Seeking buying advice - new router with Parental Controls

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Seeking buying advice - new router with Parental Controls

Rhinosaur

62 posts

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#273084 3-Aug-2020 14:04

I'm hoping someone can recommend a brand, or maybe even a specific model or series.

We're due for a new router, as we're having to reset our current one every other day. I've always found the ones that come from the ISP to be troublesome.

My dream:

An app on my phone that has each of the kids' computers listed, and a toggle switch next to each one that says internet off/on. That's it! It must exist?

Control over mobile devices could also be useful. Timers or alarms would be great too. As would excellent wifi coverage, as the house is sort of spread out. I can give more details of what will be connected to our network if needed.

And if there's a way for my kids to pay for this device with whatever you win in Fortnite or dig up in Minecraft, that would be great too. Otherwise I'm hoping for fairly low cost...

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#2533744 3-Aug-2020 14:08

We've got the smaller Koalasafe unit at home (bought before they released the Dome version) and think it's fantastic. https://koalasafe.com/

I see they are currently out of stock, but they were happy to ship to NZ after I contacted them.

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Rhinosaur

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#2533755 3-Aug-2020 14:15

Thanks for the suggestion!

I should add that the devices will be connected with ethernet where possible. I don't want them to have a miserable online experience, I just want to withhold it until they've done the dishes/got dressed/made dad a coffee.

I see "Parental Controls" listed as a feature on some mainstream routers, but understandably salespeople don't tend to have experience with it.

Dynamic

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#2533768 3-Aug-2020 14:29

The older/smaller device that we have has a second ethernet port, and anything connected to this port has the same restrictions.

Our initial use has relaxed somewhat, but it was initially devices lose internet half an hour before bedtime, and internet is open on weekend mornings but off in the afternoons. Giving 10/30/60/120/240 minutes of internet time, or blocking for the same period is trivial. Default filters aren't too bad. Moving devices between profiles is easy. We have a profile for each kid's devices (of course the older ones scheduled allow times are different), a profile for kids friends devices (unrestricted time so they can contact parents if required), and a Shared Chromebooks profile. You can grant each profile access to 'normal' internet sites of 'homework' web sites.

I'm definitely a big fan.

It must be behind your ISP router. I don't think it can do VLAN10 tagging etc to drive a NZ UFB connection. My experience of NZ ISP routers misbehaviour is the cable connections are usually fine and its the wifi that starts flaking out after a couple of years, so you can just hang the Koalasafe off that.

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noroad

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#2533832 3-Aug-2020 15:58

Rhinosaur:

My dream:

An app on my phone that has each of the kids' computers listed, and a toggle switch next to each one that says internet off/on. That's it! It must exist?

Control over mobile devices could also be useful. Timers or alarms would be great too. As would excellent wifi coverage, as the house is sort of spread out. I can give more details of what will be connected to our network if needed.

TP-Link Deco does exactly what you are asking for and is affordable. Just pick the number of units you need to cover your house. You can add more later if needed.

https://www.tp-link.com/us/deco-mesh-wifi/product-family/deco-m5/

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9005/TP-Link-Deco-M5-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---1-P

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9006/TP-Link-Deco-M5-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---2-P

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9005A/TP-Link-Deco-M5-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---3-P

noroad

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#2533833 3-Aug-2020 16:01

Rhinosaur:

My dream:

An app on my phone that has each of the kids' computers listed, and a toggle switch next to each one that says internet off/on. That's it! It must exist?

https://www.tp-link.com/en/homecare/

vexxxboy

4243 posts

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#2533871 3-Aug-2020 17:46

the Fritzbox has really good parent controls built in and really helpful apps you can download to your phone .

https://en.avm.de/products/fritzapps/

Common sense is not as common as you think.

shk292

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#2533883 3-Aug-2020 18:13

Another vote for the TPLink deco system, it does all the parental stuff very well and being a mesh system will cover your whole house.

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#2533985 3-Aug-2020 19:38

+1 for Koalasafe, my parents have one for their foster kids and it works well.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

zespri

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#2534791 4-Aug-2020 20:21

This is not a router and it also does not have parental control, but

>An app on my phone that has each of the kids' computers listed, and a toggle switch next to each one that says internet off/on. That's it! It must exist?

it has this.

https://www.fing.com/products/fingbox

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/FIRFIN0001/Fing-Fingbox---The-Plug--Play-Network-Security--Tr

This is ideal for non-technical user, as it requires no setup and just works. I personally did not do research and was a bit disappointed because I could not poke into it, but then I'm a techy.

This is the UI that you get, which seems to fit, what you asked for.

The device itself plugs in to your router and allows you control all devices on the network this way. No additional software required (apart from the phone/tablet app). It also can send notifications when device appear and disappear from the network, it can be useful to check if the kids really switched it off at 4 pm as promised while you were doing grocery shopping on your own. It also can notify you when mobile phones of family member become connected or disconnected for the network. Finally, it periodically scans open ports and if changes detected, notifies you. This way you can catch unwanted software in your network you would not be otherwise aware of.

noroad

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#2534893 5-Aug-2020 07:39

zespri:

https://www.fing.com/products/fingbox

I would seriously doubt that thing would work. There appears to be no explanation of how it works and a big list of routers it does not work with. I don't see why anyone would buy such a smoke and mirrors add on device when for the same price the tp-link would definitely do exactly what is required.

zespri

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#2534895 5-Aug-2020 07:47

noroad:

zespri:

https://www.fing.com/products/fingbox

I would seriously doubt that thing would work. There appears to be no explanation of how it works and a big list of routers it does not work with. I don't see why anyone would buy such a smoke and mirrors add on device when for the same price the tp-link would definitely do exactly what is required.

Well, you may doubt all you want, it's been running fine here for last three years. I think @michaelmurfy has one too. How has your experience been, Michael?

@noroad can you clarify what exactly you doubt? You doubt that I'm telling the truth that it has been working fine? One reason to get it over a router is that it's much easier to setup than a router, and it has mobile apps for control. It may not be a good reason for you but for some people it is. If it does not suit OP, because they do not already have a router, and need one anyway, perhaps it will help someone searching these forums for "Parental Control" later. It is an option to consider, it works, and it's up to each individual to decide if it's worth the price for them.

ResponseMediaNZ

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#2534917 5-Aug-2020 08:53

Rhinosaur:

I'm hoping someone can recommend a brand, or maybe even a specific model or series.

We're due for a new router, as we're having to reset our current one every other day. I've always found the ones that come from the ISP to be troublesome.

My dream:

An app on my phone that has each of the kids' computers listed, and a toggle switch next to each one that says internet off/on. That's it! It must exist?

Control over mobile devices could also be useful. Timers or alarms would be great too. As would excellent wifi coverage, as the house is sort of spread out. I can give more details of what will be connected to our network if needed.

And if there's a way for my kids to pay for this device with whatever you win in Fortnite or dig up in Minecraft, that would be great too. Otherwise I'm hoping for fairly low cost...

What Device family are you running?

Recently moved from iDevices to Samsung devices for the kids and the family link by google is excellent and can manage Chromebooks too.

Works when you are out too

Rhinosaur

62 posts

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#2536088 7-Aug-2020 09:40

ResponseMediaNZ:

What Device family are you running?

Recently moved from iDevices to Samsung devices for the kids and the family link by google is excellent and can manage Chromebooks too.

Works when you are out too

Oh it's a mixed bag, a big messy bag.

There are a couple of Macs and iPhones and Apple TVs, connected wirelessly.

My wife has a new Surface for work, wireless.

3 PCs, probably best described as "gaming", connected via ethernet and a switch.

A couple of cheap tablets, wireless of course.

Xbox One, currently wifi but I should probably run an ethernet cable to it.

There's an Apple Airport Express connected via ethernet, which I intend to run a guest network from for the home office.

Mac Pro for work, connected to the above Airport.

I could keep going.... TVs; security cameras coming soon; wouldn't surprise me if the cats have some sort of online social network going

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! The TP Link system looks promising.

lxsw20

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#2536094 7-Aug-2020 09:54

noroad:

zespri:

https://www.fing.com/products/fingbox

I would seriously doubt that thing would work. There appears to be no explanation of how it works and a big list of routers it does not work with. I don't see why anyone would buy such a smoke and mirrors add on device when for the same price the tp-link would definitely do exactly what is required.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARP_spoofing is how i understand it works.

josephhinvest

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#2536112 7-Aug-2020 10:03

I have a Synology RT1900AC and can recommend it. Looks like its no longer available and has been superseded by the more expensive RT2600AC. However they run the same OS...

Within the router OS you can configure parental controls. A child can have multiple devices assigned to them and the usage controls apply to all their devices.

From the iPhone app (or router web interface) you can pause a childs access, on all devices, or reward with extended access.

You can also add kids accounts to the "Safe Access" system with varying levels of web filtering. You can set up time quotas that limit usage time within the allowed hours too, but I don't use this.

Cheers,
Joseph

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