Routing Solution for Multiple Mobile Broadband Links in New Zealand
June 27th, 2010Off topic post, you may want to skip it.
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I’ve decided that it’s not OK that we were dumped off the Internet for several days. So, short of moving, what can I do to make sure that the Internet is available here?
Becky and I both run Internet based businesses and Telecom just really screwed us by taking us down like that. If it wasn’t for Vodafone, we’d still be down. I tried dialup here, but it’s unusable now. Even with image loading turned off, many pages simply time out without loading. It’s because the copper infrastructure here is finished. Put a fork in it. Done. I get 20kbits per second if I’m lucky with dialup.
So, I’m thinking about running two mobile broadband connections here, Telecom XT, if they ever manage to pull their head out (it might not happen), and Vodafone. It would be really nice to find a dedicated hardware routing solution that could handle failover on these networks. I looked and couldn’t find any information about doing this in New Zealand. It’s a pretty weird thing to want to do here, but I think I came up with a solution that doesn’t cost too much, or require a bunch of linux glue and duct tape.
Before I get to my idea, though, a couple of dog legs:
The CradlePoint MBR1200 is exactly what I’d want to get, but it’s not officially supported for New Zealand, or for one of the two devices that it would have to work with here. My ZTE668+ is supported, but Vodafone’s K3765 isn’t. It’s possible that the MBR1200 would work properly in New Zealand, but I’m not going to go through the rigmarole of getting the thing shipped here and then find that it doesn’t work.
Next, for those of you who want the ultimate in redundancy and load balancing for your mobile antics, the Pepwave Max mobile router is the bat shit insane solution for you. How many different types of Internet connections do you have? Plug ’em all in there.
Ok, back to the story, for those of us in New Zealand who need to pull this off without breaking the bank.
I checked around and found that the NetComm 3G17WN is available for about NZ$170. It has both ethernet and 3G USB modem WAN ports that can be configured for failover. If I bought two 3G17WNs, I could use both USB modems, one on Telecom XT and the other on Vodafone.
To make failover work, it would just be a matter of using a LAN link on the first router (running the primary mobile broadband connection) as the ethernet WAN on the second router. The clients would be LANned into the second router, which would be using the ethernet WAN as the primary connection. If that connection dropped, the second router would failover onto the other mobile broadband network.
It wouldn’t be as elegant as the CradlePoint unit, but it would do the trick for redundant connections. It wouldn’t load balance, though.
If you have any better ideas for dealing with this situation, let me know. And, no, moving to an area where semi-developed world style Internet connections are available doesn’t count.
Not sure if this is helpful but have you considered a DrayTek router:
http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2820.html
It has WAN backup/load balancing.
I have this router and although it wasn’t the cheapest, it is an excellent piece of hardware. Never used the WAN backup and/or load balancing though.
Just a thought.
How far out in the country are you? Are you well out of the range for DSL? Another option if you’ve got technologically-adept neighbours is to start setting up a wireless network to provide failover for eachother’s connections, assuming you’ve got different ways of accessing the internet.
@SW
I did see the DrayTek gear. It looks good, but I need to run two 3G USB modems at once. There are many routers that handle an ethernet primary WAN and a 3G backup WAN, but far fewer that handle two 3G WANs at once. That’s why I’m looking at having to use two routers.
@bloodnok
There are people who are much further out in the wopwops than us who have multi megabit DSL connections. Becky’s aunt and uncle live in a place that makes where we live look like a built up metropolis, and they have 4 Mbit/sec download. The fiber loop runs right past their farm gate and the “box” is about 1km from them…
The closest DSL to us is about 7km to the west, or about 6km to the east, and over a large hill (that nearly made satellite access impossible here). It’s too far to go over too much challenging geography for a roll-your-own network. It would require collaboration from people who aren’t interested, and several solar powered repeaters… All to reach a metered DSL connection. The End.
For anyone in New Zealand who’s also suffering through this, if you have the money, and enough neighbors who are willing to work with you, Ruralink can likely get it done.
http://www.rurallink.co.nz/
I was in contact with them a few years ago. The solution for us would have involved a solar powered repeater at the top of a hill on a neighbor’s property (line of sight to the regional transceiver is required). Then, distribution by wok-fi, etc. Anyway, there weren’t/aren’t enough people here who would be willing to do it.
It can happen, though, if enough people want it to happen and can afford to build it:
http://www.no8wireless.co.nz/testimonials
It was, perhaps, a mistake to have moved to a place that is so cut off from the network, while still relying on the network for income. I just assumed that the unstoppable pace of “progress” would sweep over this area like other places I’ve lived.
Nope. It didn’t happen. “Progress” ran into the swamps, winding valleys, and dense bush up here and pretty much crapped out. (That’s why it’s so nice to live here.)
As this rural Internet access thing has become a national security problem (because it’s impacting New Zealand’s economy), the government has legislated access to a 1 mbit (minimum) connection, even for places like where we are:
http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/ContentTopicSummary____41997.aspx
At this point it’s not even clear how they plan on doing it, but the the official word is that the buildout begins in early 2011. Translation: Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington will get even faster speeds, and nothing will change out here for years. Eventually, maybe, the new “thing” will be enabled at our address, but I’m definitely not holding my breath.
Do 2Degrees offer anything suitable – they use both Telecom’s & Vodaphone’s networks.
@djc
2degrees only offers GPRS/EDGE (theoretical max speed of, I think, about 200kbits/sec) and the cost is insane (NZ$120/GB). AND it’s use it within 30 days, or lose it.
Here’s what they say about 3G:
http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/compatiblemobiles
Data is provided using both GPRS and EDGE technology. In the not so distant future we will run a 2100Mhz 3G network. Watch this space.
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There’s no 2100Mhz signal out here. Townies only.
That said, we bought a 2degrees mobile phone about a year ago and it works great for the rare occasions when we need it. I initially put NZ$20 on it. It still has NZ$4 remaining. Great for avoiding the contact.
Kevin, i had a similar experience in rural Japan a few years ago. that was a major wake-up call. next time i move out into the wopwops, the FIRST thing i plan to check on before finalising my location of abode will be internet access. thoroughly.
btw, i have asked a friend in nz to ask around his techie mates for any no. 8 ideas. if i hear anything i will be in touch…
forget the rest – go with rural inzone. http://www.inzonecorp.co.nz/
cheap rate fast speeds.
mine goes 4Mbits at night sometimes – i guess they un cap at off peak.
no problems with line of site as it’s 45 degrees up not on horizon.
Also it’s owned by a Maori trust not some multinationals. good service too.
@RBNZ
Great tip on Izone Corp. Wow! They have come a long way since I was last shopping for a satellite provider. (Hint: Avoid Farmside like the plague.) They own their own teleport now. Cool. 😉
I don’t know if you noticed, but I just pinged you; or whatever that ip is that they’re showing for you on the WAN. It’s definitely going over the space hop, so I think it’s you.
The latency is less than with Farmside but it’s still pretty long.
Would you mind doing an experiment for me?
First, go to http://pingtest.net/ and let me know the ping and the jitter.
Next, run a continuous ping for about a minute to bluehost.com.
That’s ping bluehost.com -t
Then, after about a minute, hit ctrl-c and let me know what it says below: “Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds.”
Thank you.
@tochigi
I’m definitely Interested in hearing ideas. Thanks.