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Thread ID: 95647 2008-12-13 07:02:00 ADSL Modem Too Hot? Ninjabear (2948) Press F1
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728550 2008-12-13 07:02:00 I have a question

I know manufacturers will know that people are likely to leave their modems or routers especially ADSL Modem on for long periods but as those devices don't have a built in fan or heat sink etc they do get really hot.

What makes them not overheat and melt on the inside?

Could it be that the heat in which the modem produce while it is on isn't hot enough to melt the parts inside?
Ninjabear (2948)
728551 2008-12-13 07:21:00 Pretty much. Our modem is never turned off, one of the concepts of ADSL Internet is that it is "Always On" and the modems are designed for this

There's no processor or anything inside, it's just a circuit board- A bit like a TV- No parts that require cooling, and yet you never have to switch it off (though we do :P)
mabix (10146)
728552 2008-12-13 07:25:00 so... Whats the difference between a processor and a circuit board that makes it different in terms of heat ?

A modem does contain contain a chip that may require cooling?

Uh still confused
Ninjabear (2948)
728553 2008-12-13 07:34:00 The Modem is set to do one set task at one speed or frequency or whatever you want to call it~ It's locked to this "Speed" because it doesn't need to go any faster. As long as at this certain speed it doesn't get too hot, cooling is not required. Usually the vent (the holes that poke through) suffice for air flow into the modem (though I notice the DLink ones don't have them)

Processors run at varied speeds, and it tends to be the faster they are the hotter they get therefore they need cooling.
mabix (10146)
728554 2008-12-13 07:36:00 Well a circuit board, is what everything gets soldered onto .

No circuit board, its nothing and will do nothing

And if it needed a fan (since its usually on 24/7) it would have one
Speedy Gonzales (78)
728555 2008-12-13 08:07:00 I had Alcatel dsl modems that used to get very hot, but my current Linksys runs cool. Bantu (52)
728556 2008-12-13 08:13:00 My current Linksys (which is a modem and router with wireless abilities) is like a tiny radiator! But it appears to be working fine, so yeah. Bussani (14313)
728557 2008-12-13 08:14:00 I have an SMC router .. its not quite as prone to overheating as the previous D-Link or Dynalink ones, but still does from time-to-time. I have small fan that blows air across it to try and help keep it cool - it does the job quite well :)

You can usually tell when its overheated, most simply "die", or cease functioning until you power-cycle them. The other most common reason for them requiring power-cycling is too many concurrent connections. Ive been running a Linksys AM300 to a small unit in half-bridge mode, never had the overheating or overloading issues, and Ive setup 5-6 lately :)

You'll find more stuff starts to overheat in the summer .. :(
Chilling_Silence (9)
728558 2008-12-13 08:33:00 I have a Huawei modem, which, inside, is essentially the exact same as the Dlink model telecom gives out, except its alot bigger with some means of airflow. Did your dlink modem really overheat? Never heard of it before.. mabix (10146)
728559 2008-12-13 08:51:00 Yeah man, esp those DSL-302g's, they're horrible :( I went through two of them coz one actually physically burned out from overheating?! I didnt know it was possible, but apparently it is :D Chilling_Silence (9)
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