Router advice please

[talos2]

I have a Belkin wireless broadband modem/router usually left connected and switched on at all times, my question, is it really necessary or advisable to leave it like this?.   I understood that the exchange needed a constant connection for some reason, but on the odd occasion when the router has been off for a while, my speed seems to be slightly increased on reconnection, since the top rated speed of my exchange is only 1.5mb,  I seem to get that whatever happens, I'm not a games player or heavy user so I find that speed adequate.

[g7pkf]

The power a router draws its not worth the hassle of switching it off.

if you use a wireless laptop away from the router i wouldnt worry about turning it off, if its just main pc next to router makes no odds.

But routers genrally send a "dying gasp" to exchange so as long as you only turn it on/off once (or at most twice) in a hour you should not get any problems. exchanges get flappy if they see more than (5 i think) off/ons in an hour and then start reducing your speed as they see it as a problem.

[Rik]

As Dean says, Bob, it's generally not worth turning your router off. OTOH, if you switch it on in the morning and off when you're done at night, it should have no effect on your speed. The only time that would be a problem is if you were trying to 'normalise' a high target noise margin.

[talos2]

 

Thanks guys, I guess I'll leave well alone then.

[MoHux]

   I think a fire-alarm in the same room would be a good idea if you leave it on !!

I switch mine off overnight with no adverse effects.

Mo

[Sebby]

  I think a fire-alarm in the same room would be a good idea if you leave it on !!

I think electronics are fairly safe these days.

[Lance]

Unless a squirell chews though the cables

[Rik]

But that's not electronics, Lance.

[talos2]

Another question, my wireless router has two antennas, rubber flexible type, would it be possible to extend the cabling on these and put them somewhere else in order to improve the range?, perhaps somebody with a bit of experience in radio transmission may know.

[Rik]

It depends on how they are attached, Bob, but it can be done with some routers, and it's possible to get directional or higher-gain antennae.

[talos2]

They just appear to be on a thread, would I need shielded cabling for the extension?

[Rik]

The ones I have seen, Bob, have used BNC connections with, I presume, an RG58 shielded cable (at least that was the cable we used to use with thin ethernet...).

[Rik]

Maplin has this offering...

[talos2]

Thanks Rik, thats just the job, I just need to figure how to fit a sma connector.

[Rik]

There's another at Play.com.

[Rik]

And a whole bunch here.

[talos2]

Touch expensive that one, you could almost buy a range extender for that money.

[Rik]

I'm just aiming for completeness.

[talos2]

And a whole bunch here.

Thanks, got to something there