the slack or just enjoy the added volume of both.If it isn't doing that perhaps it isn't configured correctly.

[docj]

Originally Posted by X-OEM

It would appear that it just connects to one device at a time and doesn't balance anything?? Thought it would switch automatically between hotspots or do something. If it doesn't, I could have just hooked my TV or laptop directly to the hotspot and saved the money.

Help.......

To get your Aspen to Load Balance you first have to have multiple internet connections that use different modes of connection.

For example, you could have a MiFi (Jetpack) hotspot connected via USB (as many as three of those can be used at one time.) Along with the MiFi you might also have a local WiFi you wanted to connect to using 2GHz and you might also have another hotspot such as a Nighthawk that you could connect via Ethernet.

Next, you would go to the Setup page of the Ranger's onscreen control panel and make sure that all of these "options" have been activated. Be sure to SAVE your actions using the button at the bottom of the setup page.

Next, for each connection you wish to have in the MutiWAN Load Balance put a check in the MultiWAN box on its line.

Below that section of the page, make sure that Failover is enabled and set for 5 minutes.

Make sure that the MutiWAN mode is set to Load Balance .

Lastly, click on SAVE one more time and respond to the "Are you sure" message with a Yes.

Now go back to the Main page of the control panel and you may already see your Aspen making some of the designated connections. For the first time you may have to make the WiFi connections for it. You can assist it by putting checks in the Tag column of wifi sources you wish it to try to connect to.

Each time you connect another source you will see the box at the top center going through the process of bringing it online. Eventually you will see it online with all of your sources.

I suggest doing this with just two sources to start with, maybe a hotspot and your RV park's wifi. That way you can get comfortable getting it to work. You can always make your configuration more complex.

For example, at present I have two hotspots tethered by USB (using a hub), a phone's hotspot is connected using 2 GHz and another device is connected via Ethernet. So I have four sources in use and I can see them all being used on the Usage page of the Ranger's control panel. All of them are being used at the same time. There is no switching back and forth.

As different devices on the network make "calls" to the internet, different connection get used. Video stream, such as those on Netflix, are multi-threaded so a single Netflix stream might use several different connections at the same time.

I hope this helps explain what is possible.

Joel (AKA docj)

[X-OEM]

That's a big help. I was trying to connect 3 sources at one time and things got a little too complicated for me. I think I have everything set up correctly at the moment - time will tell.

My visible phone that I bought from them is causing me the most problem - will not connect to the Aspen in 5GHz. Have is set up in 2GHz at the moment.

[docj]

Originally Posted by X-OEM

My visible phone that I bought from them is causing me the most problem - will not connect to the Aspen in 5GHz. Have is set up in 2GHz at the moment.

I have a ZTE Blade Prime A7 for my Visible account. It doesn't tether well via USB. It doesn't have 5 GHz so I have it connected at 2GHz.

Joel (AKA docj)

[X-OEM]

Thanks again for the help

Do you (or anyone) have any suggestions for a phone from Visible that WILL work with the Aspen. I ordered an I-Phone SE from visible and has been almost useless for connection. It will connect, but then drops almost right away. Will not stay connected. Visible tech was no help and neither was Apple tech.

The Wi-Fi ranger guy had not much good to say about Apple phones......Kind of wish I had done more investigation before buying the I-Phone

[docj]

Originally Posted by X-OEM

The Wi-Fi ranger guy had not much good to say about Apple phones......Kind of wish I had done more investigation before buying the I-Phone

I don't want to get into an Android-iPhone discussion, but I'm not fond of my wife's iPhone XR.

FWIW, at the connection speeds available with Visible, you're not going to see any performance difference between 5GHz and 2GHz. I'm rather confident of that.

[X-OEM]

Thanks for that. 2GHz connections worked fine for Netflix - where I happened to be anyway.

[docj]

Originally Posted by X-OEM

Thanks for that. 2GHz connections worked fine for Netflix - where I happened to be anyway.

Under ideal conditions, 2.4 GHz WiFi will support up to 450 Mbps or 600 Mbps, while 5 GHz Wi-Fi will support up to 1300 Mbps. Admittedly, that's maximum speed, but it's so far beyond what most of us will encounter that it's not the limiting factor for what we use it for.

IMHO people get too hung up over this sort of thing. Sure, my son has gigabit fiber internet at his house. There I would worry about 2GHz WiFi slowing down the download speed, but not on my everyday cellular connection!