WRT54G in the attic

I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better coverage.
It's currently in my family room which is in the basement (which is also
where my DSL modem is).

The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the summer
and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot in the summer
and cold in the winter.

Thoughts?
Doug

i wouldn't too extreme temperatures....not to mention the possibility of
high moisture content in the summer...do you have an upstairs conditioned
room????
"Doug" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Pfmng.28569$(E-Mail Removed). com...
>I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better coverage.
>It's currently in my family room which is in the basement (which is also
>where my DSL modem is).
>
> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the summer
> and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot in the
> summer and cold in the winter.
>
> Thoughts?
> Doug
>

Thanks Nancy. That's what I thought too and wanted to confirm my suspicions.

I'll look to install it in an upstairs bedroom somewhere where the
environment is much more reasonable.

Thanks again,
Doug

"Nancyt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
>i wouldn't too extreme temperatures....not to mention the possibility of
>high moisture content in the summer...do you have an upstairs conditioned
>room????
> "Doug" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Pfmng.28569$(E-Mail Removed). com...
>>I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better coverage.
>>It's currently in my family room which is in the basement (which is also
>>where my DSL modem is).
>>
>> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the
>> summer and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot in
>> the summer and cold in the winter.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>> Doug
>>
>
>

"Doug" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Pfmng.28569$(E-Mail Removed). com...
>I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better coverage.
>It's currently in my family room which is in the basement (which is also
>where my DSL modem is).
>
> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the summer
> and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot in the
> summer and cold in the winter.
>
> Thoughts?
> Doug
>

I've had an AP above my garage for 2 years and it still works fine.

Just for the record, Linksys quotes these figures in the data sheet
for the WRT54G:

Operating Temp. 32ºF to 104F (0ºC to 40ºC)
Storage Temp. -4ºF to 158ºF (-20ºC to 70ºC)
Operating Humidity 10~85% Non-condensing
Storage Humidity 5~90% Non-condensing

....

"Doug" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:IEwng.53193$(E-Mail Removed) et:

> Thanks Nancy. That's what I thought too and wanted to confirm my
> suspicions.
>
> I'll look to install it in an upstairs bedroom somewhere where
> the environment is much more reasonable.
>
> Thanks again,
> Doug
>
> "Nancyt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
>>i wouldn't too extreme temperatures....not to mention the
>>possibility of high moisture content in the summer...do you have
>>an upstairs conditioned room????
>> "Doug" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:Pfmng.28569$(E-Mail Removed). com...
>>>I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better
>>>coverage. It's currently in my family room which is in the
>>>basement (which is also where my DSL modem is).
>>>
>>> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat
>>> during the summer and the cold during the winter? Certainly,
>>> the attic gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
>>>
>>> Thoughts?
>>> Doug
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Frazer Jolly Goodfellow <no-(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
> Just for the record, Linksys quotes these figures in the data sheet
> for the WRT54G:
>
> Operating Temp. 32ºF to 104F (0ºC to 40ºC)
> Storage Temp. -4ºF to 158ºF (-20ºC to 70ºC)

One other thing to consider is the lifetime of unit. At elevated
temperatures the consumer-grade electrolytic capacitors just aren't
going to last very long. Its probably not a big deal with a $50
access-point, but still needs to be figured into the equation.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_life

* Electrolytic capacitors are devices with a well defined wear out
mechanism, the evaporation of the electrolytic fluid used in
these capacitors. High quality electrolytic capacitors have a
service life of 10,000 hours at 105 °C, the life roughly
doubling for every 10 °C lower temperature. Very cheap small
electrolytic capacitors have a service life of 1000 hours at 85
°C.

-wolfgang
--
Wolfgang S. Rupprecht http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/

"Wolfgang S. Rupprecht"
<wolfgang+(E-Mail Removed) .wsrcc.com>
wrote in news:(E-Mail Removed):

>
> Frazer Jolly Goodfellow <no-(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>> Just for the record, Linksys quotes these figures in the data
>> sheet for the WRT54G:
>>
>> Operating Temp. 32ºF to 104F (0ºC to 40ºC)
>> Storage Temp. -4ºF to 158ºF (-20ºC to 70ºC)
>
> One other thing to consider is the lifetime of unit. At
> elevated temperatures the consumer-grade electrolytic capacitors
> just aren't going to last very long. Its probably not a big
> deal with a $50 access-point, but still needs to be figured into
> the equation.
>
> From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_life
>
> * Electrolytic capacitors are devices with a well defined
> wear out
> mechanism, the evaporation of the electrolytic fluid used
> in these capacitors. High quality electrolytic capacitors
> have a service life of 10,000 hours at 105 °C, the life
> roughly doubling for every 10 °C lower temperature. Very
> cheap small electrolytic capacitors have a service life of
> 1000 hours at 85 °C.
>
> -wolfgang

A good point. But don't automatically assume that Linksys uses
consumer-grade electrolytics - e.g. most consumer market
motherboards use high-spec aluminium components.

I'm somewhat bemused to read the upper operating temp (40C) - not
unknown even here in the UK.

BTW: wikipedia is not a reliable source of factually accurate
information.

Frazer Jolly Goodfellow <no-(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>> One other thing to consider is the lifetime of unit. At
>> elevated temperatures the consumer-grade electrolytic capacitors
>> just aren't going to last very long. Its probably not a big
>> deal with a $50 access-point, but still needs to be figured into
>> the equation.

Well, yeah, sorta, maybe. There are two basic types of electrolytics.
85C and 105C. Tearing apart my handy WRT54G v1.1, I find that it uses
G-Luxon 105C electrolytics with various values. Ok, they're not junk.
The caps appear to be rated at 3 times the applied voltage, which is
very conservative and should yield a long lifetime:
Power Supply input: 220uF 25v and 470uf 35v
PS output (3.3vdc): 220uF 16v

The problem with electrolytics is that the voltage rating and lifetime
decrease rapidly above the rated temperature. Capacitor life drops
rapidly with increasing temperature. See the graphs at:
http://www.bhc.co.uk/pdf/TD003.pdf
which are for much larger caps, but are generally characteristic of
electrolytics. There's no much on the Luxon web pile, but the basic
data shows that rated lifetimes are something like 2000 hrs at maximum
ratings.
http://www.luxon.com.tw/radialcap.htm
Lower voltage or temperature will last longer per the previous graphs.

Incidentally, "end of life" is typically 105C for 85C rated capacitors
and 120C for 105C rated capacitors.

>A good point. But don't automatically assume that Linksys uses
>consumer-grade electrolytics - e.g. most consumer market
>motherboards use high-spec aluminium components.

I've seen motherboard CPU filter capacitors, where heating is far more
extreme than with routers, using 85C capacitors. It's one of the
things I look for in rating a quality board.

>I'm somewhat bemused to read the upper operating temp (40C) - not
>unknown even here in the UK.

It will not be the electrolytics that limit the upper temperature
specification. It will be something like the flash ram, MAC/radio
chip, or "power amp", dissipation that will cause problems. I've seen
a few reports of users tweaking the tx power to the 250mw maximum
output and blowing up their WRT4G routers. My guess is that it
overheated by itself or with some help from high ambient temperatures.

>BTW: wikipedia is not a reliable source of factually accurate
>information.

That's easily solved. We have a Wi-Fi FAQ at:
http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi
that is looking for user contributions, corrections, and editing. If
you find something wrong, then you're always welcome to make
corrections or debate the point with the authors. Other articles on
Wikipedia have similar policies. Controversial issues are always
handled by providing multiple points of view. Personally, I find the
Wikipedia quotation on capacitor lifetime to be quite accurate.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Doug wrote:
> I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better
> coverage. It's currently in my family room which is in the basement
> (which is also where my DSL modem is).
>
> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the
> summer and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot
> in the summer and cold in the winter.
>
> Thoughts?
> Doug

Rather than an attic, is there a closet or something upstairs you can use?
Remember you also need electric, and if DSL, a phone line. I had mine in an
upstairs bedroom closet.

Peter Pan wrote:
> Doug wrote:
>> I want to move my WRT54G into my attic so that it gives better
>> coverage. It's currently in my family room which is in the basement
>> (which is also where my DSL modem is).
>>
>> The question is, how would the WRT54G deal with the heat during the
>> summer and the cold during the winter? Certainly, the attic gets hot
>> in the summer and cold in the winter.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>> Doug
>
> Rather than an attic, is there a closet or something upstairs you can use?
> Remember you also need electric, and if DSL, a phone line. I had mine in an
> upstairs bedroom closet.

You don't need the phone line if you can run the WAN net cable (Cat5) to the
router