How to Run Two DSL Modems

Most locations using DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology have a single modem on the premises. Two DSL modems can be installed to the location, but each modem requires a separate phone line due to the way the DSL signal travels to the Internet Service Provider (or ISP). The two DSL lines can be tied together with a dual WAN router. Dual WAN routers load balance the Internet connection between each DSL modem. This also provides redundancy in case one modem begins to have problems.

Things You'll Need

• Two phone lines
• Dual WAN router
• Ethernet cables

Instructions

1. Contact your DSL Internet Service Provider and/or phone company -- depending on whether they're the same company or not, which they aren't always -- to have a second phone line and DSL modem installed. DSL modems each require their own phone line and can not share a single line the way a telephone can.

2. Connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on each DSL modem.

3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cables to the "WAN" ports on the dual WAN router. The order does not matter.

4. Power on the DSL modems and wait 60 seconds for the signal to synchronize with the ISP.

5. Power on the dual WAN router and wait 30 seconds for it to initialize.

6. Connect computers and devices on the network to the "LAN" ports on the dual WAN router to access the Internet.