3G Modems/Load Balancing With Cradlepoint Router

[garyh]

Has anyone had any experience using the Cradlepoint MBR 1200 or any other Cradlepoint router with a CAT CDMA 3G router or any other USB/PCMCIA Modems in Thailand.

I am looking at buying one of these but unsure how it will go with the modems used in Thailand.

What I plan to do is run one or 2 CAT CDMA modems and possibly a AIS 3G if I can get a signal, I will be outside the coverage map but hoping a Yagi antenna will get me connected. The village where I will be living for a while has only 128k ADSL available due to line distance. I am trying to get the most reliable internet service I can. There is a CAT CDMA tower within 3 KM so will use this plus possibly 3G and the slow ADSL.

The Cradlepoint router allows load balancing with up to 5 Modems in addition to ADSL/Cable so all connections are used together. The aim is to get speed and reliability with this combination.

[jubby]

A little bit off topic but I went to check out what CAT can offer me yesterday. They did say 3km was the absolute maximum for the dongle, and the MIFI which I was interested in, will run 5 wireless devices but Its recommended to be not more than 1 to 2 kms from the Tower atleast thats what the lady says. Do you really need the load balancing, there may not be much load to balance anyway. just a Thought

[lomatopo]

Are you sure that device supports "load balancing"? A quick scan of the specs/apps does not indicate that it does. It does support multiple BB/WAN modems but I suspect you can only use one at a time. The primary use of this device is to use a BB/WAN connection in the event that you lose your primary BB connection (failover) where you need internet connectivity back-up.

I'm assuming your definition of "load balancing" is that you could combine the bandwidth from more than one BB/WAN connection for a "bigger pipe"?

Presumably this device can roll-over from one BB/WAN connection to another, which might be important in your application?

edited to add: A quick review of the user manual indicates that this device does in fact support load balancing across multiple simultaneous BB/WAN connections. (I'd look for someone else using this application to make sure it functions as expected.)

[keeniau96]

The post got me interest. I had never heard of Cradlepoint so searched for some reviews withut joy. Checked the Cradlepoint site and their "where to buy"; many locations in USA. Then checked with Newegg.com, which is familiar to all geeks. A bit to my surprise they carried Cradlepoint, notably the MBR1200. Had one user review which gave it the top rating by a self-professed "high tech" owner, so very encouraging. The reviewer summarized by: "If you need a fast connection with 3g, this is a wonderful piece of equipment. Easy set-up. It just works. We have five computers currently online.".

Sounds quite good, and now I am interested. But note this is not a load-balancing router but rather one with failover capability. Per the factory site comment: "With its failover/failback capability, the MBR1200 automatically switches to a secondary connection (either wired or wireless) when your primary service is interrupted. Once your service is restored, the MBR1200 will automatically failback to the primary connection"

Pricey but looks very good.

[garyh]

A little bit off topic but I went to check out what CAT can offer me yesterday. They did say 3km was the absolute maximum for the dongle, and the MIFI which I was interested in, will run 5 wireless devices but Its recommended to be not more than 1 to 2 kms from the Tower atleast thats what the lady says. Do you really need the load balancing, there may not be much load to balance anyway. just a Thought

The range can be extended by using a external Yagi antenna available from CAT.

Do I need load balancing? No but I do need reliability.

[garyh]

Are you sure that device supports "load balancing"? A quick scan of the specs/apps does not indicate that it does. It does support multiple BB/WAN modems but I suspect you can only use one at a time. The primary use of this device is to use a BB/WAN connection in the event that you lose your primary BB connection (failover) where you need internet connectivity back-up.

I'm assuming your definition of "load balancing" is that you could combine the bandwidth from more than one BB/WAN connection for a "bigger pipe"?

Presumably this device can roll-over from one BB/WAN connection to another, which might be important in your application?

edited to add: A quick review of the user manual indicates that this device does in fact support load balancing across multiple simultaneous BB/WAN connections. (I'd look for someone else using this application to make sure it functions as expected.)

Yes it does do load balancing as you discovered.

I have researched this and all say yes it works well with devices on the supported list with the ISP's listed.

The questions I can not find answers to are in the OP re Thai modems and ISP's

[bkksw]

I travel throughout Thailand 8-12 days a month, from one end to the other and everything in between.

I would guess you'll get the most reliable if not fastest service by simply using a mobile phones Edge service. Mobile phone service via AIS without question has more/better coverage than any other wireless service. I rarely get less than 128kbps, and often as much as 256kbps. This is enough for email, small images, and to visit sites I've book marked while turning off the ads via whatever utility you care to use.

The other services you mention.. highly unreliable on the whole unless you're in the city center where you use them. A yagi antenna (a directional beam) also depends on it's ability to be perpendicular to the ground, above/away from steel (tin roofs, steel beams used in most Thai buildings, and an ability to tune the signal via some sort of signal strength meter..

Often the best solution is the simplest.

There are also sat phone services.. I rent these in parts of the middle east.. but I think it's a waste here.

[garyh]

There is a $50 USD cash back being offered on this device also but only available to US or Canadian addresses. I can buy the Router Cradlepoint MBR1200 on EBAY for $225.99 USD less the cash back. All I need is to find a friend with a US or Canadian address to claim the $50 and share it(it would be posted direct to me in Australia, it is just the invoice address that is the issue}. So it is not ultra expensive.

[garyh]

I travel throughout Thailand 8-12 days a month, from one end to the other and everything in between.

I would guess you'll get the most reliable if not fastest service by simply using a mobile phones Edge service. Mobile phone service via AIS without question has more/better coverage than any other wireless service. I rarely get less than 128kbps, and often as much as 256kbps. This is enough for email, small images, and to visit sites I've book marked while turning off the ads via whatever utility you care to use.

The other services you mention.. highly unreliable on the whole unless you're in the city center where you use them. A yagi antenna (a directional beam) also depends on it's ability to be perpendicular to the ground, above/away from steel (tin roofs, steel beams used in most Thai buildings, and an ability to tune the signal via some sort of signal strength meter..

Often the best solution is the simplest.

There are also sat phone services.. I rent these in parts of the middle east.. but I think it's a waste here.

I have used AIS with my phone, it works and is better than dialup but very slow. Cat CDMA 3G is closer to 3MBps.

I am looking at using this in a fixed location, So it is worth the effort to setup antennas, as it is on the edge of a rural village there is plenty of scope and little in the way of obstructions.

IPstar is available but every report I see on it is that it is expensive and unreliable.

[jubby]

Keep us posted on the Yagi Antenna Garryh. I too want reliability.

I'm just off to check the distance to the CAT towers, if I can find them.

[dave_boo]

I use the MBR-1000 and it accepts pretty much every stick that's been inserted into it (kinda like an ex-girlfriend...). Remember that Thai, American, European, all made in Taiwan (shameless rip-off of Armageddon).

And before, at least on mine, the firmware only supported fall-over; now it supports load balancing.

[lomatopo]

Do I need load balancing? No but I do need reliability.

You might consider sourcing a 3G router in Thailand, and then just pop SIMs in when one drops?

D-Link 3G Routers

It seems simpler than trying to coordinate a U.S. purchase, Australian shipment and Thailand installation?

Maybe check with the service providers here to see which models they recommend?

[garyh]

I use the MBR-1000 and it accepts pretty much every stick that's been inserted into it (kinda like an ex-girlfriend...). Remember that Thai, American, European, all made in Taiwan (shameless rip-off of Armageddon).

And before, at least on mine, the firmware only supported fall-over; now it supports load balancing.

Thank you this is more loke the information I am looking for..

Are you using it with a Thai stick? (the router not your ex) I was looking at the 1000 and it is a lot cheaper but the 1200 has gigabit LAN and more importantly VPN.

Cradlepoint do make mention of some modems/ISP's not going working.

[garyh]

Do I need load balancing? No but I do need reliability.

You might consider sourcing a 3G router in Thailand, and then just pop SIMs in when one drops?

D-Link 3G Routers

It seems simpler than trying to coordinate a U.S. purchase, Australian shipment and Thailand installation?

Maybe check with the service providers here to see which models they recommend?

I can't find any Dlink device that offers load balancing, if you are aware of one can you let us know please.

[lomatopo]

You might consider sourcing a 3G router in Thailand, and then just pop SIMs in when one drops?

D-Link 3G Routers

It seems simpler than trying to coordinate a U.S. purchase, Australian shipment and Thailand installation?

Maybe check with the service providers here to see which models they recommend?

I can't find any Dlink device that offers load balancing, if you are aware of one can you let us know please.

No, it doesn't look any locally available D-Link 3G router supports load-balancing but I only suggested it as you said...

Do I need load balancing? No but I do need reliability.

..implying that perhaps load-balancing was not a requirement.