Discussing router options and their capabilities for splitting connections
Discussing router options and their capabilities for splitting connections
Hello, you're looking for a wireless router that can divide your internet into two separate channels. This would help you maintain a stable connection for work calls, even if the main line experiences interruptions. Your current speed is quite low at 30 Mbps, but you only need about 10 Mbps for calls. You mentioned considering upgrading to 100 Mbps later.
There are options to split your connection using a router. You could use Powerline or a dedicated LAN port, and since you have a Powerline setup, that might work well. The MikroTik hAP AC2 model is within your budget and could be useful for this purpose. It’s designed for such network segmentation tasks.
The function you're referring to is likely called "bandwidth splitting" or "QoS prioritization," though it may vary by brand. You can look up guides for setting up a 10/20 split or similar configurations. If you need more details, feel free to ask!
The issue arises when all users connect through the same link; you must use QoS (Quality of Service). By managing traffic or setting bandwidth caps, you can ensure a steadier connection. This feature is usually found on consumer routers for wireless devices but often absent for wired ones. An alternative is to subscribe to a second internet service provider.
On advanced enterprise routers, traffic can be managed according to ACLs. If you had implemented its own VLAN, you could tag that with EF and limit the other side to 20 mbit. Most consumer devices lack these capabilities. You might achieve this using a Mikrotik unit (affordable yet powerful) but it requires some networking knowledge.
Your input is quite valuable. Opening up your link to the rest of the family requires proper QoS handling. For certainty, I’d evaluate the expense of raising your speed limit versus using a separate connection. If the latter is cheaper and you’re okay with an additional monthly internet charge, that would be my choice.