Should wifi Routers be power cycled from time to time?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Should wifi Routers be power cycled from time to time?

Grant01

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Topic # 98782 6-Mar-2012 10:59

Hi,

I was wandering if Wifi routers should be powered down for a couple of mins every 3 to 4 weeks to ''refresh'' them?

I have tried Netgear N150 Netgear N300 D-LinkN150 and Now have a D-link N300 all have lost wifi connection from time to time for no apparent reason all of the Netgear ones also lost there settings for some reason even though I clicked save before exiting the config.....

Also note that it's just the wifi that gets lost not Computers connected via Ethernet.

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Reply # 591136 6-Mar-2012 11:38

Lost "their" or "it's" Settings...

It's odd for the settings to be lost, D-Link are near the lower end of the spectrum and over the past 7 years I have burnt through at least 3 of "their" routers. I find that resetting the router every 4-6 weeks helps.

Grant01

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Reply # 591139 6-Mar-2012 11:45

Hi,

All of the Netgear Routers lost there settings (User name Password etc) usually every time I switched them off but not always. Then I had to go back into the config and re apply the settings, Seems that D-link make the best hardware.

Also I have played around with channels and 11 seems to be best. But my D-Link N300 (DIR 615) has dropped wifi connection once since 17-02-12 (Purchase date) but the wireless came online by itself without the need for a reset.

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Reply # 591140 6-Mar-2012 11:46

SteveON: Lost "their" or "it's" Settings...

Lost "their" or "its" settings.

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freitasm

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Reply # 591142 6-Mar-2012 11:48

I had a NETGEAR here for a review and used it continuously with no problems. My current router is a Cisco SRP device, also with no problems - and this one stays on for months, only powered down if we go away for a holiday.

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Ragnor

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Reply # 591151 6-Mar-2012 11:55

Good routers shouldn't need to be rebooted to resolve software issues, D-link have a pretty average reputation for the quality of their devices. I'm not a big fan of Netgear's consumer devices either.

Generally all the consumer manufacturers work on a limited product cycle where they develop the product, they release it to market, then they support it with firmware/software updates for a few months, maybe a year (if you're lucky). They then never work on it again as they are all working on the next model/revision.

This is why many geeks now favour a two device approach, ie: get a basic modem that can bridge ADSL (PPPoA mostly in NZ) like the Draytek Vigor 120 or TP Link TD8840 (non T version). Basic modem = less to go wrong software wise.

Then get they get separate router hardware (eg: Asus RT-N16, Linksys 4200, TP Link WR1043ND) that is supported by third party open source firmware such as DD-WRT, TomatoUSB and Gargoyle Router (OpenWRT) is generally superior.... the software actually gets fixed/improved/updated.

Grant01

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Reply # 591155 6-Mar-2012 11:59

Ragnor: Good routers shouldn't need to be rebooted to resolve software issues, D-link have a pretty average reputation for the quality of their devices. I'm not a big fan of Netgear's consumer devices either.

Generally all the consumer manufacturers work on a limited product cycle where they develop the product, they release it to market, then they support it for about a year with firmware/software updates (if you're lucky) then they never work on it again as they are all working on the next model/revision.

This is why many geeks now favour a two device approach, ie: get a basic modem that can bridge ADSL (PPPoA mostly in NZ) like the Draytek Vigor 120 or TP Link TD8840 (non T version). Basic modem = less to go wrong software wise.

Then get separate router hardware (eg: Asus RT-N16, Linksys 4200, TP Link WR1043ND) that is supported by third party open source firmware such as DD-WRT, TomatoUSB and Gargoyle Router (OpenWRT) is generally superior.... the software actually gets fixed/improved/updated.

I have upgraded to the Latest Firmware, But it's the same for any product with Firmware getting updated to fix all the bugs and make all the improvements then they stop working on it, Software is different it gets supported much longer.

Grant01

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Reply # 591156 6-Mar-2012 12:00

Also my choice in router had to support ppp0e.

nate

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Reply # 591167 6-Mar-2012 12:11

Grant01: I was wandering if Wifi routers should be powered down for a couple of mins every 3 to 4 weeks to ''refresh'' them?

No you shouldn't need to.

Having said this, last week my inlaws Linksys wireless router lost all its settings (including ADSL user/pass) which I had to re-enter from scratch. Very weird, has never happened before.

Grant01

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Reply # 591170 6-Mar-2012 12:13

Though maybe I might need to power cycle as I am with Woosh Wireless connecting to the router through ppp0e.

Grant01

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Reply # 591194 6-Mar-2012 12:33

Alright, Is it normal that a wifi routers wireless connection drops for a few mins from time to time? is it just the nature of the technology? and I'm not meaning dual band routers.

Ragnor

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Reply # 591321 6-Mar-2012 16:03

Grant01: Alright, Is it normal that a wifi routers wireless connection drops for a few mins from time to time? is it just the nature of the technology? and I'm not meaning dual band routers.

Not normal, might be on the way out or lots of interference or contention.

Run a wireless survey with Inssider
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

Grant01

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Reply # 591354 6-Mar-2012 17:17

Well can't be on it's way out, I got it brand new and have swapped brands and models and they all seen to do it.

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Reply # 591365 6-Mar-2012 17:40

my netgear dgnd3700 has been up for 4 months, 24/7, hundreds of gigabytes of data went through it. no problem at all.

gzt

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Reply # 591378 6-Mar-2012 18:09

Lost all settings? Never heard that one before. That's either an administrator soft reset or a hardware reset.

[Edit: or a disturbance in the force..]

rhy7s

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Reply # 591425 6-Mar-2012 21:02

Ragnor:
This is why many geeks now favour a two device approach, ie: get a basic modem that can bridge ADSL (PPPoA mostly in NZ) like the Draytek Vigor 120 or TP Link TD8840 (non T version). Basic modem = less to go wrong software wise.

I have had to add a power timer to reboot my Draytek Vigor 120 PPPoA to PPPoE bridge every day for stability ( a soft reboot doesn't work). Sometimes I have to manually pull the plug during the day as well. When the connection drops ADSL sync stays up and the web GUI remains accessible. My old Engenius EOC-2610's needed to be power cycled often as well. My newer Ubiquiti and Engenius units seem fine with only the occasional power cut to keep them 'fresh'.

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