Safe to use Hardware Wireless Switch?

Hey there, I'm just wondering if its safe to constantly turn on and off the hardware wireless radio switch. Like would I end up ruining something in the long run? I usually turn the switch off when I'm not using wireless and only turn it on when I need it.

thanks in advance.

 

I am not sure if constantly using it would wear it out but I don't like to use mine since the switch is so hard to move. You can do the same thing through the software. Have you tried pressing Fn+F5? This should bring up a black windows where you can shutoff/turn on your bluetooth and or wifi.

 

Move it all you want. I think they put it there so you could move it, you know...

And if it breaks, and your warranty is still active, you can just get a new one.

 

LOL i love your display picture. Anyways, I'm worried if it breaks AFTER the one year warranty. I'm trying to look at it in the long run. I'd like this laptop to last me through university.

 

Don't worry.. I'm pretty sure they'll last longer than that. I'd estimate at least 4 years.

 

The switch seems very flimsy and cheap like. Kind of like a cheap toy. I am not sure why they didnt use a higher quality switch? I don't like the switch at all. That said I have used it numerous times since I got my T400 and it is still working. I always forget about Fn+F5 as the The Fire Snake suggests. I think I will try and remember Fn+F5 instead of the switch. You will achieve the same result and no risk of a damaged switch. If you plan on not using wireless for an extended period of time (where you will be turning your computer on and off) then using the physical switch might be easier....you can just leave it off until you need it back on.

FWIW, I havent read of anyone with a broken switch yet on these forums?

 

I don't even turn my Wifi off either by the switch or Fn+F5 in my daily use. I just leave it on since I am not really concerned with battery life with this machine and I am plugged in most of the time. Why are you worried about turning your wifi off and on? Battery life concerns?

 

Well my switch on a Toshiba Qosmio stopped working so how do I check to see if there is a software overide to turn it back on if the switch doesnt work anymore? Well to make clear, I cannot yet confirm the actual switch faild so much as the circut board it resides on. It moves and feels fine, but the LED does not light up at all, yet Windows still sees the device, just cant activate wireless capability. Is the radio that is being turned on and off part of the wifi card or something between the switch and card? How can I jump the switch to keep it on or make my own switch?

I also tested the link 5100 in another notebook and it performs fine as well I swapped the other known working one into the Qosmio and it doesnt poerw on, yet I can install it and set it up as if so. Just no radio connection.

 

I’ll err on the side of saying you’ll be fine. Then again, I’m not certain why you’re so obsessive about toggling wireless. If it’s for power saving, your wireless NIC uses very little power—and you’ll get far more battery life by reducing your CPU utilization and screen brightness. You could also put the wireless NIC in a greater power saving mode, but that might negatively affect your wireless connections.