Managing teenagers access times to Internet via router?

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Dodgy1

43 posts

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#130872 1-Oct-2013 09:42

While I love my kids they sometimes drive me to distraction. My Broadband data cap is getting an absolute trouncing and while I know there are plans out there that offer unlimited use that would mean changing isp and I don't want to, I'm happy with my current provider. So I got to thinking. Is there a modem/router out there in the market place that has some sort of internal setting that would allow me to set the times that it allows connection to the net? It also has to be user friendly as I'm not exactly the brightest bulb in the house! Thanks in advance for your input

Cheers

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#905544 1-Oct-2013 09:47

Most consumer routers have basic quality of service settings that you can enable. This will let you limit speed to a particular MAC address - so lets you specify a speed limit on a device by device basis. Depending on the features of the router it might let you do what you want.

What router do you have currently?

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russelo

328 posts

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#905550 1-Oct-2013 09:55

Gargoyle

Perfect for teenagers.

Inphinity

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#905562 1-Oct-2013 09:55

You're looking for a router that has parental control functions. There's a few around that do. Is this for ADSL, VDSL, UFB, or something else? Asus' WRT-based routers offer this (DSL-N55U, RT-AC66U etc) in that you can specify allowable access times per device. D-Link and most other major router manufacturers also have at least some models that support these settings.

Dodgy1

43 posts

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#905577 1-Oct-2013 10:11

Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to reply

I currently have a Belkin Pre-N wireless router connected to a DSE adsl modem. I guess I should have something that does both jobs. The parental control thing sounds like it's the thing I need. Limiting time by device sounds awfully complicated. We all have our phones laptops computers etc connected to the network. Looks like this is going to be a steep learning curve for me.

nitrotech

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#905578 1-Oct-2013 10:13

I find the fritzbox great for this - you can set a maximum time online per device per day + filtering and you can say no internet after say 10pm - my son says i'm the worst father in the world so it must be working.

Dodgy1

43 posts

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#905583 1-Oct-2013 10:17

nitrotech: I find the fritzbox great for this - you can set a maximum time online per device per day + filtering and you can say no internet after say 10pm - my son says i'm the worst father in the world so it must be working.

Now this sounds like the business! Where would one acquire a contraption such as this???

nedkelly

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#905586 1-Oct-2013 10:22

Dodgy1:
nitrotech: I find the fritzbox great for this - you can set a maximum time online per device per day + filtering and you can say no internet after say 10pm - my son says i'm the worst father in the world so it must be working.

Now this sounds like the business! Where would one acquire a contraption such as this???

Fritzboxes are not cheap, what I did was get a TP-Link router and loaded Gargoyle firmware on it, really good decision.
Gives quotas by MAC address and other awesom features as well.

Dodgy1

43 posts

Geek

#905589 1-Oct-2013 10:25

nedkelly:
Dodgy1:
nitrotech: I find the fritzbox great for this - you can set a maximum time online per device per day + filtering and you can say no internet after say 10pm - my son says i'm the worst father in the world so it must be working.

Now this sounds like the business! Where would one acquire a contraption such as this???

Fritzboxes are not cheap, what I did was get a TP-Link router and loaded Gargoyle firmware on it, really good decision.
Gives quotas by MAC address and other awesom features as well.

Oooh now your talking Japanese. So would I be able to do this with my Belkin router? It's pretty old....Kinda like me really...

nedkelly

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#905594 1-Oct-2013 10:36

Only specific routers are able to run it, but IMO its cheaper that Fritzboxes.
List of supported routers: http://www.gargoyle-router.com/wiki/doku.php?id=supported_routers_-_tested_routers

They do also sell pre-installed ones: http://www.gargoyle-router.com/shop/products/gargoyle-gigabit-router-1-1

shrub

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#905599 1-Oct-2013 10:40

Get a draytek vigor 120 and a TP-Link WR-1043ND or WDR-4300 and setup modem to PPPoA-PPPoE passtrough and load gargoyle firmware on the router then you can set all kinds of restrictions per computer IP.
I had this set-up for a flat when I wanted to play games I could just turn off torrents on flatmates computers etc.

NonprayingMantis

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#905606 1-Oct-2013 11:02

what ISP/plan are you on at the moment?

you may find it a lot simpler to just pay an extra $10-$20 per month to get a bigger plan with your current provider rather than buying an expensive new router $200+, messing about with router settings which you don't really understand, and which your kids will probably be able to change back anyway.

almost every provider has pretty decent plans out there now 500GB+ which should be plenty for almost any household (notable exception being VF cable I think where the max is 150GB - if you are on that then you are pretty much screwed)
you could even try phoning up and threatening to leave if you don't give you a free plan upgrade or something.

gehenna

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#905608 1-Oct-2013 11:08

Pre-N....whoa....might be time for an upgrade anyway? Just work the Parental Controls requirement into your new purchase :)

garvani

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#905618 1-Oct-2013 11:50

If you just want something simple out of the box, Netgear routers allow what you want (time management - so not internet after 10pm etc), also can block websites etc etc. Fairly cheap as well. Check out the manual online to see if it does what you want it to do.

networkn

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#905626 1-Oct-2013 12:07

garvani: If you just want something simple out of the box, Netgear routers allow what you want (time management - so not internet after 10pm etc), also can block websites etc etc. Fairly cheap as well. Check out the manual online to see if it does what you want it to do.

We tested a few netgears recently and found them quite inflexible. In the end we got a couple of our customers with a similar issue a Draytek DV2710NE they are very happy with it.

garvani

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#905640 1-Oct-2013 12:24

networkn:
garvani: If you just want something simple out of the box, Netgear routers allow what you want (time management - so not internet after 10pm etc), also can block websites etc etc. Fairly cheap as well. Check out the manual online to see if it does what you want it to do.

We tested a few netgears recently and found them quite inflexible. In the end we got a couple of our customers with a similar issue a Draytek DV2710NE they are very happy with it.

I would hope so considering its another $200 ontop of the netgear! no doubt you get what you pay for, but i can't say ive had any issues with the netgear's setup, i was using it at home myself for a while. There could be more features ofcourse but this isn't a top of the line router, it does the basics.

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