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Status:
New Idea
Feature Request: Block or allow individual devices based on time schedule
I have an R7500 Nighthawk router that works beautifully. But one feature I miss is the ability to block individual devices based on a time schedule. There is a feature to block ALL devices on a tim...
I had this scheduling feature in my DLINK Extreme router. I absolutely LOVED it. It was easy to setup and very effective at access control for certain devices at certain times. Specifically for limiting and controlling my kids iPods iPads and phones access to reasonable and acceptable hours of the day. It was simple, input the MAC address of the device. Set the acces shedule for that MAC address. Save, and done.
When I moved to a NetGear R6400 I have to say that I was promptly disappointed. This new router is physically huge in comparison to my old one. The wifi signal isn't any stronger. Throughput is definitely better though, probably only because this new one is AC, and we have a multitude of devices connected to it. HOWEVER, a big huge gargantuan disappointment in the firmware/software features in this router as compared to my DLINK ones. If this can't be improved, and soon, through a firmware update. I will simply replace this by going BACK to the 10 year old slower DLINK just because of the size and the software. Netgear has good hardware which "may" be better than DLINK. DLINK has the controller/parent software that is WAY BETTER than Netgear.
So, I am going to make suggestion, which is admittedly biased based on my experience.
a) If you want fantastic and easy parental and device access controls --> go get a DLINK.
b) If you don't have a household to monitor and actively parent (or you just don't care), and you want a monster big black box with raw power and minimal software features --> go get a NetGear.
By the way. The "Live Parental Controls" and "NetGenie" things are absolute joke and are archeaic compared to the DLINK features. NetGenie and the NetGear blocking just don't work. You get it all setup and turned on. Then go do some surfing testing and are amazed at how everything still works and is accessed with no blocking on at all.
The core OPENDNS is great and everyone needs to know that you can use OPENDNS completely separately from your NetGear router. You can setup and use a free OPENDNS account with any router or computer or device that you have. Just go to the opendns website. All you do is put the OPENDNS server address into your router/computer/device DNS server settings, works on ANYthing. There is no magic to this and there is no glorious netgear exclusive feature to this.