BT Infinity - Router On or Off

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nikonuser

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Dave
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I have just had BT Infinity installed and have found that whenever I turn off my router (which is when I am not on the computer) it does not start up automatically. I have to unplug the mains from the white box leave it 10 seconds and then reconnect......it then connects OK.
Should I be leaving the router turned on all the time or is there a fault with my router
Thanks
Dave
 
Is this ADSL or cable?
With ADSL it's generally best to leave it on all the time unless it won't be used for several days.
There's a sort of dialogue goes on between it and the exchange which maximises speed without compromising stability, and the optimum settings can take several hours to achieve.
 
Yep, leave it on 24/7 unless your going on holiday or something.
 
You should always leave your router on and connected.

In fact, turning it off and on frequently can cause your line to slow down because the exchange thinks your connection is flaky and their kit slows it down until it thinks the line is stable.

I know somebody (an old person who even turned their freeview box off, complaining that the recording feature never worked!!) who used to do this and their line slowed down to 500kpbs, down from about 6000kbps. They had to get BT to reset their line profile and let it retrain.

If your connection has slowed down as a result of you doing this, give your ISP a call - they will be able to sort it out for you.
 
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Yeah, as above, leave it on.
Switching it off and on all the time, not only could it slow your connection down as explained above, you could also damage your router, it's not designed to be switched off and on again. When you switch it on, there is a surge of current going to the device, which over time may damage the electronics.


P.S. Actually, on the subject of switching things off when not in use, some of the advice out telling you to do this is wrong, like my parents read that your microwave uses up a tiny amount of electricity so you should switch it off, so they did. I told them to stop doing this, as it's a digital one and may damage the electronics, they kept doing it, a bit of time later the electronics screw up meaning they had to get a new microwave. Saving a few pence a year on electricity to end up spending £30 on a new microwave, false economy!
 
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Thanks guys appreciate your help I was concerned about the fire risk more than anything
Dave
 
nikonuser said:
Thanks guys appreciate your help I was concerned about the fire risk more than anything
Dave
Click to expand...

It won't be a fire risk, don't worry about that. Actually, you're more likely to cause it to set on fire by switching it off and on again :lol:

Just make sure it's not in an enclosed space and has enough air around it. Even if it overheated though, it'd switch itself off well before anything happened.
 
PPalmer said:
But I bet you trust the fridge. :-)
Click to expand...

LOL......and the microwave as mentioned before
OK I see what you mean so will leave it on from now on
Cheers all
 
What needs to be kept on is the modem. It is this that syncs with the exchange. On infinity, you have a separate modem and router (you can also have separate modem and router with ADSL too - I've just set one up exactly like that). You should always leave the modem on. If you have a combined modem/router (e.g. BT Home Hub 3 on ADSL) you need to leave the whole box on - clearly!

I would agree with others though, just leave the network infrastructure on....
 
Andy - yes, have the separate modem and router now leaving them both on
Cheers
Dave
 
Definitely something wrong with your router if it doesn't start up automatically.

I now leave my router on since I got my ipad last year.

Prior to this, for umpteen years, I turned my router off along with my PC.

This switching off and on could happen several times a day, not only did this not affect the connection speed, the router is still working to this very day!
 
If you want to reduce power consumption, and you're using the Home Hub 3, there is a facility to turn wireless off at certain times, so if the house is empty during the day you can turn it off then, and likewise if you tend to sleep regular hours, you can set it to turn off and on again whilst you're asleep and you'll not know any difference.

I had Infinity installed yesterday and going from 2.5mbps download to 60mbps was the same 'whoa!' that I remember from going from 56k dial up to ADSL.
 
marts_uk said:
BT installed my Infinity kit on the wall with floor to ceiling curtains covering their kit, when I enquired about the airflow to their kit, they said it would be fine, we don't live here
Click to expand...

You missed a bit off
 
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