Not really a Linux specific question, hence I'm posting it here.
Under Win98 and above, you can enable '
line bonding' (a little kinky sounding
) where if you've got more than 1 phone line and more than 1 modem, you can use them in tandem to get a faster internet connection. Sounds good!
I
believe the principle of ADSL is that since more information is sent
to your computer than
from it, the two speeds (income/outgoing) are different.
And then there's satallite stuff (been reading about this, sounds pretty cool!) where you use your ordinary modem for outgoing data to a particular satellite based ISP, and then a special satellite modem for the data being sent to you via satellite (piggybacked on an ordinary transmission, I think).
Here's my question:
If you've only got one phone-line, but two modems (that are different speeds), can use the
slower one for outgoing data and the
faster one for incoming data? If so, is it possible under Windows or is this too much for a MS product to cope with and so only available to Linux users? Would a special ISP be needed for this kind of 'tinkering'? Does anyone know of a Linux ISP in England that does/would support this?
Reason(s):
1) I recently came across an old 386 of mine with a 14,400 (ISA) modem. I
have a 56K (serial) modem (not sure if it's a WinModem or not, still not too clear on this front
), but it's currently being used by my housemate, since I don't have a phone connection in my room.
2) My brother has completely networked his house. Currently his computer is the internet gateway for the rest of the house, but this puts some strain on it. He is thinking of building a machine that operates solely for the purpose of a dialing-out gateway.
The above 'line-splitting' could (if only in theory) provide a quicker line connection, and since phone line rentals in England are stupidly high, this would avoid using 'line bonding' (and therefore multiple phone lines) for quicker connections!
Anything anyone can think of would be greatly appreciated.
PS. I'm currently
trying to convert an old analogue satallite TV box into something that
might resemble a serial/parallel based satellite modem. This is not really a serious attempt, as not any old ISP supports satellite stuff and so would not actually be able to use a home-made one. Info on this side of things would also be good.
Thanks.