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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Calculate the router and modem as electrical loads that run for the hours your stream operates: convert each device’s watts to kilowatts, multiply by operating hours, then multiply by your electricity rate per kWh. Keep this network-equipment subtotal separate from the computer and other gear so you can see what the connection itself costs.
Calculate the router and modem’s electricity use
Watts measure power at a point in time; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy used over time. For each device, use:
Energy (kWh) = power (watts) ÷ 1,000 × operating hours
Cost = energy (kWh) × your electricity price per kWh
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For continuous operation, use 24 hours for a day or 8,760 hours for a 365-day year. For a monthly estimate, use the actual number of days in the billing period, or clearly state the assumption—for example, 30 days.
Worked example: a 10 W router
Greater Shepparton City Council’s Energy Efficient Toolkit Instruction Guide gives an illustrative 10 W router calculation: 10 ÷ 1,000 × 24 = 0.24 kWh per day. At an electricity rate of R currency units per kWh, that is 0.24 × R currency units per day. The 10 W figure is an example, not a claim about every router.
Rank #2
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Find a realistic wattage for each device
Use the device’s manufacturer information or packaging if it states input power or consumption. Do not assume all routers, modems, or gateways draw the same amount. TP-Link’s 2025 small-network-equipment page lists idle figures of 2.86 W for the Archer A54, 6.64 W for the Archer AX20, and 17.83 W for the Archer AXE300. These are manufacturer-reported idle values for specific models under voluntary-agreement procedures, not measurements of those units actively handling a live stream.
Comcast’s residential internet-equipment energy page reports ready-state figures and cautions that an individual device’s energy use can vary. Idle and ready-state figures are not necessarily equivalent to active-use power, so label the condition when you use a published number. Do not treat router examples as modem measurements.
Rank #3
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- Wi-Fi 6 Coverage: Includes dual-band W-Fi 6 (AX3000) delivering up to 3 Gbps wireless performance for your whole home.
If the documentation does not give a usable figure
Mark the result as an estimate rather than presenting an assumed wattage as fact. For a simple load with fairly consistent consumption, a plug-in electricity usage monitor can help establish its draw. The Greater Shepparton guide describes measuring simple devices in watts; the exact result still depends on the device and its operating state.
Keep separate devices and an all-in-one gateway straight
- Separate modem and router: calculate each device’s energy and cost, then add them for the network-equipment subtotal.
- Integrated modem/router gateway: count the gateway once. Its measured or published consumption already represents the combined device.
- Whole streaming setup: add the computer and any other equipment as separate loads. Keep these outside the router/modem subtotal.
For multiple devices with the same operating hours and electricity rate, you can add their wattages first, calculate total kWh, and multiply by the rate. Alternatively, calculate each device’s cost separately and add the results.
Rank #4
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
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- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Use your local electricity rate
There is no universal cost per kWh: the rate and currency depend on your location, tariff, and bill. Use the applicable rate from your electricity bill where possible. Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water describes estimating annual running cost by multiplying annual kWh by the electricity rate, and notes that input power is usually available from manufacturer information or packaging.
For example, if a router uses 0.24 kWh daily, its daily cost is 0.24 multiplied by your rate per kWh. To estimate a year, calculate the year’s kWh first and then apply that same relevant rate; state the rate and billing assumptions if you publish the result.
Best Value
- MAXIMIZE YOUR CABLE INTERNET AND WHOLE-HOME WIFI: A cable modem and WiFi router in one device unlocks the full potential of your home internet with faster downloads, smoother WiFi for gaming and video calls, and reliable coverage in every room.
- APPROVED FOR YOUR PROVIDER AND PLAN: Works with Xfinity internet plans up to 800Mbps, Spectrum up to 1Gbps, and Cox up to 1Gbps. Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DirecTV, DISH, or bundled voice plans. ISP activation required after setup.
- MULTI-GIG DOCSIS 3.1 SPEEDS: Get Gigabit+ cable download speeds on today's fastest plans, with headroom for the upgrades ahead. Real-world speeds depend on your plan and ISP network.
- WIFI 6 COVERAGE FOR THE WHOLE HOME: Stay connected in every room with dual-band AX6000 WiFi 6 covering up to 2,500 sq ft and capacity for 30+ connected devices across your home. Real-world coverage depends on home size, layout, and building materials.
- MULTI-GIG WIRED CONNECTIONS FOR YOUR FASTEST DEVICES: One 2.5 Gig Multi-Gig port and four Gigabit Ethernet ports keep gaming consoles, desktops, and streaming devices hardwired for the lowest latency and the most stable connection in your home.
Include network power in a complete 24/7 stream estimate
- List every device that will remain powered, including the computer or streaming appliance, router, modem, and any other relevant equipment.
- Record each device’s wattage and the state represented—such as idle, ready, or measured operation. Mark unknown or assumed figures as estimates.
- Calculate each device’s kWh for the same operating period, using 24 hours per day for a continuously powered device.
- Add router and modem costs together and show that as the network subtotal. Count a combined gateway once.
- Add the other equipment costs separately to arrive at the overall electricity estimate.
- Use your applicable electricity rate and state the time period and monthly day-count assumption, if one is used.
Or let it run in the cloud
A cloud service does not remove the electricity use of your router or modem if you keep them powered at home; it avoids needing a home computer to run the stream. With StreamNeo, upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay on at home to keep the stream running.
- Videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card; it is one free day per account.
The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo plans and pricing, then start your free day.
Quick Recap
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