Powering down router at end of day

[Cam77]

I have always turned of my cable modems when not in use. As I am new to WI-FI can I do the same to my router at the end of the day? Just don’t want thing running all the time when not in use..

[TheEther]

You can power it down, but there really is no need to. It consumes very little power. With regards to a cable modem, it can take minutes for one to reconnect to the Internet, which can be inconvenient.

[antinode]

> I have always turned of my cable modems when not in use.

   Why?

> As I am new to WI-FI can I do the same to my router at the end of the
> day?

   Sure.  Why?

> Just don't want thing running all the time when not in use..

   Why?

   Device life?  Leaving these devices on can lead to accelerated
decline from heat.  Cycling the power can lead to accelerated decline
thermal cycling.  Without more testing than anyone is likely to do,
trying to guess which mode of operation will cost less may be
practically impossible.

> [...] It consumes very little power. [...]

   That depends on the definition of "very little".  The R6400 user
manual says that its power adapter can supply (up to) "12V/2.5 A",
which, at worst, probably means not much more than about 30W, so about
260kWh/year.  Probably (much) less.  What does a kWh cost you?  In the
winter, it can help to heat your home (a little).  What's important to
you?

[Cam77]

Ok, the only reason I asked is that I my modem and router are on my night stand about 2 feet from my bed and I don’t want to go to sleep with all the flashing buttons by my head..

[antinode]

> [...] all the flashing buttons [...]

   And that's why describing tha actual problem is more helpful than
asking about some proposed "solution".

   For an R6400, according to the User Manual: ADVANCED > Advanced Setup
> LED Control Settings.  If the "except Power LED" part is a problem,
then I'd employ layers of (easily detached) painter's tape, as required.

   If you don't already have the appropriate user manual: then visit
http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look  for
Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Look for "Disable LED Blinking or
Turn Off LEDs", or something similar.

   I don't see a comparable feature in the C6300 User Manual, so, if
that's your modem model, then you might need more tape on that one.  Or,
continue switching it off.

   Normally a strip of aluminum foil is more effective than multiple
tape layers, but it may be a poor idea near the radio antennas.