Wi-Fi mesh recommendation please

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Wi-Fi mesh recommendation please

esawers

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Ultimate Geek

#284664 8-May-2021 20:12

We are currently using 2 x Ubiquiti unifi access points on a Synology NAS controller.
Wi-Fi covers the whole house but we need more Parental Controls, it would be good to limit online time by device/groups, have bedtimes, etc.. We also need a Guest network for our Airbnb unit.

A quick search says Orbi’s are very good but it looks like they charge a subscription for their better parental controls. There is also lots of versions of Orbi with big price ranges.
Google Wi-Fi was another option I’m trying to research.

Can anyone recommend a good solution? Preferably under $600

Edit: we have cat6 everywhere, and use Alexa for most things.

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#2703776 8-May-2021 22:45

What parental controls are you after? time of use or website limiting? if website limiting you could force devices to use 1.1.1.3 as DNS or even use the N4L DNS servers,

Edit: Missed the part where you said time controls, what about a FING box? https://help.fing.com/knowledge-base/device-blocking/

Might be the cheapest and easiest option. https://www.gowifi.co.nz/fing/fingbox.html

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nztim

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#2703778 8-May-2021 23:01

It sounds like you are wanting more than a router and are starting to get into the features of a UTM firewall from the likes of sonicwall and fortigate

This doesn’t come cheap

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esawers

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2703784 8-May-2021 23:48

sparkz25:
What parental controls are you after? time of use or website limiting? if website limiting you could force devices to use 1.1.1.3 as DNS or even use the N4L DNS servers,

Edit: Missed the part where you said time controls, what about a FING box? https://help.fing.com/knowledge-base/device-blocking/

Might be the cheapest and easiest option. https://www.gowifi.co.nz/fing/fingbox.html

Parental controls not access controls
Ideally the ability to turn the internet off for one device (from my phone) when they’re driving me up the wall ;)
But also setting time limits per app or website, and possibly scheduling the internet to turn off during homework or bedtimes.
Pretty much what the Netgear Circle, or Apple screentime does but without the subscription fees, and for all connected devices?

Or does anyone have experience with Netgear Circle? Reviews are mixed.

michaelmurfy

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#2703786 9-May-2021 01:56

As you've already got UniFi access points just get a UniFi Dream Machine. Has some good parental controls, can create a guest network with ease and also means you can continue to use your UniFi access points. I wouldn't go mesh as it'll be a downgrade from what you've already got. The dream machine is your controller also meaning you don't need to run the controller on your Synology.

In regards to parental controls - a site I help out with often has got a kids SSID on timed access and has even got another network with voucher access - eg, do the lawns and get a 1hr voucher type thing. On this network is full content filtering.

You can turn off individual SSID's with the app on your phone if this is your thing however I actually think voucher management for children is actually a good idea for mobile devices as you're able to really control their level of access.

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Linux

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#2703787 9-May-2021 05:19

When the Wi-Fi is turned off will the kids devices switch over to the mobile data network? If they do then a waste of time with all this!

cyril7

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#2703797 9-May-2021 09:27

As Linux says they just fail over to 4g, this can be a major issue for schools who then loose content control unless they gain physical control.

Cyril

esawers

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Ultimate Geek

#2703838 9-May-2021 10:42

cyril7: As Linux says they just fail over to 4g, this can be a major issue for schools who then loose content control unless they gain physical control.

Cyril

They don’t have 4g on their devices (iPads and laptops)

Linux

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#2703843 9-May-2021 10:54

Do they have mobile phones?

michaelmurfy

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#2703893 9-May-2021 11:28

Linux: Do they have mobile phones?

Even still if these devices are prepaid they’ve only got so much data…

esawers

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2704200 9-May-2021 21:55

After a bit more research, the Unifi Dream Machine Parental controls don't seem to be extensive enough.

The Tp-link Homecare parental controls looks ideal, so I was looking at a Deco M9 set to replace what we have.. however we have a VOIP phone line through Vodafone, and our current Vodafone Ultrahub router has a phone port on the back that the alarm plugs into and it calls me if the alarm is set off.

In this case I would need to use the M9's in access point mode which means no parental controls.

Next option - replace the Ultrahub with something like the AX50 router? But then we still lose the phone port.

Is there a way to replace the router and still have VOIP (or in this case the alarm still works).

Also looking at a Synology router which has good parental controls via an app.

shk292

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#2704204 9-May-2021 22:49

I have the TP-Link Deco M5 system, with the first node in router mode, 2nd connected via ethernet and 3rd via mesh wireless. It's been running faultlessly for a few years now and I think offers all the functions you're after. I haven't paid any subscription and don't seem to have lost any functionality after the first year, which I was expecting.

For my (slingshot) VOIP line I have a separate phone adapter (Linksys PAP2T) on my LAN. You could also probably put your VF device on the LAN, and get VOIP that way. The mesh systems lose a lot of functionality if you don't use them in router mode.

If VF VOIP won't play ball you could change to a 3rd party VOIP line like Hero and use that on a separate adapter

I hope that helps

maveric

36 posts

Geek

#2735084 26-Jun-2021 16:00

Google Nest have parental controls where you can group your kids devices and when it’s time to cut their wifi connection, you can schedule it and Google will do the work for you.

Zal

201 posts

Master Geek

#2751971 29-Jul-2021 20:51

Grand steam APs are so cheap and so good! All managed by a cloud controller for free!

Unfortunately parents controls. You could add an untangle aka ng firewall device to the network.

josephhinvest

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#2752053 29-Jul-2021 22:37

I’ve just implemented timed access control with my Unifi system for my kids. Was easy when I finally worked out how.
I created a new wifi network, set up access times (“wifi scheduler”) for the new SSID. Then I banned the kids devices (using MAC authorisation) from the main SSID and connected them to the new network.

It’s a bit of a blunt instrument as it has one “bedtime” for all users of that network but in fact it’s only for one specific kid, works perfectly in my case.

Cheers,
Joseph

jonathan18

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#2752122 30-Jul-2021 06:00

josephhinvest: I’ve just implemented timed access control with my Unifi system for my kids. Was easy when I finally worked out how.
I created a new wifi network, set up access times (“wifi scheduler”) for the new SSID. Then I banned the kids devices (using MAC authorisation) from the main SSID and connected them to the new network.

It’s a bit of a blunt instrument as it has one “bedtime” for all users of that network but in fact it’s only for one specific kid, works perfectly in my case.

Cheers,
Joseph

In the same way, I operate a kids-specific SSID on our Aruba APs and did the same on our previous Grandstreams, and that is excellent for ensuring no after-bed Internet access including, in our case, “teenage research sessions”!

But this won’t provide one of the key features that the OP is after, namely enabling or disabling that SSSID with the easy flick of a (virtual) switch, a feature I’m surprised is lacking in even systems with otherwise comprehensive parental controls.

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