Noisy router

Horizon81

Just what is an external switch mode PSU (power supply unit)?

If the plug is small does that mean there's more components in the router itself (to make this noise)?

kwikbreaks

If it's more than a simple plug which goes into the mains socket then it is the PSU.

The older style PSU's had a transformer, rectifier, and smoothing capacitor to produce the lower DC voltage the router runs on.

Switch mode devices don't have the transformer they use a semiconductor to directly turn the mains on and off again when the voltage is higher than the device requires - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply The on/off switching of the mains voltage can generate harmonics and in some cases these will make something inside physically vibrate so you can actually hear it - I'm not 100% sure what but it is a fairly common fault as is causing electrical noise so they can interfere with ADSL, radios, etc.

The router itself just runs on the DC from whatever PSU it comes with which was why I was surprised to hear that it had an external PSU and not just a mains lead with the PSU components inside it. I've no idea why the router itself might make a noise.

Ximian

I enabled WiFi and the power reduction feature on the router and the WiFi led is always on, I don't think the WiFi led will switch off even if power reduction is enabled.

I found this information regarding the TG582n router WiFi led:

• Green solid: Wireless enabled, no activity
• Green blinking: Wireless activity
• Off: Wireless disabled
• Long press: Switch off WiFi
• Short press: Enable WiFi