Wireless Routers

fedster

Is it best to turn my wireless router of when not in use?

Will it use alot of electricity if i keep it on?

espresso

No

No

...............

fedster

espresso wrote: »

No

No

...............

Care to elaborate?

Why is it better to keep a router on when you are not using the net, surely you are wasting electricity?

espresso

ADSL is an always on connection and it is better for the router to be left on 24/7/365 i.e. less stress on the electronic components each time that it is powered up and the temperature remains constant. They use so little electricity, any saving would be very small.

spannerzone

Rough estimate is probably costs of around £10 a year for a modem router

http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/howmanywatts.html

Obviously differs from model to model and the ever increasing electricity costs. Performance wise ADSL will probably be better if left running all the time but ultimately unplug if you feel happier.

Alter_ego

Also it cannot be hacked if it's off. Yes I am aware of security settings etc. but nothing's perfect.

penrhyn

Security?

spannerzone

penrhyn wrote: »

Security?

hehe,, sure why not.

Certainly big businesses won't chance their networks using wifi in many cases but for home users I'd still rather chance leaving my router on compared to having my credit card cloned by a dodgy petrol station any day.

I suspect wireless hacking in domestic environments is miniscule if you have decent security applied and change the password and those that have open wireless still probably only end up letting neighbours have free wifi, but it's still a security risk of course.

But of course wireless does open up an extra chance of being hacked compared to not having wifi.... much like adding more deadbolts to a door / window.

KillerWatt

penrhyn wrote: »

Security?

Nowt to do with security, if the computer you are talking to doesn't know your IP addy then the data isn't getting back to you.

home_alone

fedster wrote: »

Is it best to turn my wireless router of when not in use?

Will it use alot of electricity if i keep it on?

When I moved to BT I kept the router on for 2 weeks (as BT ask you to) and at the end of the second week I had connection problems, I was then told by BT to switch the router off as it can cause static problems if kept on for long periods, not sure if this was true but I have had no more problems since and always switch off at the end of the day (everything is hooked into one switch so its easy). Can not see any good purpose in leaving it on apart from idleness.