Sky+ boxes - I would leave them on while away as there is a host of programs being recorded while away.

I do have a time switch resetting the Sky+ box every day at about 10am so that if the box throws a wobbler overnight I only miss one episode of the series link programs. I also can via the internet request programs to be recorded if alerted to them by the weekly email from Sky.

However other kit apart from fridges, freezers, clocks get disconnected when we are away.

My query was primarily aimed at resolving any performance issues that might arise if the modem was switched off - and I have been reassured that it has no performance impact - however I do understand the impact of power cycling kit that is meant for long term usage.

Yes, sensible to switch things off while away for any length of time. My remarks were directed at the switching off of things daily.

I switched off all the kit when I went away last week. Today I received an email from SamKnows asking me to restart their device or return it to them as they are missing my data and they have to send the May data to Ofcom.

I await their reply to my email informing then of my absence.

I received a very quick and pleasant reply from the SamKnows Community lady telling me to not to worry about being chased up by SamKnows.

Nice to know that there are real people behind these automatic systems.

Edited by DRW (Wed 15-May-13 17:00:10)

The one exception to this adage is when the article involved has capacitors as part of the power supply board, and built to an insufficient spec. Leaving equipment on all the time can lead to the electrolyte drying out, the capacitors failing, and the PSU voltages heading out of spec.

This can happen to a variety of boxes, but there's a strange concentration on PVR-style settop boxes. Perhaps because they run hot, and perhaps because the disks and tuners fail if they get too bad on voltage, so can be easily seen in a partially-failed mode.

I've fixed two of mine (of two totally different brands) and one of someone else's. It is a fairly well-known failure mode.