Do you leave your router on at all times?

I_have_spoken

I leave mine on 24*7 as I never know when I'll want to ask Alexa a question or play a tune via my Amazon Echo, which is also on 24*7!

iamlucky18

I leave it on 24/7 as I use a NAS and Hive setup.

spud17

Looks like my own 'back of fag packet' figures weren't too far out. #smug

50Twuncle

I leave mine on 24/7 to annoy my wife !!

donnac2558

I turn mine off overnight. Same as I unplug the TV.

In fact if there is a problem and you phone Virgin first thing they tend to advise it turn off and unplug the router. I have had messages saying 'its seems your router has been on for sometime, we advise you turn it off and restart.'

almillar

The TalkTalk HG635 fibre router has No Such label on it - try googling this model to see if you can find its consumption ...
You will find nothing !!

How about the transformer for it that's plugged into the wall - that should give an indication.

RumRat

donnac2558 wrote: »

I turn mine off overnight. Same as I unplug the TV.

In fact if there is a problem and you phone Virgin first thing they tend to advise it turn off and unplug the router. I have had messages saying 'its seems your router has been on for sometime, we advise you turn it off and restart.'

They obviously don't trust you....;)
I've had various Virgin routers switched on for 10 years and had NTL before that. I've never received anything from Virgin (or anyone else) informing me that my router had been on for some time....
How long is 'Sometime'?
When you phone Virgin with a problem they go through the script and item No1 is turn off and turn on your router. That is only to clear a possible fault, before they go through the rest of the script. Nothing to do with safety...

50Twuncle

I am sticking to my previous advice to leave your routers on 24/7 unless you have a reason not to do so - such as overheating concerns (and if that is a reason - then surely, you should contact the router supplier to inform them of the issue) - the reason cannot be cost (we have already agreed that £10 pa is not an adequate reason)
And on the negative side of regularly switching off a router - there is the "risk" of a drop in connection speed.
Plus the fact that you may be reducing the life of the hardware - by constantly powering on and off (capacitors have a limited number of charge cycles)
So to summarise - you should leave your router running 24/7.....

DavidP24

wongataa wrote: »

I have experienced it. My girlfrined used to turn hers off when she went out and at night. After getting her to leave it on all the time the internet connection speed increased. It can happen.

zzzt wrote: »

It should be left on. Most ISPs will dynamically adjust your speed based on connection performance. If you keep turning it off then it appears that it's dropping, and they will lower your throughput.

It's also a very minimal amount you will save compared to the inconvenience. Having my mobile and other devices automatically connected to wifi instead of the mobile network is much more preferable to me, especially since I have instructed many apps to only do certain things over wifi.

The only time it's really worth turning the router off is if you're going on holiday for a week or more.

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am sticking to my previous advice to leave your routers on 24/7 unless you have a reason not to do so - such as overheating concerns (and if that is a reason - then surely, you should contact the router supplier to inform them of the issue) - the reason cannot be cost (we have already agreed that £10 pa is not an adequate reason)
And on the negative side of regularly switching off a router - there is the "risk" of a drop in connection speed.
Plus the fact that you may be reducing the life of the hardware - by constantly powering on and off (capacitors have a limited number of charge cycles)
So to summarise - you should leave your router running 24/7.....

Everybody's a F'ing IT Consultant, SQL Server Tech, Server Tech, Windows Installer, or maybe even a network manager but unless you work for an ISP you are full of it.

So it is simple ASK YOUR BLOOOODY ISP what their config policy is on re-training, some (e.g. Plusnet) set their kit to lower speed if they see repeated shutdowns, others do their "training" when you first set up and then only when you report a fault. Training means it monitors the highest speed and automatically lowers it at the ISP end if you keep losing connection.

Some have a TRIP level of say 5 reboots within 30 mins that kicks off re-training.

It is not an age thing, my elderly relatives are scared to touch and leave on, I think that applies to some non techs, people who do not give a sheet and those that want a line as fast as they can whenever they decide they want it. Other demographics may exist but who gives a F$.

Personally I leave mine on 24/7 but if you are an eco warrior you can always get one of those power blocks that shuts off the power to all attached devices when the PC goes into sleep mode or you can plug the router iself into the active socket and do it manually.

Some routers have a sleep mode of their own and need to ping to keep alive, again depends on ISP policy.

So the upshot of it is that your specific ISP will have their kit configured a specific way.

If you care, call them, if you don't then don't

Oh and those who want to have a tech piissing contest, sorry.

stockton_2

Anyone concerned about over-heating routers should perhaps look at the following tips.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/07/tips-for-how-to-keep-your-wireless-broadband-isp-router-cool.html

Some of the suggestions are quite obvious, keeping the router on a hard flat surface and allowing ventilation and etc. Surprisingly, when I checked my own router I saw that it was a bit close to a radiator and getting some heat from that. Not that overheating was a particular concern to me, but I can easily relocate it.

Some of the no-no's are quite funny. Don't let the cat use the router as a sleeping mat; don't pour water over it and don't keep it in the fridge.

Would anyone do that? :rotfl: