[SOLVED] Is it possible to get 2 or more WiFi signals to work together in concert to have better/faster Internet?

[dekw04]

Hi everyone.

Is it possible to somehow get two or more WiFi signals (like your phone's WiFi signal and your router's WiFi signal, for example) to work together in concert to have better/faster Internet than one of those signals could provide on its own?

I know some people may be thinking, "Why even use cellphone Internet if you have access to a router's WiFi signal?"), but all the same, is it possible? I’m curious about this idea.

I think it could be useful to have two or more WiFi signals working together in concert when a given WiFi signal's speed is limited and greater Internet speed is desired. If two or more WiFi signals could work together in concert as I mentioned then one WiFi signal could essentially compensate for the other and vice versa. One WiFi signal would handle some of the WiFi data and the other WiFi signal(s) would handle the rest and in this way better/fast Internet speeds could theoretically be achieved as WiFi data would come from multiple signals instead of just one.

The end result would be the multiple WiFi signals working as a team which, if it were somehow possible, would (at least in theory) make for faster/better Internet than one of those signals could provide on its own. Again, I realize there are better options for faster/better Internet out there, but is this idea that I've been describing feasible (even if only in theory)?

If this could be done, it would mean you could use something like a public WiFi signal, for example, in concert with your phone's WiFi signal. You could use both signals with a laptop and get Internet speeds better than what either a public WiFi signal or your phone's Internet alone could give you on said laptop.

What do you guys think of this idea? Is it possible to get 2 or more WiFi signals to work together in concert in the manner described above to get better/faster Internet than one of those signals alone could provide on its own?

Thank you.

 

[Barty1884]

In the format you describe, it's not really possible.

You can bond multiple ISPs at the source to provide a single, faster signal - but you can't just combine two available wifi signals & suddenly have faster internet.

 

[kanewolf]

In the format you describe, it's not really possible.

You can bond multiple ISPs at the source to provide a single, faster signal - but you can't just combine two available wifi signals & suddenly have faster internet.

And even multiple ISPs will only benefit multiple devices. Each device will be associated with only one ISP connection at a time. It might change over time, but a stream of data will be on only one ISP connection for a device.

 

[jsmithepa]

That's what MIMO does.

 

[kanewolf]

That's what MIMO does.

MIMO does use multiple radios in the same router or client to improve performance. It can't use radios from two different routers simultaneously. A MIMO router may be able to connect to multiple clients simultaneously, depending on the client.

 

[Math Geek]

the problem is that when you send out a request for data, like loading a web page, your ISP passes it on and then returns the data to you when it comes back in. 2 different isp's would have to cooperate for this to be possible like you are thinking.

you'd have to have the request go out to the 2 different isp's that would then have to cooperate and decide who would return what part of the data to you. it's just not possible really the way the web works. it's a neat thought but not really possible.

 

[nigelivey]

Yes it is possible with the right equipment and service. A Peplink router for example can bond multiple WANS (4G, Ethernet and Wifi), for the benefit you require you would then need to pay for a hosted "Speedfusion" service either at the ISP or a data center.