Why do my routers keep dying?

Question

I have to replace the router on my computer every 5 months or so. I've bought cheap ones and expensive ones. What the hell's going on?

The just stop working sudden of all.

I try to reinstall them--reset them. The just stop working and I have to buy a new one.

I'm interested in three things:

Do you have the same experience?

Do you have ideas on why I'm so hard on routers?

Do you know a problem I can be having that's easy to fix.

Answer 1

this might sound a little rude , but not ment to be , if your replacing a router every 5 months it is most likely because you have no idea what your doing when it comes to configuring them . I have been in the IT field for over 20 years and have never heard of such a thing . I have been using the same router for 5 years i have never had to reset it , it has never given me one bit of problems and i think it has been turned off twice in the last year

Answer 2

Routers dying every 5 months is not typical.

I had one router die after 45 days(just out of warranty - natch) That's in over 10 years of home networking 24/7. My original D-link is still running strong



So how do they fail?

What brand and model number?

Have they all failed in the same way?

Are they wired or wireless?

Did all communications fail?

Do all the lights just go out?

Did you try another power supply?

Are you plugged into a UPS, surge protected power strip or into the wall?

How do you test them to prove they have failed?

How long do you hold the reset button in?



Please resubmit your question and give all the details you can.

Answer 3

Sounds to me like you're baking them to death. They need lots and lots of cool air - no enclosure, not on top of the modem, not near a wall.



I agree with the other poster - I use wireless routers commercially, and have never had to replace one. (Maybe it's because I only use d-link or Linksys, maybe it's because I keep them cool and protected from spikes.)