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Post by louise on Feb 7, 2011 13:16:14 GMT 1
I use a BT Home Hub to connect to the internet. When I'm not on-line, I switch this off at the mains supply (I don't like paying for electricity that I'm not using and I don't really understand why it continues to have various lights winking and blinking if I'm off line - who is it communicating with and what is it saying?).
Is it likely/possible that this means that I have a different IP address each time I switch it back on again?
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Post by Progenitor A on Feb 7, 2011 13:51:38 GMT 1
I use a BT Home Hub to connect to the internet. When I'm not on-line, I switch this off at the mains supply (I don't like paying for electricity that I'm not using and I don't really understand why it continues to have various lights winking and blinking if I'm off line - who is it communicating with and what is it saying?). Is it likely/possible that this means that I have a different IP address each time I switch it back on again? Some of those indicator lights are powered by your computer and should (will) go off when you switch off your computer. It really is not very wise to switch off your modem as the amount of electricity it uses is negligible and switching it on and off is more likely to cause it to go faulty than leaving it permanently on. Your IP address is likely to change each time you switch off your computer and on again(if your computer is switched off there is no communication over your hub) This is because there are only a limited number of IP addresses and they are often allocated on demand i.e. when you connect to your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Only the last four or so digits will change (if they change at all). If BT has less subscribers on a server than it has allocated IP addresses it may allocate those addresses semi-permanently. If you were using a proxy server, then your whole IP number will be diferent to that allocated by your ISP |
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Post by abacus9900 on Feb 7, 2011 15:42:12 GMT 1
naymissus is it possible for malicious viruses to get into your PC even when it is not on but your hub is?
BTW, should you ever turn off your PC?
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Post by Progenitor A on Feb 7, 2011 20:51:09 GMT 1
naymissus is it possible for malicious viruses to get into your PC even when it is not on but your hub is? BTW, should you ever turn off your PC? Hi Abacus If your PC is off , then there is no connection through your switched-on hub to the Internet, so there will be no access for malicious viruses. Well the PC uses considerably more energy than a modem, so I always switch it off when it is not in use. So yes, I turn off my PC each evening Some people I know do not turn it off. But I am conscious of fire-risk with switched-on equipment. |
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Post by petergriffin on Feb 11, 2011 13:48:41 GMT 1
Hi Louise,
With reference to your homehub, if you turn it off you will loose your ip address and get a new one each time you turn it back on. I understand your concern over wasted electricy by leaving it on, but most electrical appliance will fail at the point of being turned on or off. If you consider that a home hub costs about £80 you can leave it on for a long time before it will use that amount of electricty, but if you constantly trun it on and off then the life span is shortend and thus you may need to spend the £80 buying a new home hub.
The other concern is my home hub take about 5 minutes to come up fully and give my wireless access to internet, does this not slows you down somewhat?
I leave mine on all the time and the flashing lights are just the home hub talking to the BT broadband system and nothing to worry about. You also need to be sure you don't turn off the home hub when it is being updated. IF you a home hub 2 (Black one with blue lights) then there is an upgrade light which flashes when the home hub is being updated, don't turn it off when this is flashing as the home hub may not work after this.
With reference to PC's the there is some debate around leaving them on or turning off, whilst as above PC usually faile at turn on or off, I don't leave mine on all thge time, but I do only turn off when going out or at end of day. So If I get home from work and put my PC on (7:30pm or so) I will leave it on till I go to bed. At weekend end I leave it on once I have truned it on and only swith off if I go out for a protracted period otherwise I leave it on.
As to virus's if you PC is off you cannot get one, it is possible for someone to put a virus on any asdl modem (home hub or similar) which will infect all PC that conect to it, but so far I have never heard of this.
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Post by louise on Feb 11, 2011 19:02:54 GMT 1
Thanks to naymissus and petergriffin for the detailed replies.
I have had this hub for 5 years and have regularly switched it off. It's probably old technology by now (we all know how quickly these things move on) and so when it fails or is other wise replaced by a newer gizmo, I'll leave that one swiched on.
Related question - I have a new wifi printer - leave it switched on or switch off when not in use?
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