Leave modem on/off? what's best?

[97tbird]

We recently got DSL service, and I was wondering what's the normal thing to do when you're not online: turn the modem off, just leave it on. It's a pretty simple ADSL modem that we got from the ISP(Embarq).
I've left it on for about 3 days now, and it never gets hot or anything.
But are there any other security related issues connected to leaving the modem on? (we usually put the PC on "standby" after surfing).
(using AVG free, SWB, Adaware SE, CCleaner and Spybot regularly, if that matters)
Thanks!

 

[tmorris1]

Leave it on.

 

[daman]

It's made to leave on,every time you turn it off it has to reboot it's self.

keep it on..

 

[Matt_S]

No one's going to be able to hack into your computer while it's in standby, so don't worry about that. I'd also highly, HIGHLY recommend a DSL/Cable router with a built-in firewall. Linksys is by far the most popular in that regard. It's a relatively cheap way of adding some very good protection to your computer.

Like the others have said, the DSL modem is meant to be left on at all times.

 

[sxg6]

I leave my cable modem on 24/7/365. I power cycle it every few weeks to make sure that its running the best it can.

 

[lyle]

I shut my modem off. It's connected to my wireless router and even though I turn my computer off, I don't want to take ANY chance of anyone hacking into my wireless signal even with WAP/WEP encryption. It's easier to shut off the modem than it is to shut off the router.

 

[blupupher]

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I leave my cable modem on 24/7/365. I power cycle it every few weeks to make sure that its running the best it can.

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Yup, I unplug it and plug it back in once every month or so with the modem and router..

 

[Hermann]

It is especially important to leave it on when service is first established. It learns and conditions itself to your phone line, and learns the max speed of your line.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks, guys. If there's no danger with PC on standby, I will leave it on, and power cycle it once in a while. Like I mentioned in my router-related post, i think I'll get the WRT54G Linksys...I really don't think I will need the 3rd party software capability of the GL...perhaps someday when I upgrade the whole system...
I have 607MB now with XP...thinking of adding some more to get it up to 1GB, just to give everything a boost, even though I know it's not gonna make a big diffrence in online capabilities of a computer.

 

[Brett Miller]

A software fire wall like Zone Alarm is also a good idea.

 

[daman]

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I leave my cable modem on 24/7/365. I power cycle it every few weeks to make sure that its running the best it can.

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Yup, I unplug it and plug it back in once every month or so with the modem and router..

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Do you need to unplug it or just turn the switch off then
back on???

whats that do???

 

[Pablo]

I have a Motorola cable modem before my router and hardware firewall. I shut the modem down (into standby) when away. Doesn't hurt anything and I know positively no one is hacking into my PC's.

 

[Rand]

With dsl modems they tune themselves to your line noise/speed
and if you leave it on you will get a faster connection.

 

[Mamala Bay]

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I leave my cable modem on 24/7/365. I power cycle it every few weeks to make sure that its running the best it can.

---

Yup, I unplug it and plug it back in once every month or so with the modem and router..

---

Do you need to unplug it or just turn the switch off then
back on???

whats that do???

---

Each internet connection is programed in your ISP network.
There is an IP address assigned for each connection,. A cable modem is needed in high speed connection to receive the IP address assigned in your internet connection.

There maybe signal fluctuation from ISP to cable modem from power outage. Also power outage(surges) to your cable modem can cause the modem to not read the signals from your ISP correctly. This will cause slow downs in internet usage.

One way to reset that connection from ISP to cable modem is turn off electrical power cable modem, router and comp. Leave this off for 2 minutes than turn power on. Comp should not be turn on until cable modem resets it's connection with your ISP. This resets the signal connection from your ISP network to your cable modem in receiving the correct IP address.

 

[daman]

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I leave my cable modem on 24/7/365. I power cycle it every few weeks to make sure that its running the best it can.

---

Yup, I unplug it and plug it back in once every month or so with the modem and router..

---

Do you need to unplug it or just turn the switch off then
back on???

whats that do???

---

Each internet connection is programed in your ISP network.
There is an IP address assigned for each connection,. A cable modem is needed in high speed connection to receive the IP address assigned in your internet connection.

There maybe signal fluctuation from ISP to cable modem from power outage. Also power outage(surges) to your cable modem can cause the modem to not read the signals from your ISP correctly. This will cause slow downs in internet usage.

One way to reset that connection from ISP to cable modem is turn off electrical power cable modem, router and comp. Leave this off for 2 minutes than turn power on. Comp should not be turn on until cable modem resets it's connection with your ISP. This resets the signal connection from your ISP network to your cable modem in receiving the correct IP address.

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[ConfederateTyrant]

I've had the same modem from AT&T/Comcast since 2001 and have never shut it off, except to power cycle every so often, which is usually when I am getting a slow internet connection and that doesn't happen often.

 

[97tbird]

until the router is here, If I need to connect the DSL modem directly to my laptop;
Can I just pull the jack off the desktop and plug it into the laptop while the modem is still on or do I need to turn the modem off, disconnect/connect, and then turn it on again?

 

[Volvohead]

All computer equipment is best run 24/7. The thermal and electrical cycling of repeated cold starts far outweigh the wear of continuous operation.

Leave the modem on and slap a HARDWARE firewall right behind it.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Quote:

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until the router is here, If I need to connect the DSL modem directly to my laptop;
Can I just pull the jack off the desktop and plug it into the laptop while the modem is still on or do I need to turn the modem off, disconnect/connect, and then turn it on again?

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You need to reset your modem. Any changes as new modem, router or comp...modem must be reset. The ISP network reads all changes.

 

[ajrich]

I always leave my modem on and it is hooked through my router. I just have to power cycle a couple times a year when my connection slows down for some reason.