Can wifi routers wear out

Or maybe a particular transistor has failed altogether, but it is only ever accessed at a certain level of system load so the problem is intermittent. In any case, errors are detected, packets are dropped and resent, and hardware problems can manifest as degraded performance rather than outright failure. I am familiar with modern software, and I am aware that although many software upgrades claim "improved performance", the opposite is usually true.

I am also aware that router devs are more likely to add a daily auto-reboot function rather than fix the problem that makes the router require a reboot.

However, router wifi performance can and does degrade even when the software is not changed. Actually, degraded performance is usually the reason software is upgraded to begin with. So what did change? Maybe OP added more devices and the router isn't handling it well. Maybe there's interference. Maybe that interference is internal. Maybe the hardware is going bad and there's a power supply issue resulting in flaky performance.

OP's router might even run like new if he just gets a new wall wart. I have a similar issue as OP. I have a decent router that's about 4 years old, and the wifi performance isn't what it used to be. I haven't changed anything.

No additional devices, haven't moved anything. Router in the same place, laptop in the same exact place on a desk. The signal strength is not nearly as strong as it used to be, and the connection drops randomly then reconnects. This happens on the laptop and my phone while sitting at the desk. The problem persists after a router reboot. It persisted after updating the firmware. The connection is decent in the same room as the router, but the signal just doesn't reach as far as it used to.

The router still works, in fact I'm still using it. I hooked up an Ubiquiti AP to it for wifi, and the router is perfectly fine handling all the same routing duties it's been doing. It just sucks at wifi now. I think it's very plausible radios in routers "wear out" over time. As you know your home router has 2 parts, the "computer" and the RF section. The "computer" part not so much. Or I could be wrong. If it's below another threshold, it's a 0 Also true, but I think you might be confusing interface communications and a transistor storing a value These are jarring transitions from gound to VCC, it is not a ramp.

There is a distinct difference between a digital and an analog signal. We are talking about purely digital signals here. In our case our Wifi transceiver and microprocessor. These errors are corrected typically in the interface. If bad data is sent it is typically resent or in some cases even assumed. Maybe a power supply issue is reducing output power, and signal range as a result True, but you are mixing "transistor" erorrs and RF interference. You are severely underestimating how modern microprocessors work.

Unless a huge block of flash goes corrupted, this is a non issue. True, the backbone of all network communications. Extremely unlikely, wall warts usually work or they don't. If they can output enough power, most modern electronics are not that sensitive on the input. When a wall wart fails it typically can not provide sufficient power and causes the device in question to reset or not power at all. ESD is a much bigger cause of concern.

In your case it is most likely the connectors or the frame that hold the antenna are cracked. These failures are usually caused by cheap plastic. Look you obviously have some pretty decent understanding of how most of this stuff works at a high level. And once again I am not denying that these consumer routers fail routinely. I am just disagreeing on your basis of what causes the performance degradation. The primary problem with consumer routers is limited buffers and compute capacity relative to active sessions.

All this is not to say you should run out and buy a new router — but at the very least you should think about it. You could always buy one that comes with a day money-back guarantee, try it out, and see if it makes a difference. If not, return it, no harm done.

As fate would have it, PCWorld recently reviewed the latest and greatest Most people will only need to clean their router about once a month to keep the vents clear of any debris, but if you have a pet that sheds a lot, you may need to clean it more often. Or, if you're like me and live in a dusty region Texas , you might find yourself sprucing up your router -- and everything else -- more than usual.

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