So, my linksys wag54gv2 has been playing up recently. It's a wireless modem router that supports a lot of very cool things, including the ability to be able to run the hacked linux firmware "pluto" which unlocks a bunch of features, and fixes a ton of bugs that linksys never bothered to fix.

I've owned this particular device for several years now, so it's not a "huge" shock that I have to replace it, but it is interesting all the same at the problems.

The wireless connection was being quite flakey a while back and "worked" but dropped in and out a little (even with 100% signal), and recently the ethernet ports have dropped out and come back on. Tonight it dropped out however, and died completely!

According to some of my reading, the problem is that the capacitors (small little components that store energy) swell up due to the heat generated. There is actually no fan or cooling whatsoever inside, and the CPU heats up a fair bit, which causes the capacitors to dry out and swell up. Apparently this causes some weird voltage fluctuations through the 3.3v ethernet ports rail, and that in turn doesn't let it connect properly.

Anyway, I'm thinking I might attempt to replace some of them on the weekend, they're very cheap (as in a few cents each), so it's worth a shot I think! Wonder how many other electronic devices get junked because of tiny problems like this? :)