Feature Request: Block or allow individual devices based on time schedule

There should be a kids selection on the routers set up that you could tell the  childern's devices and set limit on search words and web sites with filtering web sites of your choice.

I was looking  around in my routers  options today on a wndr3400 backup router with dd-wrt and it seems to have  a option of selecting the mac and ip address of the device to be block and when to turn off and back on shouldn't a high end router have this.Plus a area to fill in web sites to block and search words to block any childern friendly router should be able to protect them from the internet's underside.

Let's keep this thread going. Why not? This is a good place to complain about Netgear's routers. 

One of the biggest problems I have at home is teenagers.  Besides their attitude, I wanted a router that would tell me everything they are doing on MY network. Obviously, a phone with decent coverage will bypass the router and any blocks or restrictions that may be set. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about that situation.  However, I wireless device such as a laptop, Kindle Fire, iPod, iPad, etc.. STILL has to go through the router and I am still trying to find a really good router to achieve my main goals. 

Of course, every home is different. Perhaps, we ALL share the same goals and common ground.  

1.  Speed.  This is no brainer.  I have Kindle Fires, Kindle Fire Sticks, iPads, iPods, laptops, iPods, ATVs, etc.... which all require a good decent amount of speed for streaming movies or surfing the internet. 

2. Block Sites- Give the user the ability to block by URL and Keyword. I know this feature does exist on the router but if you are using OpenDNS, what is the point of the feature. Again, give the user a choice to block sites on the router WITHOUT using OpenDNS. 

3. Time Schedule- Give the user the ability to set a time schedule PER hour PER device on the router itself. This feature doesn't seem to exist on this router.  A user should not have to completely turn off the wireless radios as means to control the time schedule. Everyone knows that if you pause a Youtube video AFTER the wireless radio is OFF, the video will continue to play and still gives the user the ability to search other videos. Again, I know you can set time blocks in OpenDNS to control the filtering level. That is not the same as blocking internet access to a wireless device.

4. Traffic Analyzer/Web History- This feature is included in the Asus routers.  Netgear does have Dynamic QoS but the link to view bandwidth by device or application is buried. To view the bandwidth, it should be a separate tab under Dynamic QoS and give it another name. This feature should be very accessible to users. Also, I know Netgear has a log to view device activity.  It is very weak and doesn't include everything. This log should be improved to include everything such as sites that are allowed and blocked. A user should be able to view the log by device as well. 

5. Netgear Genie- This app needs improvement. Linksys and Asus both of apps for there routers as well. There apps are not bad but they are better than the Genie. The Genie is not bad but it lacks features to help manage your network from inside/outside the home.  There is no "bypass login" to allow a user to have access to something that otherwise is blocked. Since the Genie is on my phone, I should not have to login to the Genie EVERYTIME to view the network map. It is soo tedious to login to Genie on my phone everytime. Also, I should NOT have to install anything on client devices. 

The above list is from the point of view using the Nighthawk router and my experience using this router.  While others my have a completely different view and differrent experiences. I am comparing this router to Asus 68u and Linksys 1900ac.  I understand these routers are different and have different features. However, Asus gives you the most features where Linksys and Netgear lack in this area. Each router has there own separate issues and flaws.  In my opinion, none of these routers are superior to each other.  While Asus gives the most features but iit is not stable and not reliable.  The Linksys router is stable and reliable but lacks in features.  Finally, the Nighthawk router is NOT stable and is NOT reliable.  It lacks in features and you have use OpenDNS.  While some people don't mind using OpenDNS, I prefer not too. 

I tried a new router called Homehalo.  This router SUCKS and is terrible. This router is made for non techinal users and lacks ALOT of features.  Don't spend $99 dollars on this stupid thing.  

I am thinking of trying the Linksys ea8500 router.  Stay tuned....

This major deficiency has existed for well over a year.  Let's be honest with ourselves, if Netgear had any intension of fixing this issue they would have adddress it by now.  Quite frankly they don't care if we parents have the tools we need to provide adequate parental controls for our kids.

I am a long time Linksys owner, but when our last high powered Linksys router died (overheating problems) I ended up going with a Netgear R7500, mainly because it was recommended for running two separate Xbox consoles on the same network.  And I have to admit that it does that function beautiflly, to the point that Netgear has/had the opportunity to convert this long time Linksys owner to Netgear until I ran into their pitiful parental controls.  I have a 15  year old, bottom of the line, Linksys router that gives me more Parental Controls than this top of the line, modern Netgear router.  That in and of itself it pathetic.  Unless something drasticlly changes and Netgear addresses this issue, I will never own another Netgear product. 

The way I see it Netgear believes that Genie will solve the all issues but has issue's of it's own from all the postings about Genie causes this problem or causes that problem a software patch for the computer or mobile is not  the answer. Place the poeples needs and wants in front of the features that half the poeple never use. 

If Netgear truly believe that Genie (at least in its currnet form) is an effective way to resolve this particular deficiency they are complete morons.  Sorry don't know any other way to put it.  The idea of having to deploy software on every single piece of hardware that you may want to access the network from, just so you (the parent) can have unfettred access of the internet by using a "by-pass" account is ludicrous.  And that assumes that said playform even supports such software (to my knowledge consoles like XBOX do not). 

Limits that are set by firmware and control by the hardware of  the router are best where you set the mac address,ip address of the device to be block from the Internet  by a set time to a time that they are allow to be on even games could be block. and some even let you enter web sites and search words to block. Which is all good thing but they could still use their phones to access the Internet by using Internet plans on the devices the parent's would have to control that part if they are the main account holder on the phone plain. More then one of firmwares have some to all of these features in them right now some of them without app on a computer or mobile device.

See my previous comments.  It is quite simple.  The Netgear provides decent hardware raw throughput power.  This unit is good for nothing more than an access point.  Configure and use it only as an access point.   Plug it in to a decent actual router, DLINK.   I have the 6400 and frankly got fed up with it's shortcomings.  No more of my money or time spent on Netgear again ... ever.

The NetGear is good for nothing more than a set of wifi antennae (AP) or as a paperweight to pound your fist on once in awhile to get some satisfaction for having wasted you money on a POS product.  Another victim of good marketing.

First and foremost, the Genie sucks and it is terrible. Period.  If Netgear wants to correct things and make things better, they need to start by getting away from OpenDNS. I am sure it is a $$$$ thing between both companies. I am sure it is exposure for OpenDNS but OpenDNS is not a great thing either. All they do is filtering and that is all. Linksys and Asus doesn't need some other company to do the filtering for them. Perhaps laziness on Netgears part? The second thing, Netgear needs to redesign Genie. I am not going to install the Genie App on my stepdaughters devices only to let her bypass the router. Plus I am not going to install the Genie app on every single wireless device in my house and explain to them how to "bypass" the router. 

If Netgear believes the GENIE is the answer to everything. It's not and it sucks and they should get out of the business. The Genie is a utility to help "manage" the network and router.  The changes need to start with the router and redesign the router to include better features and improve the speed.  Heck, my OLD Linksys 1900ac is better than a Nighthawk router in terms of speed and stability. That is sad when something OLD is better than NEWER. The Linksys App is better, not great either, than the Genie App. Linksys can make a better router themselves and include more features but it is still better than Netgear. 

All router business should be done on the router itself and not rely on OpenDNS to help with filtering or any other basic function.  Netgear needs to end there partnership with OpenDNS or at least give the user a choice to use 3rd party or not. 

Just for the fun of it, I decided to not use OpenDNS and I wanted to see how the r8000 router works without any OpenDNS settings. So, I chose to get DNS settings from ISP instead of the default OpenDNS entries. The router seems to work fine without OpenDNS and I don't use the Genie as the Genie doesn't serve any purpose. I know that OpenDNS offers much more features than what the router offers. I know you can block sites on this router and I know you can turn off the wireless radios but it is not the same as what Linksys and Asus offers on there routers.  I don't know that block sites by keyword or domain is actually working. I have set the 2.4 band to turn off at 9pm and I know that works.  I only wish I could set a time schedule instead of turning off the band. I like to have more control to block access to a device on an hourly basis instead of the whole band turning off.  I know that any device on the 2.4 band will block wifi access after certain time. 

I am using my iPod Touch and Kindle Fire as a test devices. Both devices are on the 2.4 band. I did add both devices to the Address Reservation. On the router, I have the following entries as Keywords to be blocked:  Facebook, Youtube, Netflix, Twitter, etc.. and all of them are set as PER SECHEDULE. I have the Schedule set as Days to Block as EVERYDAY.  I am in Eastern time zone and of course I set the Time of day to Block (24 hour) as start 11:00 and 12:00 end. Using my Kindle Fire and iPod, I tried to access all of the keyword entries and of course I can access each site on the browser and App.  WOW!  I was hoping to be blocked on both devices but I am not surprised.  Next, I tried HTTPs site and after I hit Apply, I was still able to access that site.  I understand that home routers don't block HTTPs traffic.  Next, I deleted the Keyword Facebook and hit Apply and put the entry in set to ALWAYS. Again I still was able to access FB on both devices.  Finally, I added Boston as a keyword and http://www.boston.com to the block sites.  Here are my results, 

1st attempt KF, both URL and Keyword - PASS

1st attempt iPod, both URL and Keyword - FAIL

2nd attempt KF- URL Boston- PASS, Keyword - FAIL

After seeing a pattern, I decided to end the testing and put the Netgear router on the shelf. I will let it collect dust and maybe get rid it.