topic Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How? in Archive

Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Charlielucaisfinn — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:42:45 GMT

I've been told there is a way to restrict access to certain users on your Wi-Fi account between certain hours of the day. I want to respect my sons access to the Wi-Fi at bedtime as he is unable to follow the rules! I've been told it involves login to the IP address which I tried but I'm not able to access

please help

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

bob1234 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 20:08:32 GMT

@Charlielucaisfinn It depends much on the router, I doubt if any supplied by broadband providers will give you the flexibility you need.

EDIT

After seeing @TimmyBGood post I looked it up and boost seems to be about £5pm

However if Sky is not your broadband provider my original statement still applies.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:51:32 GMT

@Charlielucaisfinn

The Sky product intended for that is Broadband Buddy, one of the extra features provided by the Broadband Boost subscription supplement.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Charlielucaisfinn — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:40:48 GMT

I did look at this but itrequures an app downloaded on his phone which he will delete??

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Rhonny — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:41:22 GMT

@Charlielucaisfinn

You put it on YOUR phone, not theirs...

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Charlielucaisfinn — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 08:01:36 GMT

ah! That would make better sense! I'm glad I asked now thanks

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Charlielucaisfinn — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 08:04:34 GMT

You do still have to download an app on their phone to access broadband buddy( which he can delete) but this is only for his phone! What about controlling access to pc's and computers??

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Rhonny — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 08:07:47 GMT

@Charlielucaisfinn

The very best and simplest way is to go into your router's settings and look for MAC filtering. This allows you to type in the MAC address of devices and determine the time the router allows them to receive data. Obviously on a kid's mobile, they can get data through the air even with wifi restricted, but it can help games consoles and mini boxes.

You can download an app like Fing to scan your network to find the MAC address of your connected devices.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

TimmyBGood — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 08:29:26 GMT

@Rhonny

Applying time-based MAC filtering on a router typically isn't 'simple' unless the hardware has an interface designed specifically for that purpose, and ISP kit usually doesn't.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Rhonny — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:17:58 GMT

@TimmyBGood

Oh, okay. I've only ever had routers that do...

I'll duck out of this then. Happy to hand over the advice to others.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Chodley — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 10:11:52 GMT

BT wholehome has device level time-based access controls for its wifi mesh. And you can adhoc "block until tomorrow". I regularly use it!

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

bob1234 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 10:52:42 GMT

@ChodleyWith the smarthub2 it says in the BT blurb that you can switch on "WiFi controls" but I could not find it anywhere.

Dispite what BT say, it needs the My BT app and does not work via hub manager.

"With BT access controls you can manage how your device accesses the internet during certain times of the day. For example, you can control your children's internet use when you're not about.

You’ll find it in Hub Manager or the My BT app if you’re on Smart Hub 2. To find out how to use it, just click on the dropdown for your Hub."

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

Chodley — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 10:55:05 GMT

I don't use a BT hub. Just their mesh hooked up to a TPLink router.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

bob1234 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 10:57:04 GMT

@Chodley wrote:
I don't use a BT hub. Just their mesh hooked up to a TPLink router.

@ChodleyIn which case your TPLink router may be able to do it post the exact model and someone may know.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

TimmyBGood — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:11:48 GMT

@Chodley

BT Whole Home comes at an extra cost though, as doesBroadband Boost. This, I suspect, is why ISPs don't make the ability to set up such controls available to all subscribers in their routers as standard.

Re: Restricting WiFi to the kids after 9pm?! How?

bob1234 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:23:09 GMT

Some TPLink routers have access control but it is done by Black listing to block which you have to remove to allow access but you have to block/unblock manually it is not timed.