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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Hampshire Lass on Wednesday 07 March 12 17:59 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I've had problems just recently with connecting to the internet when I first switch on. I have a laptop and always turn my wireless router and computer off when not in use.
Today, after trying unsuccessfully to connect, I switched the router off for 10 minutes or so......I have had to do that on many occasions just recently. After 10 minutes my connection was still not great and the LAN light was blinking rapidly.
I decided to phone my isp and he was very helpful and informative but told me I must leave the router on at all times and then if things don't improve, to get back to them.
I just wondered what the general concensus of opinion on this is?
Are you laying yourself open to a security problem?
What happens if there is a thunderstorm?
The transformer and router get quite hot, is this a problem?
Opinions appreciated. Best wishes HL
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I am on Virgin which uses a seperate modem, although I use a wireless router for wireless equipment.
I only turn both off if I have any problems with connection.
If I remember correctly, I turned off/on just before chrismas.
Brian
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I have used "Virgin" fibre optic broadband since it was first installed in this area under the Blueyonder name (around 12 years ago).
I always switch the modem off when not in use and have had no problem with it.
Connected to the modem is a netgear router which is switched off and on at the same time as the modem.
I have the power supplies for the modem, router and computer connected to a multiplug extension lead with a master switch.
My routine is to switch on the master switch this powers up the modem and router then switch on the computer a few seconds later.
By the time the computer has booted up the modem and router are ready for it.
Cheers
Guy
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A technician told me recently that, if you switch the router on and off several times, the automatic equipment at the exchange can interpret it as a fault and switch to a lower broadband speed.
Apparently the line is automatically monitored and progressively switched to higher speeds over a number of days until it achieves the maximum stable rate the line can sustain.
Mike.
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Thanks Brian, Guy and Mike,
I have a Zxyel router and my isp is southern electric. Their advice was loosely along the lines of your comments Mike.....that because I keep switching it off, when I switch it back on I get an unstable connection. They say that the router will eventually break because of this way of using it.
I would prefer, like Guy to switch it off each day but that's just me....tv unplugged at night etc.
The fact that Brian and Mike both leave theirs on with no problems does make me feel a little more confident and so I will give it a whirl.
Just can't understand why this situation, when all has been well for 3 years.
HL :)
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Mmm.... I've just noticed that there is an on/off button at the back of the router!
Perhaps I should have made use of this button instead of simply switching of at the socket?
(but then my isp's advice would still remain, that I should leave it on)
I really wish that hand books explained things in greater detail, or at least mentioned important facts and then I would be able to learn from the info they give. This button isn't mentioned in my very small piece of paper supplied with the router.
HL :)
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I use a Netgear Wireless ADSL Modem Router. I switch everything off every night and have never had a problem!
Bill
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I have a sky router (I use broadband as Wifi is a problem in my area)
I had months of problems with it. I too have a laptop. Called Sky, who in sent engineers out they sorted out my wall connection which it turned out had never been fitted correctly. And the engineer recommended that although I switch everything off to leave my router on. He said that the incorrectly fitted wall box was not the problem but my switching off my router every time.
I now leave my router on and touch wood & whistle no problems since then. ;)
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With BT you can join BTFON which allows you to use other people's wireless connections - and them to use yours - while you are out and about, in the same way as you can use Starbucks' or whoever's wireless. So leave it running! I've had my router running happily for years, no problems at all.
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With BT you can join BTFON which allows you to use other people's wireless connections - and them to use yours - while you are out and about, in the same way as you can use Starbucks' or whoever's wireless. So leave it running! I've had my router running happily for years, no problems at all.
I must be a bit thick but why would you want to share other peoples wireless connections? Surely that could be a security risk? (Unless you're meaning starbucks or other such business/social places and not private house connections)
But, yes I will keep it running, although it does go against the grain.
Plummiegirl, it seems the advice given to you matches that given to me. My isp would send an engineer as a last resort but said I must keep it on as he felt that was the problem.
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Hi,
I agree there is nothing mentioned with the paper work to say that the router must stay on. When we first went wireless (satellite) it was automatic for me to switch off at night at the wall. Learnt my lesson the hard way the next day when we had no connection, the settings for the router, computer and voip box disappeared and had to be reset. I just close down the computer and leave it on at the wall.
Cheers
KHP
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Could I ask Hampshire Lass, when is your computer on?
Do you normally switch it on in the morning, switching off when not required.- Turning off power before retiring for the night.
I would switch on the router first, then computer.
(Allowing say 5 minutes for computer to start before starting to use)
Do not turn off router till retiring for the night! 8)
At night turn off at the socket, compromise of turning router on/off.
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I'm having a daily problem with my 02 internet connection whether I use the main computer or the laptop. 02 said it was a problem within my home and I should turn off the router for at least 5 minutes a day when I turn it back on it will reset its connections. I do turn it off when the internet goes off and after 5 minutes turn back on and it reconnects.
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Could I ask Hampshire Lass, when is your computer on?
Do you normally switch it on in the morning, switching off when not required.- Turning off power before retiring for the night.
I would switch on the router first, then computer.
(Allowing say 5 minutes for computer to start before starting to use)
Do not turn off router till retiring for the night! 8)
At night turn off at the socket, compromise of turning router on/off.
Hi Brian, I generally turn the router on first thing in the morning, then the computer and I don't try to get the internet until I can see the computer "thingy" (!!!) on the bottom right hand corner shows that I have a connection.
Then I do tend to turn both the laptop and router off again during the day if I'm going out and so on thinking about things it does amount to on/off several times a day....which makes it worse still I suppose!!!
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HL, do you need a router, are you moving the laptop around the house? I'm on cable and when I last had an engineer out, a year or so ago, the router was faulty, the guy removed it and replaced it with a cable, no problems since. At night I pull the socket from the wall. Skoosh
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bishenbertie:
The crucial comment - ''I do turn it off when the internet goes off, switching back on 5minutes later.''
Still holds valid, just that phone line modem/routers and cable modems use different technology.
And is the simplest method of resetting the connection lol
To turn off then switch back on 5 minutes later doesn't do any harm, the harm is when this is repeated every x minutes.
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Hampshire Lass:
Your comment
''Then I do tend to turn both the laptop and router off again during the day if I'm going out and so on thinking about things it does amount to on/off several times a day....which makes it worse still I suppose!!! ''
Do not turn off your router off till bedtime!!
End of story, end of problems ::)
Till next time.
Brian
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There is absolutely no need to turn your Internet connection off. As it is password protected it is not at risk of being remotely interferred with during the night anymore than it is during the day.
Jamjar
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I think one of the initial concerns was 'fire risk'?
Brian
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There is absolutely no need to turn your Internet connection off. As it is password protected it is not at risk of being remotely interferred with during the night anymore than it is during the day.
Although I agree that there is no risk (as long as your firewall is "protective" enough) I prefer to turn my modem on in the morning and turn it off at night.
There are too many household appliances (including computer and hi-fi) either on "stand-by", pretending they use hardly any electricity, or with an OFF-switch, that doesn't totally switch off all current. It all adds up, - to the electricity bill, - to the need for more power stations, - global warming (all such appliances emit heat), - fire risk, - etc, etc.
Maybe turning them on and off only when using is overdoing it, but ON in the morning and OFF at night is a good compromise.
Bob
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24/7 is my interent access. I often have 'stuff' being done automatically when I am asleep. This means that when I am using the computer system its not in competition with housekeeping etc that can be done during idle times.
Only time I ever switch it off is if there is a fault, or if we are away for any length of time.
I have learned from experience to leave the internet connected and not breathe near it!
I take the point about standby and energy use, but I reckon as I have everything else off its a small price to pay.
Roger
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Agree with that.
Brian
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Hi,
I've had problems just recently with connecting to the internet when I first switch on. I have a laptop and always turn my wireless router and computer off when not in use.
Today, after trying unsuccessfully to connect, I switched the router off for 10 minutes or so......I have had to do that on many occasions just recently. After 10 minutes my connection was still not great and the LAN light was blinking rapidly.
I decided to phone my isp and he was very helpful and informative but told me I must leave the router on at all times and then if things don't improve, to get back to them.
I just wondered what the general concensus of opinion on this is?
Are you laying yourself open to a security problem?
What happens if there is a thunderstorm?
The transformer and router get quite hot, is this a problem?
Opinions appreciated. Best wishes HL
We always turn our modem off when not in use - (A nephew of mine proved that if we turn off (at the wall) anything that has a standby light, we cut our light bill by heaps - Yep when we remember to turn off all the things that have them; microwave, jug/kettle, ps3, xbox360, tvs, comps, modems etc - we do save on bills - )
We always turn off during storms -
I don't think there would be any security problems by leaving them turned on -
Our modem always gets hot, think it just part n parcel of the whole router system -
We often have to turn ours off when the connection gets laggy or just stops working properly, for about 30 to 60 seconds is all it needs to 'reboot' itself - If you have a 'reset' button on your modem/router, (usually at the back or underneath the unit) try pressing and holding it for a few seconds that sometimes works -
Perhaps give a call to your service provider -
Good luck
FA
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We have a Belkin router which is generally on all the time. My OH and I turn on our computers, him a PC, me a laptop every morning and turn them off when we go to bed, but we leave them plugged into the electricity sockets which are left on.
The only time we turn the router off and straight on again, is when sometimes my laptop loses the connection, we have no idea why the laptop loses connection, but we do know that the answer is sometimes to disconnect the access between the laptop and router and then re-connect, but on other occasions we have to unplug the router, then plug it in again and everything works OK again.
Lizzie
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Our internet was getting really slow and when I called isp tech support he said the line was fine but it could be the router getting a bit clogged up. He said he reboots his every two days or so to keep it clear. I rebooted and it did solve the problem.
Milly
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Thanks for all your replies everyone :)
I've decided to leave the router on and it certainly worked fine this morning. I'll switch off when we're away or when I know I'm not going to be using it for a few days (or probably if there's a thunder storm)...... but that's got to be an improvement on my previous routine.
I hadn't really registered that I turned it off during the day, when I go out, as well as at night, till I replied to Brian ::)
Anyway, all your replies made for interesting reading and it just goes to show that really we have divided opinions on the question.
Best wishes HL :)
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A technician told me recently that, if you switch the router on and off several times, the automatic equipment at the exchange can interpret it as a fault and switch to a lower broadband speed.
Apparently the line is automatically monitored and progressively switched to higher speeds over a number of days until it achieves the maximum stable rate the line can sustain.
Mike.
That is 100% TRUE.
Routers are designed to be connected 24/7/365. Turning them off may save you about 7W of electricity, but it can cause all sorts of other problems.
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Hi Nick,
Appreciate everyones opinions and can absolutely confirm that everything is A OK now I don't switch the router off......something that doesn't come naturally to me and you only learn by experience and information from people in the know :)
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Hampshire Lass - I could have written your original post! (My OH had always insisted the router be switched off every night)
I've followed this thread with interest and for the past week have kept the router on 24/7. The laptop certainly connects much more quickly when I switch it on and I haven't had any annoying breaks in connection which I had been getting.
So thank you everyone! 2 satisfied customers ;D
Pat
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With BT you can join BTFON which allows you to use other people's wireless connections.
I must be a bit thick but why would you want to share other peoples wireless connections? Surely that could be a security risk? (Unless you're meaning starbucks or other such business/social places and not private house connections)
If you are out and about it can be useful to connect to the internet to check something, browse the news, etc. You can do this at many wifi 'hotspots'. Anyone can use such hotspots in pubs, cafes, libraries etc.
BT run a system whereby you agree to allow others to use spare capacity on your connection via your wifi. If you agree to this you are then enabled to access any other similar BT customer's connection that happens to be in range. I must emphasise that BT customers can opt out - but they can't use other peoples and not allow others to use theirs.
This means that there are many, many thousands of hotspots available to BT customers instead of the few thousand available to everyone - if you are visiting someone who doesn't have wifi the odds are that a near neighbour will have a BT connection you can share. Or you are staying with friends who have a BT connection but would prefer not to give you their router access codes so you can use their connection. Or you are in a hotel that wants you to pay for wifi access - use a BT connection instead.
Security is supposedly not an issue - at least, no more than using any public hotspot.
Supposedly (I have no way of telling otherwise) the external user on your wifi would take a backseat when you are using the connection yourself - your traffic would have priority so you should, in theory, see no loss of performance.
In reality the system is perhaps most useful to smartphone users who can connect to the BT system for browsing via wifi rather than using up the data quota on their phone connection.
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Thank you newburychap.....that's complete news to me......I didn't know such arrangements were in place and to my very simple mind, it seems like a security risk!
I did know you can use wi fi in certain hotspots like cafes but didn't know the full extent of sharing.
Best wishes HL
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Running a 'public' wi-fi hotspot can be quite dangerous unless some safeguards are put in place. If someone used your hotspot to download illegal material (pornography or copyrighted material), you could have a hard time proving that it was someone else doing it via your connection.