Do you switch your router off?

[Blaugrana]

I have always switched our router on only when I need it, but have just read the folowing advice on my ISP's website:

5. Leave your router switched on
Leaving your router on will make sure you get the best speed and performance from your service.
Don’t switch it off at night! Regularly switching off your router can make it look like your service is disconnecting. If this happens, your broadband speed will be reduced because the exchange thinks your line is unstable and can’t cope with higher speeds. Speed reductions are never permanent, but it can take up to 3 days before your speeds return to normal.

Any thoughts?

[Chamberlain]

Blaugrana,

If this message was on my ISP website, I would leave it on, as I currently do, 24 x 7, 7 days a week



Chamberlain

[Blaugrana]

Thanks, Chamberlain.

I have been resistant to leaving it on 24/7 but may have to reconsider. Info I've found on the net so far is not very conclusive, so was hoping one (or more) of the technically minded members of the forum would have definitive knowledge.

[con20or]

Interesting...

[Blaugrana]

I've left it on for the last two or three days and will keep taking speed tests to see if there's an improvement. The things I've read that say it makes a difference suggest that switching it on and off somehow 'fools' the BT S/W into adjusting your speed down as it interprets it as an inability to cope. I'm dubious that switching it off at night should cause this to happen, but that's just supposition on my part, so I am experimenting. Unfortunately, after about 36 hours of continuous running I lost all internet access so switched the router off for 5 minutes to get the internet back. According to the logic, that will have nullified the benefits of previous 36 hours ...

[redcoat]

well leaving it on all the time is well and good if you have good internet speeds.
if however like me you live in the uk and your internet is supplied via the local crap exchange,then it wouldnt matter if you gave it free beer,strippers and pork chops it will not go any faster!
(1 meg in my case,yes one and thats on a good day!) cheers

[Blaugrana]

The advice I posted above is from Plusnet, my (UK) ISP. As I say, I'm sceptical, but OTOH, if they're correct, perhaps you have most to gain ...

[Saddletank]

Blaugrana, I use Plusnet as well. In the past their tech support have told me to switch the router off and on. It does seem to cure all manner of problems.

I switch mine off for about 30 seconds periodically. I was getting a very poor connection in teamspeak the other night and had a dropped connection which is rare for me. I switched the router off and on, effectively just rebooting it, and my teamspeak clarity improved immensely and I haven't had a dropped connection since.

I also was unable to get an Xbox to connect to my network before Christmas and that was solved by just rebooting the router as well, so now I think I'll do that whenever my internet feels a bit 'gluey'.

[born2see]

It's my experience that a wired router can stay on for years with no negative impact but ALL wireless routers require a restart from time to time. This comes from 20 years as an IT guy.

B

[con20or]

Is there any easy way of testing your internet speed?