I used to turn off my old broadband router overnight as it ran very hot and I live in a timber-framed house! It used to reconnect instantly, but in the past few months took up to an hour, so I began leaving it on permanently until it gave up the ghost. My new wireless router doesn't even have an on/off switch. Should I turn it off? Richard Byatt
Some cheap routers have small, badly designed cases and do tend to overheat, which can cause connection problems and means they tend not to last. After one died in my rug, I've taken to mounting them higher up, on legs or at least raised using Blu-Tack to improve air circulation. Certainly don't stand any router on something hot, and don't cover it with papers or whatever. Some do-it-yourselfers have been known to bore holes in the cases and install small fans. However, routers also tend to work better if left on all the time, so that's what I do and normally recommend. Just unplug it if going on holiday. An ADSL router should reconnect in a minute or two, at most. If there's a problem, the flashing lights should help you figure out what it is.
