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Forum Discussion
Netgear Smart Parental Controls not functional
(Re-posting here now that I know there's a specific forum for Netgear Smart Parental Controls)
I'm currently running my Orbi RBK53 with firmware V2.7.2.104. Two days ago I "upgraded" from Circle Parental Controls to the new Netgear Smart Parental Controls to test it out, and I signed up for the 30-day trial of Premium. I have one profile set for my kid with Content Level Teen set, and a number of devices attached to the profile.
While the Windows machine attached to the profile appears to show all activity, for the iPad attached to the profile, much of the actvity does not appear under History. In addition, Bedtime does not cut access (for this iPad - unsure of other devices) at the prescribed time.
This is obviously a problem as the product currently does not do what it's supposed to do. Given that there doesn't seem to be an easy downgrade path back to Circle, I'd much rather get this working than go through a serious of firmware downgrades and factory resets to get the router back to where it was before I made the decision to test out the new parental controls system.
Has anyone experienced the same challenge? Any thoughts on how this can be corrected?
16 Replies
Just as a shot in the dark, I attempted a factory reset, and then restored the config backup I had previously taken. This did not resolve the issue.
After speaking with Level 1 Tech Support and realizing their scripts are not yet updated to deal with the new SPC, I played around a bit more to attempt to identify the issue. At some point I isolated the iPad device I was having challengs with to its own profile, and the controls seemed to work as intended. Once I added more devices (including non-iOS devices), I started to see issues again with history being logged and off-times being obeyed. This seems to imply an issue with profile corruption. Based on this, I made the decision to go back to Circle.
Going back to Circle required installing firmware older than 2.7.0.70 (I ultimately succeeded with 2.5.2.4), re-enabling Parental Controls, then upgrading to 2.7.2.102 and restoring my config. It seems if you downrev the firmware to another revision that supports the new SPC, there are some bits left that interfere with the ability to enable Circle.
Given my experience, I wouldn't consider Netgear SPC baked enough to be worthwhile, and I'm certainly not going to spend countless hours beta testing the product. I'll happily give it another chance once I hear of stability.
Interested in your process....
I have never intentionally activated any form of Parental Controls (not Circle, not "Smart"). Yet the Orbi "app" appears to think that I have and keeps wanting me to "complete my profiles". I just want it to go away.
I am on 2.7.2.104 (for no good reason, but that's where I am). Did you try the 2.6.1.40 before winding up on 2.7.2.102?
(I have this dim memory of loading 2.7.2.102 and my Orbi moving to 2.7.2.104 'by itself'. But maybe it suggested the update and I allowed it.)
After updating the firmware, I couldn't set up again without reinstalling everything and going back to the previous version. This also depends on which parental control app you have. After all, not everyone can do so. I had a choice between Qustodio and Net Nanny.
