Block kid's access to the net!

[WhiteD3]

All,

I have two out-of-control, night-time gaming, not home-working, slovenly teenagers who despite my best efforts, insist on staying up on a weeknight to 3AM gaming :angry:

I have a Netgear DGN2200 modem which purports to block PC access to the net (via IP addresses) based on a schedule but which I've never got to work. It'll block all PCs but not individuals.

I have assigned IP addresses to their PCs and I know the MAC addresses. I find the Modem's "connected devices" utility to be less that reliable.

Anyway............all of the above is just a whinge!

I need please, some recommendations for an ADSL modem that will allow me to block individual PCs based on a schedule.

Cheers.

[AndyG]

Would you like a third, i will send him over :p

[Debacle]

I just logged into my TP link TD8970 and found this. Is this similar to what you are after ?
79424

[sheerluck]

I've got the same TP-Link router as Debacle, and do use the block on schedule facility. There's also an ad-hoc block facility that I use when my 15yo is in the bad books. :)

[Homestar]

Just turn the modem or router off when you go to bed. Ours is in our bedroom so we have full control over it. Now the youngest is working full time, he goes to bed quite early now, so I don't need to.

[WhiteD3]

Just turn the modem or router off when you go to bed. Ours is in our bedroom so we have full control over it. Now the youngest is working full time, he goes to bed quite early now, so I don't need to.

I do that now (when I crack it).....but I'm an "early to bed/rise" sort and 9 PM seems a little too harsh for a grade 12er and uni student.

[JDNSW]

I use the block schedule on my netgear when I have my grandkids here. Otherwise they use my months data allowance in two days. Seems to work OK, but I had to change the password after they guessed it.

John

[theresanothersteve]

You've nailed the problem in one...

Your router blocks use based on IP addresses or MAC address, not user. This means you will not be able to stop the kids from using your devices to access the Internet if you manage to configure your router to lock them out.

My brother has a similar problem with his eldest. He has installed some software (Symantec, I think) which can limit access by time. I think it can also limit access by amount of time connected, and bandwidth consumed. Try searching for Norton Family Premier...

[AndyG]

I use the block schedule on my netgear when I have my grandkids here. Otherwise they use my months data allowance in two days. Seems to work OK, but I had to change the password after they guessed it.

John

Was it ''John'' ?

[VladTepes]

Was it ''John'' ?

Nah too obvious. I gather it was "Johnsastud" - the dangers of people getting carried away with their passwords....... :lol2:

[JDNSW]

Was it ''John'' ?
No, it was my late wife's name and birthday.

John

[isuzurover]

No, it was my late wife's name and birthday.

John

You may want to read this John:
xkcd: Password Strength (http://xkcd.com/936/)

[stewie110]

a more cunning way to really annoy teenagers that like to game is to put a bandwidth throughput limit on their connection. Many modern routers allow you to do that and it's simplicity is so good. 64kbps makes gaming really painful and it's too slow for good youtube etc. but the internet still "works"...

[Bytemrk]

Even with all the know-how and bits of equipment I have access to through years of working in IT....

I still find the most effective option now and again is to simply pull the power on the cable modem mid game....

Hey, 30 odd years ago, my old man would pinch my rotor button to stop me doing dumb ****... I guess this is the modern version...:p

[JDNSW]

....
I still find the most effective option now and again is to simply pull the power on the cable modem mid game....

......:p

Yes, I do that from time to time, but it does tend to lead to tantrums!

John

[incisor]

tantrums!


excellent entertainment when you dont have to sort it :p

router in the your room with a $10 power timer like an arlec pc707

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[clubagreenie]

Set the IP addresses to static so each device is fixed by MAC address so they can't alter IP addresses. Then you should be able to block by IP. The only work around is cloning IP addresses and they would need to know which IP's are allowed and their associated MAC.

Unless there is a facility you can install to require to log into the network each use or outside specified hours. You may also be able to block the ports that their games are using.

[rovercare]

router in the your room with a $10 power timer like an arlec pc707

http://www.wahardware.com.au/614-476-thickbox/arlec-pc607-compact-24-hour-timer.jpg

Amazing the simple solutions to technical problems:D

[WhiteD3]

I've finally got it all working (Hoo-bloody-ray!), much to the disgust of No2 son.

The problem with the DGN2200 modem is that it doesn't support blocking. Turns out its a version 1 and the manual I had was for a version 4. There's no physical difference between these two versions and GUI is the same also, but the V1 manual doesn't mention blocking while the V4 does. Go figure.

So I thought I'd put the block on the WNDR3700 wifi router down their end of the house and change the wifi password on the DGN2200 so they can't access it.

The WNDR3700v2 let me program and schedule the blocking but it wouldn't work.

Have I mentioned how I hate all things IT!

Turns out it needs the WAN port connected to get the time which then allows the schedule to operate.

This means I now have two networks in the house being 192.168.2.x and 1.x. All works fine except I can't print. The printer is on one network and my desktop is hardwired to the other. The rest of the family use wifi so they can connect to the WNDR3700 when they need to print.

A small price to pay.

[incisor]

if you slightly alter your setup and keep both routers on the same c class the printer will work...

[clubagreenie]

Is the printer setup on a virtual IP and shared through windows as a device or does it run via USB into and is managed by one of the routers?

[WhiteD3]

Is the printer setup on a virtual IP and shared through windows as a device or does it run via USB into and is managed by one of the routers?

It connects wirelessly to the WNDR3700 wifi router and has a static IP assigned.

[mouce]

Maybe I'm just a little bit too much of a geek for my own good...

But...

A CISCO integrated services router, then running into a Juniper SSG5, which then feeds a Netgear GS748T with four separate VLANS established (one for "management", one for "servers", one for "adults" and one for "children").

At any time I can just hit either the SSG5 or the GS748T and alter the config to either lock down an entire VLAN from accesing the WAN, or individual MAC or IP addresses. And I've got full IPTABLES filtering the individual TCP ports.

So...it's not exactly a typical "domestic" setup...but it works for me.

[WhiteD3]

Maybe I'm just a little bit too much of a geek for my own good...


Mouce, I think you should seek counselling for your IT addition and....dare I say it, crap spelling. Mouce, mewce. moose? :D

But I do appreciate you input :)

Frustratingly I have to report that teenagers are not as idle, lazy and disinterested as I thought. No 2 son has worked out that the Netgear modem's blocking only works for new connections. If he maintains his facebook/Minecraft/Skype connections after 11PM they don't stop. New connections don't work but who cares...problem solved :mad:

[rovercare]

They are adults anyway, foot them in the bum, fit in or....

Parented at that age? sheesh:eek:

[WhiteD3]

They are adults anyway, foot them in the bum, fit in or....

Parented at that age? sheesh:eek:

My plans for a retirement spent in the lap of luxury hinges on these two characters becoming masters of the universe, hence my dedication (most likely wasted) to the cause.

[JDNSW]

My plans for a retirement spent in the lap of luxury hinges on these two characters becoming masters of the universe, hence my dedication (most likely wasted) to the cause.

Best of luck!

John

[mouce]

Mouce, I think you should seek counselling for your IT addition and....dare I say it, crap spelling. Mouce, mewce. moose? :D

But I do appreciate you input :)

Frustratingly I have to report that teenagers are not as idle, lazy and disinterested as I thought. No 2 son has worked out that the Netgear modem's blocking only works for new connections. If he maintains his facebook/Minecraft/Skype connections after 11PM they don't stop. New connections don't work but who cares...problem solved :mad:

I have a very understanding wife :) As for the username. "mouse" is taken in almost every forum...."mouce" is not.

If they run everything everything on wireless, a WRT54GL (or any other suitable device) running dd-wrt firmware, can just nuke their connections at whatever time you choose.

I have a few spare Cisco 1851 integrated services routers, and a few spare Juniper SRX210 units lying around...if you've got the time to learn how to configure those [biggrin]