ISP that doesn't require router to be on 24/7

Minerva69

I'm currently with Zen broadband, who I have been happy with until they upgraded us to "up to 20Mb" broadband. After the upgrade I was experiencing slow internet speeds and Zen told me it was because I was switching the router off when not using it. I have been told by Zen to leave the router switched on permanently, as if I turn it off then BT's systems interpret it as a line fault and slow our internet speed down automatically.

I don't want to leave the router on all the time, it's a waste of energy and it also seems to get quite hot. I am planning to change ISPs but want to move to one who don't require the router to be switched on all the time. The cheapest for me would be Plusnet, does anyone know if they need the router to be left on all the time?

balmk

Hello,

From my understanding of DSL services, it is the technology rather than is ISP that requires the router to be left on.

I'm not sure how cable modems work - if you are in a Virgin area it may be worth asking them if their cable modem needs to be left on to maintain optimum speeds.

UncleZen

For the best speeds you should leave your router on all the time as balmk says. If you dont you will suffer slower and variable speeds.
This will be true for all ISPs (though not sure about VM).
I doubt if you would save any significant energy by switching your router off every night. E.g. mine uses 3-4 watts. So in the grand scheme of things its negligable, compared to say boiling a kettle with more water than you'll need (I would guess that you'd only need to boil a kettle once with too much water & that would use more energy than a switched off router in a year).

Nine_Lives

Just to confirm what the others said - a BT line installer said this to me as well.

spike7451

balmk wrote: »

Hello,

From my understanding of DSL services, it is the technology rather than is ISP that requires the router to be left on.

I'm not sure how cable modems work - if you are in a Virgin area it may be worth asking them if their cable modem needs to be left on to maintain optimum speeds.

Cable Modem doesn't need to be left on all the time.

tyllwyd

We are with Plusnet for broadband, and my OH mentioned that they recommended that the router is left on all the time to get the best internet speed.

timberflake

A router will use hardly any power, there really is no need to turn it off. That's at the extreme end of moneysaving!

Mark_In_Hampshire

Cable modems don't need to be left on.

As far as I knew, the problem with switching off the router regularly is that the daft profiling system on the BT Wholesale platform, used by most ISPs, then assumes the line has become defective or that there's some source of noise or other issue which means the speed needs to drop so as to remain stable and stop it reconnecting again. Ignoring the fact that the user initiated the power down, not the line.

ISPs who offer LLU services such as BE don't use Line Profiling, so I'm assuming, and hopefully someone can correct if wrong - that those ISPs do not need you to leave the modem on all the time because the service is fully dynamic and can cope with the power offs.

bod1467

You are correct - at least as far as BE is concerned, but I'd expect Sky and TalkTalk LLU are the same. Any ISP that uses BT Wholesale connections (effectively they are resellers of BT services) will be subject to BT's dynamic line profiling scheme - this includes Plusnet.

bubieyehyeh

My understanding was that BT wholesale system interpreted turning the router off, and then turning on back on with a few minutes as an error, and decreased the line speed. One solution is too leave the router on (as you were advised), however I was told by another ISP that if you turned it off, wait ten minutes before turning back on to avoid it trigger the BT systems. However I understand that BT will soon give control of the line management system to ISPs, and I know one (aaisp) is intending to allow user control to avoid such problems.

brewerdave

The cost of running a router continuously is negligible - ~ 20p per week? - however I've been told that switching it on and off every night actually reduces its life - new routers are from £30 upwards, so its a balance of costs.
I switch mine off if I'm away from home for more than 24 hours purely because of the fire risk - they do get pretty hot!!