Dual Broadband switches

I have dsl and cable in my area, could i combine them in that new broadband combiner thing?

I'm going to take a guess and say no. Also, you have to ask yourself if you really need that much bandwidth even if it was possible. The cost of having both dsl and cable modem acces isn't worth it. If you needthatmuch bandwidth, talk to yoru dsl orc cable modem provider and see if they can simply add more bandwidth to your stream. It would be cheaper.

I've answered a few threads like this before.

The answer is yes, but kindof.
It's not as easy as 1+1=2

Here's the threads I can find:
http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93064
http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108478


Basic summary:
You can either:
1. make a redundant connection (ie, if cable fails, then use dsl)
2. load-balance it, using another computer, and special software
3. buy a router that supports "multi-linking"

here's some solutions for #3:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=N99-1000 P
http://www.futurelooks.com/display.asp?i=96&p=13

Do you really think the performance out weighs the cost su root?

Depends.
If you need redundancy, then you need redundancy (if that's what your looking for)

For load-balancing, it is kinda worthless in a home environment, and would tend to mess things up.

I havn't seen a working multi-link solution in place, however, that would almost double your internet connection (also by using multi-linking).

By my understanding, there are two types of multi-linking routers:
1. It actually "combines" the connections to give you almost double the bandwith
2. It load-balances between the connections

#1 only works when it's two of the same type (ie: cable + cable from the same provider)

So in your solution it will load-balance between them.

Load balancing means "every other request is sent out the other connection". This is good for normal websurfing, as it splits the load over two connections. However, online gaming may mess up (if it begins a new connection, it will come from another IP address), it may also mess with FTP sessions, and especially peer to peer programs, incl. ICQ.

Very good points. Especially about the programs and games that require a single connection (IP). Thanks for clearing that up for me.

heh i used to want to do the same thing, seems to be more trouble than its worth, good thing i got a friend working for bellsouth dsl as a tech, he's going to uncap my dsl line wooohoo!!

uncapping your internet is illegal and immoral.

If you work for the company, you get it free anyways, uncapped net is part of theperks usually

but uncapping it for your friends isn't. it puts one paying customer above other paying customers.

oh yea i totally forgot that part of the message