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[Syaoran]

My BT settings are set to use about a quarter of my bandwidth and nothing more.  My connection is 25Mbit down/10Mbit up.  I watch a lot of Netflix and Julu Plus as well as play the odd MMO.  When I had the first unit on its way to D-Link, I used the PowerLink Boost-N doing the same as what I do now, just without the luxury of a 5Ghz band to use.  That held up just fine under the same circumstances and normally I just use that in bridge mode to give me a better 2.4Ghz range and stability. 

[FurryNutz]

Having ISP speeds like that, I would get in to a SB 6121 or 6141 modem.

Whats is this PowerLink Boost-N, a device?

[Syaoran]

Having ISP speeds like that, I would get in to a SB 6121 or 6141 modem.

Whats is this PowerLink Boost-N, a device?

That's this, which was recommended back in the DIR-855 area to help deal with interference.  It works wonders but isn't bad as a stand alone router either.  I don't find I have interference issues not using that with the DIR-857.  I'm not too sure if the radio is just more solid for broadcasting or not but I can stream HD to my TV without any issues.  It's just when I start to do multiple things, the routers gets very hot and then becomes unreliable.  At idle, it's sitting at 33C on the top center and closer to 40C at the top rear (by the ports). 

[FurryNutz]

Have you tried testing with out this router being used?
I would test with and with out this unit. If you test with this unit, Turn OFF The 2.4Ghz radio on the 857 and test again.

How far apart is this unit from the 857?

[Syaoran]

I have.  If I take the DIR-857 completely off the network and solely use the PowerLink.  I have no issues even under the heaviest traffic.  The DIR-855 is fairly solid but the radios in it seem to be extrememly sensitive to interference.  However, at short range, I have no issues running that solely.  Basically, the DIR-855 running with devices connected with about 6 feet of distance to ensure interference is at a minimum and it's solid.  Using the DIR-855 out at the cottage where there isn't anything to interfere.  It's a great device and I have much better range with it there.  Other than it being here in for testing, it's normally left up at the cottage. 

[FurryNutz]

We taking about a DIR-855 now?  

And I presume that if your running the 2.4Ghz radios on both, that the channels are manually set to something far from each other?

[Syaoran]

Just listing what other routers I've tested under the same conditions.  Both radios are set to channels no one else withoin range are using.  I don't have any issues with the DIR-857 and interference.  It's just temperature under heavy use, which in most cases is over wireless 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz simultaniously or heavy network traffic wired mixed with wireless. 

[FurryNutz]

Well, for the 857, under load, please get a LT cooler and test again and see. I would test the 857 alone with out any other wifi going.

Are the WiFi settings on the 857 default settings or are you using specific modes? Does this happen if using single modes or Mixed G and N on the radios?

[Syaoran]

Modes are 2.4Ghz broadcasing G and N with 5Ghz just broadcasting N only. 

[Hard Harry]

I just corrected my post on the heatsink in the DIR-857 found here. Seems Dlink put their heatsink along the bottom of the router. To improve performance of cooling it might help to turn it upside down. Sounds crazy but I think it might help. Or if you stacking it on something so their is more clearance along the bottom.

[Syaoran]

With all of the testing I've done.  Stability goes out the window once the router hits 35C.  I haven't heard a single thing out of D-Link to address this either.  Even the beta firmware failed to provide any better results. 

[mbg]

I don't have much data to add, but wanted to comment that I bought this router in late 2012 when the weather had cooled down. It had been perfectly stable since then but, now that the first hot/humid period of the summer has begun, I *think* I've been having temperature-related issues with the router.

The other day, one wireless connection kept dropping and reconnecting every 5 seconds or so, and I kept losing my wired connection to the router as well in a similar manner. I had another PC doing some heavy traffic.

The router did feel quite hot.

Turned off 5GHz, which didn't help much, wedged something underneath it to allow better airflow underneath, and then stopped the traffic on the other PC and after that the problem went away for the rest of the day.

It's in a basement, not enclosed, and on the top, open shelf of a mid-height wooden shelving unit. So, it maybe is a bit humid down there, but not much more than warm in terms of ambient temperatures.

It's fine now. The weather has cooled down. But this is pretty disappointing if heat was the cause... it was by no means an abnormal operating environment, and the router wasn't especially overworked (one active wireless connection well under saturation point, plus wired Internet uploads of about 1MB/sec, though using many connections).

With a router costing this much, I hope they didn't cheap out on heatsinks.

[Syaoran]

Not lon after D-Link sent me another beta firmware that didn't help with the various issues I was having with this router, I went out and bought an Asus RT-AC66U.  D-Link should take note because both are around the same price but I haven't had a single issue with the Asus since I bought it. 

[FurryNutz]

Any idea of how hot your 857 is getting?
What is the ambient room temperature?

Does shutting off options that are not being used like WISH, WPS help any?
What wireless modes are you using? Do Single modes like G or N effect anything?

Any other Wifi neighbors around? I only have few around me. All the measurements I took where with in operating temps.

Try using a fan or laptop fan placed under the 857 help any?

I don't have much data to add, but wanted to comment that I bought this router in late 2012 when the weather had cooled down. It had been perfectly stable since then but, now that the first hot/humid period of the summer has begun, I *think* I've been having temperature-related issues with the router.

The other day, one wireless connection kept dropping and reconnecting every 5 seconds or so, and I kept losing my wired connection to the router as well in a similar manner. I had another PC doing some heavy traffic.

The router did feel quite hot.

Turned off 5GHz, which didn't help much, wedged something underneath it to allow better airflow underneath, and then stopped the traffic on the other PC and after that the problem went away for the rest of the day.

It's in a basement, not enclosed, and on the top, open shelf of a mid-height wooden shelving unit. So, it maybe is a bit humid down there, but not much more than warm in terms of ambient temperatures.

It's fine now. The weather has cooled down. But this is pretty disappointing if heat was the cause... it was by no means an abnormal operating environment, and the router wasn't especially overworked (one active wireless connection well under saturation point, plus wired Internet uploads of about 1MB/sec, though using many connections).

With a router costing this much, I hope they didn't cheap out on heatsinks.

[FurryNutz]

For those concerned about heat issues on Amplify routers, a possible DIY modification:
http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=56608.msg220927#msg220927

Also an external Laptop fan or some form of external fan cooling helps as well.