Turn Off Router, It'S Too Hot!

[insertmembernamehere]

The landlady says she will put the router for the few houses around here on a timer to shut off several hours at night because, "It gets too hot if you run it all the time and I am tired of people complaining about Internet problems!"

I think that the router being used is for indoor use, and it is in an enclosed wooden box on the back wall of a nearby house. Nevertheless, some (apparently) 3BB guys were there today and told her this.

Is there any truth to this idea? Should I also be putting a timer on my fridge to turn it off at night to keep the motor from overheating?

[PoorSucker]

If gets to hot the router will shut down it self.

[harrry]

If it is in an enclosed wooden box this will cause the overheating.

Edited February 10, 2012 by harrry

[itishothere]

Suspect it may be more effective if you set an alarm clock to wake yourself up and turn the fridge off manually?

My router is indoors, and can get quite hot. It is flashing and blinking at me all day long. Tireless little buggar. And when downloading overnight, doesn't even complain. Only had it a few years tho'.

Sadly, I doubt you will be able to make your landlady change her mind.

[Tywais]

[joe84330]

have had my router running 24/7 (minus occasional power outages) for 6 years.

then again i'm probably not as sophisticated in the ways of technology as she appears to be.

[PoorSucker]

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-Cool-your-Wireless-Network-and-make-it-fast/

[Rooo]

I have had this same scenario in a hotel in Bangkok. I think they believe they save money, nothing to do with overheating.

[necronx99]

I have had this same scenario in a hotel in Bangkok. I think they believe they save money, nothing to do with overheating.

Much like driving without lights at night saves petrol.

My wife went though a phase of turning the fridge off at night during winter......

[joe84330]

friend of mine (old guy, very decent human but not tech savvy) called me up the other day to say his router wasn't working.

i asked him what was any different from the day before and he says, "well, the lights were driving me crazy at night when i'm trying to sleep so i put a towel over it"

[limbos]

To OP, have encountered this line of thinking multiple times around Thailand. A favorite time is in the morning when they wake up, just when I'm in the middle of updating work........

Just for the record, I don't switch my router off.

Edited February 10, 2012 by limbos

[NHJ]

it is total BS, these devices are made to work 24 hours a days , anyway depending on a communal wifi is always bad, get your own line or get a true dongle for backup.

[Daffy D]

Why would it get hotter at night?

[PoorSucker]

Why would it get hotter at night?

Porn surfing?

[insertmembernamehere]

I was under the impression that routers were designed to be on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just as you don't turn your mobile phone off to give it a rest.

But there seems to be some differing view on the "heating up" issue. Does it really matter if it is in a wooden box? The box is about 2.5 feet square or a little bigger. There is no fan inside, but some "air holes" in the sides.

[insertmembernamehere]

Jesus, I just want a decent answer from someone who knows more about this situation than I do, but it descends into totally moronic replies. Really amazing.

[Tywais]

Jesus, I just want a decent answer from someone who knows more about this situation than I do, but it descends into totally moronic replies. Really amazing.

I've removed them now.

Based on reports on Thaivisa and other forums some routers are prone to overheating and can 'hang' until reset, usually the cheaper ISP provided ones. So yes, temperature can be instrumental in the instability of some routers and heat can always be a contributing factor to failure. Nighttime should be less of a problem due to being cooler and is probably just more noticeable then as everyone is home using the net and 'annoying' the owner.

The fan, I and others suggested, is a potential solution and would cost about 2 baht/month to run if it is a cost concern for the owner. You can all chip in to offset this cost.

[happylarry]

I have my router sitting on top of one of those lap top cooling fans. Its surprising what a difference it makes to the temperature, I dont know if it makes any difference to the performance but I like to think so. lol

HL

[SantiSuk]

Put the router on its end. That way the air has more chance to circulate on the large sides - top and bottom.

I Have no idea if that is true but the local TOT man suggested it and there seemed no harm in doing it. Works fine being on for 24 hrs.

Edited February 11, 2012 by SantiSuk

[BigC]

If you touch the router and it is hot then yes it is too hot.

sometimes mine is boilin.

i am thinking about turning mine off at night.

[limbos]

If you touch the router and it is hot then yes it is too hot.

sometimes mine is boilin.

i am thinking about turning mine off at night.

Wimp Stop watching those J-gals after midnight

[BigC]

maybe true my modem is boilin sometime i am thinking of turning mine off at night.

if the modem is hot then it is hot.

if you want to know if they are talking shit then ask to touch the modem

[jamesbrock]

I was under the impression that routers were designed to be on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just as you don't turn your mobile phone off to give it a rest.

But there seems to be some differing view on the "heating up" issue. Does it really matter if it is in a wooden box? The box is about 2.5 feet square or a little bigger. There is no fan inside, but some "air holes" in the sides.

Your impression is correct - they are designed to be on 24/7.

All modems, indeed all electronic devices, will heat up when in use; however, this usage will generally not be the cause of the overheating - this is almost always caused by poor ventilation. I have seen people placing their modems on carpet, or on top of (or under) their router, and wondering why they're constantly hanging or power-cycling. Your landlady's enclosed wooden box could very well be the culprit - if it is in direct sunlight, it could certainly get very hot - and a fan would certainly help in keeping it cool, but a good first step would be to, as SantiSuk suggested, place it on its edge (most modems/routers come with a little stand for doing this).

Sadly, as itishothere said, it will most likely be pretty hard to get your landlady to take any advice other than those of the supposed experts.

[BigC]

I was under the impression that routers were designed to be on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just as you don't turn your mobile phone off to give it a rest.

But there seems to be some differing view on the "heating up" issue. Does it really matter if it is in a wooden box? The box is about 2.5 feet square or a little bigger. There is no fan inside, but some "air holes" in the sides.

Your impression is correct - they are designed to be on 24/7.

All modems, indeed all electronic devices, will heat up when in use; however, this usage will generally not be the cause of the overheating - this is almost always caused by poor ventilation. I have seen people placing their modems on carpet, or on top of (or under) their router, and wondering why they're constantly hanging or power-cycling. Your landlady's enclosed wooden box could very well be the culprit - if it is in direct sunlight, it could certainly get very hot - and a fan would certainly help in keeping it cool, but a good first step would be to, as SantiSuk suggested, place it on its edge (most modems/routers come with a little stand for doing this).

Sadly, as itishothere said, it will most likely be pretty hard to get your landlady to take any advice other than those of the supposed experts.

sometimes the problems with broken pumps and electrics can be down to low electric. it is the biggest problem of stuff braking down in thailand.

Low electric gives enough power for the pumps and electric to work but not enough to work properly which basically means that everything grinds to a stop.

you ask when u have warrentee on tellys or anything such aspumps and stuff. ask them if the warrentee guarntees low electric most people say no.