The Netgear R1620 becomes too hot and its internet speed decreases
The Netgear R1620 becomes too hot and its internet speed decreases
I've attempted to clean and reposition the router, yet after extended use it continues to overheat. This leads to a drop in download speeds from 80 Mbps to about 25 Mbps, while upload remains mostly stable (around 10–7 Mbps). Any suggestions for fixing this?
I've used heat sinks and fans to improve performance. Many routers and modems slow down during long downloads because they overheat. Even high-end models with built-in fans work better. Upgrading cooling always solved the problem for me. Usually I position a fan in a good spot, though placement isn't always ideal. Good airflow makes a big difference. My Amplfi Alien monitors temperatures, and my idle temps dropped by 20 degrees—thanks to its built-in fan.
Use zip-ties to fasten the fan onto the router. Some models feature a USB port for connecting the fan, and I connect it to a USB hub or 4-pin connector. The Asus design probably prevents tampering, making removal tricky. I trimmed about 5-10 degrees from the edges. You can also adjust your router settings to reduce temperatures. I lowered the 2.5 GHz channel but increased the 5.0 GHz channel for streaming. Wi-Fi operation produces significant heat.
In all those pictures I'm tapping into the bottom of the board where power plug goes. (12 volt in). (Checked with a meter) Pretty easy to solder to it. Here is a picture from one of the first cable modems I did: As mentioned above you don't need to do it this way. Noctua makes 5 volt fans you could power from a USB port. You could also use an external power supply if you needed to. For network / firewall setup I use an old USB hub power supply outputs 12 volts to power some fans.