Wireless router questions and tips

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Just set one up here. Would like suggestions on using in our house. No problems, seems to work great.
Only question so far. Should the router be shut off over night as I shut off my modem?
Thanks,
David

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Not much to suggest other than using a strong wireless password. One other thing you might consider is printing a copy of the router password and wireless password and tape them to the bottom of the router. Then at crunch time you won’t have to reset the router because you have forgotten the login password.

As far as shutting down the router, I never turn anything off except the monitor at bed time. (Just my way of doing things)

JB

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My wireless router and cable modem stay on 24/7 with no problems. I just turn off the PCs. Make sure you use a strong password as already suggested and choose the strongest security available, usually WPA2. Most wireless routers let you set up a MAC filter to allow only those devices you choose to connect. This works well for the average PC user that you want to stop, but will allow advanced users to crack through, that’s why the strong password and security settings. Be sure you know what the MAC address is for all PCs and devices you wish to access the router.

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I’ve used the free WiFi at our local library and a number of restaurants and coffee shops. Most of them turn their routers off over night. The only problem I’ve ever had with turning mine off is not letting it off long enough for my network connected storage device and my network connected printer to recognize the situation. Now I leave it off at least 5 minutes and everything comes back up nicely.

You’ve seen some excellent suggestions in the previous posts regarding securing your wireless network. If you live in an area where your neighbors or passers by can very likely receive your signal, you probably should also set your router to not broadcast the SSID. In itself it’s not going to stop a dedicated hacker, but the average person won’t know you’re network is there.

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I’ve used the free WiFi at our local library and a number of restaurants and coffee shops. Most of them turn their routers off over night. The only problem I’ve ever had with turning mine off is not letting it off long enough for my network connected storage device and my network connected printer to recognize the situation. Now I leave it off at least 5 minutes and everything comes back up nicely.

You’ve seen some excellent suggestions in the previous posts regarding securing your wireless network. If you live in an area where your neighbors or passers by can very likely receive your signal, you probably should also set your router to not broadcast the SSID. In itself it’s not going to stop a dedicated hacker, but the average person won’t know you’re network is there.

I recommend that you don’t set your router to not broadcast the SSID. See this article and read it all the way through not just the top portion:

http://www.brighthub.com/link/header.aspx?u=http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726942.aspx%23EDAA&p=1211&returnUrl=/computing/smb-security/articles/1211.aspx

Also here:

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/1211.aspx

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David,

One other thing I would add is that if you have kids who have friends…change the default router access password! Actually I’d do this anyway.
Nuf Said.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Thanks to all that took the time to respond. My greatest concern was the life of or the wear & tear on the modem & router by leaving them on 24/7. The cost of electricity, I don’t think, is of much concern. The laptops are turned off every night.
Thanks again,
David

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I have have left my routers on 7/24. I just replace my older (since Windows 95) NetGear wired 4 port only, to a NetGear 8 wired port with wireless. The only time this old router was turned OFF was when were were out of town for more than a week or when we lost power do to a storm.

I would say the the daily on/off has more affect than leaving them on. We also leave our computers and printers on 7/24.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Routers have no moving parts and are designed to be left on 24/7/365

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One thing to remember is heat destroy’s. I had lost two modem’s to heat, but have since
mounted a small fan from an old CPU with two sided tape. It has been running fine since.

I have used case fans on older monitor’s with success helping to cool them and they
lasted forever.
Ted

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As my blackberry, my wife’s iphone, wireless network printer, xbox, nintendo wii, and two wireless laptops access our router and cable modem, I always leave them on…

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I only shut down my modem and router during an electrical storm. I’ve found it convenient to have them plugged into separate switched surge protectors, so I can turn on the modem, wait a minute or two, then turn on the router, and then finally start the computer. Rarely have any problem re-connecting. That wasn’t always the case when they were plugged into the same surge protector and started up at the same time.

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I turn off my wireless router every night. I have used the same router with several laptops and have never had a problem setting up this router with its password with a new computer in Windows XP and Vista. I turn it off for a number of reasons. One is that whatever power it uses when not in use is a waste and environmentally unsound. Even a watt overnight multiplied by millions of idle routers adds up to an environmental effect. Another is I can see several neighborhood networks to connect to in Windows the odd time when I have to reconnect. Mine used to be the only secure one a few years back. The most secure wireless network is one that is turned off. If it has no moving parts, this should not have an effect.

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If it has no moving parts, this should not have an effect.

I think you were doing great until you got to that statement. Anything that generates heat is affected by that heat, both during power up and cool down. Electrical traces are expanded and contracted, solder joints stressed, SSDs stressed, etc.

So, while your other reasons for turning the router off are good, this does have an effect.

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