Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

guyguy
Apprentice

Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I am trying out the Nighthawk router and I am comparing its features to Linksys and Asus routers. The router has the latest firmware version. I have a few questions about using the Nighthawk router.  I am, more less, confused about some of the features such as time scheduling and blocking sites. Also, I don't understand the purpose of OpenDNS if I can block most sites on the router itself. I am sure that OpenDNS does a better job at blocking sites and categories.

 

1. How do I block a site such as Facebook on individual device? I don't want to block it from other family members. I have tried both OpenDNS and blocking the site on the router itself from preventing both an iPod and Macbook from accessing Facebook.  Both the iPod and laptop let Facebook come up. I have tried to block Youtube on the router and OpenDNS with the same result.  I can, still, access the site on my iPod and laptop.

 

2. How do I set a time schedule on individual devices? I don't want to turn off or disable the wireless to go off at a specific time, I just want to block a device from accessing the internet at specific times like 8pm to 9am. 

 

3. Do I use the Netgear Genie to access the router from outside my home? I like using my work computer to login to my home router to change settings and so on.  

 

I like the Nighthawk router but I need to work through some of these issues such as time scheduling and being able to block sites to individual devices.  Perhaps, someone can offer some suggestion on what I am doing wrong and explain some things. 

 

 

Model: R8000|Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Smart WIFI Router
Message 1 of 30
storm1985
Prodigy

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

1. No you cant block apps through LPC. It can only filter HTTP/HTTPs service.

 

2. To set a time schedule per device;
     a. LAN IP reservation - so the IP wont change and blocking services always works
     b. Block services - where you configure the service and the IP to be filtered (if you want to completely block that device IP set Service to "ANY" or all services)
     c. Schedule - the timeframe you want to set

 

3. 2 options
       Remote Genie - where you use the NETGEAR Genie -KB guide here
       Remote Management - HTTPs access using WAN IP or dynamic DNS -KB guide here

 

Hope this helps u 🙂

Message 2 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Thanks for the response.  I was able to block sites and set a time schedule on the Linksys and Asus router.  Doing this task was very simple and straightforward. To followup with your answers.

 

1) I am not looking to block apps on the router. That would be a great feature to have but most home routers don't support it. I am looking to block www.facebook.com or www.netflix.com PER device.  I want to block sites without affecting other devices.  For example, I want to block www.facebook.com or www.youtube.com so that an iPod or computer doesn't have access to those sites.  I don't want Mary to have access to those sites on her iPod or laptop. 

 

2) If Mary's iPod or laptop has an IP of 192.168.0.123, I would static that number on the router and set the time schedule to whatever I want. For example, I want to give Mary from 2pm to 8pm EVERYDAY on her laptop internet access. Next, I want turn OFF the internet access at 8pm to 2pm the following day.

 

Again, I was able to block sites PER device without affecting any other device in the house. Also, I was able to set a time schedule PER device on both Linksys and Asus routers. It was very easy to do it on those routers and I am looking for the same easy method on the Netgear router. 

Message 3 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @guyguy,

 

1. You can use the per device filtering feature on the NETGEAR Genie app/program and set the filtering level to "High" or "Custom" on the devices you would want Facebook and YouTube to be filtered on. You can check the link below.

 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29913

 

2. As for setting a schedule for Internet access on specific device/s, you can follow storm1985's advice of setting up Address Reservation for the devices then block all services on a set schedule. You can check the links below.

 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24091

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24055

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24054

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

 

Message 4 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Dexter~  Thanks for the reply.  Netgear has an odd way of doing things.  Both Linksys and Asus use a grid to block time which to me is easier than how Netgear does it. 

 

1. After I block a site, how long do you wait for it to take affect on the router?  I thought I had tried this on my iPod and I was still able to access FB or Youtube on the browser and app.  Yes, I understand that I can't block apps on a device.  I just want to block sites like FB or Netflix on specific devices both laptop and iPod. 

 

2. I will try to to set a schedule for internet access based on Storms advice. 

 

I will try the suggestions and advice and I will post my results. 

Message 5 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @guyguy,

 

If you are using the per device filtering, LPC settings may take a while to take effect since the filtering is done on their servers. This is the only available solution for you to somehow block/filter sites that fit to a certain category set by OpenDNS on a per device level.

 

Please keep us posted on the results.

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

Message 6 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

So, I have the router up and running. I am using my iPod as the test device. The iPod is connected to the router.  So, I have set the iPod to 192.168.1.101 in the reservation.  I have the iPod set to HIGH for the filtering. 

 

1. Even though I have the filter set to high, I am still able to access FB and Youtube on my iPod.  I can access FB on the browser and Youtube on the app.  I really would like to cover both app and browser access but I know that I can't block app access. 

 

2. I go to Advanced and Schedule to set the time schedule. I don't want to set a time schedule for all devices. How do I specifically set a time schedule on my iPod? 

 

3. On the network map, why does some devices go grey as if they are offline? Shouldn't devices have a constant connection?

 

I want to fine tune the blocks and time schedule PER device.  Although the router is fast, I want to continue to use it but ONLY if I can block websites PER device and specifically set a time schedule PER device. 

Message 7 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I have one other question.  I have a lot of devices which includes the following:

 

4 iPod Touch 5 and 6 gen

4 iPhones 5, 6, 6s Plus

3 Amazon Fire TVs

2 Chromebooks

Xbox 360 and Playstation 3

2 iPads

Wireless printers

2 ATVs

Wired computers

 

To get the best speed on all devices, what would be the best band to use 2.4 or 5? Do I split the devices and put some on one band and others on the other band? I know 2.4 has a stronger signal. 

Message 8 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @guyguy,

 

1. Please make sure that the DNS values on the router UI are set to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. Filtering only works on browsers and is a feature limitation.

 

2. Only a single schedule can be configured. Under Block Services you can set the Service Blocking to Per Schedule and when you add one, you can use the option "Only this IP Address" or "IP Address Range" that includes the device/s that you want limit for the Internet access.

 

3. Devices will appear grey if they are not connected to the network.

 

4. You will only be able to block websites per device through the Per Device Filtering of LPC if the website/s fit under the OpenDNS categories. Setting time schedule for Internet access can be done with the suggested combination of Address Reservation, Block Services, and Schedule options on the router.

 

5. It depends if the device/s are dual band, how you use them, and their location from the router. It is highly recommended that if a device can connect to the 5GHz band and is used for streaming and/or gaming then it should connect to that while leaving the rest to the 2.4GHz for regular browsing and general Internet use.

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

 

 

Message 9 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

 

When speaking with OpenDNS support person, they told me that my router could not be identified by them. I did send them my MAC address. I am not sure what that means but I am waiting on there answer.  I have the DNS values already added to the router.  Configuring this router is more of a hassle than it needs to be.  On a Linksys and Asus routers, blocking sites and setting a time schedule is straightforward, very easy and they make it easy.  Everything is done on the router itself.  

 

On the router, I have set an IP reservation belonging to my iPod. In OpenDNS, I have set a time schedule from 9pm to 9am and filtering set to HIGH.  I am not sure that is restricting internet access to my iPod and the filtering is working as it should.  At 8pm, my iPod is set to HIGH for filtering but I am still able to access FB or Youtube or Movie Star Planet.  Netflix still comes up and I can watch a movie. I am not sure that filtering is working properly on devices.

 

My two goals: 

 

1) I need to be able to set filters to block social media (FB, Twitter, KIK, etc..), movie streaming (Netflix, Youtube) and games (Movie Star Planet) PER device on an HOURLY basis. If I don't want my daughter to access Netflix for two hours in the afternoon, I should be able to make that quick restriction and it takes immediate affect on ALL of her devices. After two hours pass, I can grant her Netflix access. 

 

2) I need to be able to set a time schedule PER device on an HOURLY basis. I need the ability to set a time schedule to block internet access after 9pm on certain devices.  During the day, if I don't want my 2nd daughter to have internet access on ALL devices, again, I should be able to make the quick restriction to block time on all of the devices. After an hour or two has passed, I can grant her access on her devices.

 

I am able to achieve both goals on a Linksys and Asus rotuers. Without any trouble or delays, I can block sites and time to certain devices without affecting the rest of the devices in the home. I don't understand why is it so complicated on a Netgear router. 

Message 10 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @guyguy,

 

The router is limited to the features previously described and suggested.

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

Message 11 of 30
storm1985
Prodigy

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

@guyguy you can configure this on NETGEAR business firewall

Message 12 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I have another question.  Lets say you have 2 adults and 3 kids in the house. The adults have iPads, Macbooks and Windows laptop while the teenagers have iPods, Windows laptop and Android phones.  The adults are on the 5 band and teens are on the 2.4 band.  The filtering is set to HIGH and the 2.4 band wireless radios are set to turn OFF between the hours of 8.30pm to 9am every day.  The 5 band radios are NOT set to turn off.

 

Lets say the time is 7pm, what happens if one of adults is on FB and clicks on a link to read an article but it is blocked. How is the adult suppose to access this article or link if it comes up blocked on the iPad? 

 

Continuing with a similar situation, what happens if you grandparents that come over to the house and they have iPads and Macbooks.  Obviously, you want to give them unrestricted internet access with no blocks to any site.

 

I guess the question that I am asking, how do you give adults unrestrictive internet access regardless of the device? I don't want to install something like Netgear Genie on there device just to give them access to sites which is normally blocked by OpenDNS or the router. On the router, if I know the IP or MAC address to the device, can I set unrestrictive access to that device which ignores any OpenDNS blocks? 

Message 13 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @guyguy,

 

If you do not want to install the Genie app on their devices to use the bypass login, you can set the filtering level to "None" on your select devices by the previously suggested Per Device Filtering. Please check the link below.

 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29913

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

Message 14 of 30
lizpadula
Aspirant

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi guyguy

Did you ever figure out how to do what you wanted with controls by device/by kid/by hour? Or did you end up buying a different router? What you outline is what I would like to do...also I would like to specifically block certain sites, not just a black/white list but rather by time of day and specifically not just by general category of social etc.  I would love to hear what solution you ended up with in the end as I am looking at this right now too and this nethawk seems to have limitations. thanks. Liz

Message 15 of 30
DexterJB
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

Hi @lizpadula,

 

You can check the link below for an overview of LPC and see if it is something that suits what you need.

 

 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25687

 

Regards,

 

Dexter

Community Team

Message 16 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

@lizpadula- Sorry for the late response. Let me first say, most preteens and teenagers love their devices regardless if it is a phone, iPod, game system, laptop or something else that connects to your router. Obviously, I can't speak for every preteen and teenagers enviroment. I try to put myself into my own teenagers life and try to find out which sites and Apps they are using today.  That is the purpose for me to have "testing" devices. I use an iPod Touch 5g and a Windows laptop. 

 

I tried using the Nighthawk r8000 router in two different configurations. The first part, I configured it and was using, cough.. cough.. OpenDNS to set the content filtering level to most of the devices. I set the router to turn off wireless at 9pm which affects EVERY DEVICE. There was no way to set a time schedule on a single device. I used this configuration for about a week and I used an iPod and a wired computer as test devices to make changes to the configuration.  Also, I wanted to see what sites were blocked and which Apps were blocked based on the configuration. Unfortunately, I was disappointed because not many sites were block as I hoped for. 

 

The second part, I configured the router but instead I didn't use OpenDNS at all and I didn't use parental controls as PC is tied to OpenDNS. I used the same methods as I did in Part 1. I didn't see any benefits of this configuration except you can't do much unless you use OpenDNS.

 

In my conclusion, Netgear sucks. PERIOD. The router is a waste of money and time. The Genie App is terrible too. Does a "perfect" router exist? No, of course not. My definition of "perfect" must include the following features ie. Speed, Parental Controls, Firewall, Time Schedule, Web History or Log and a good App to manage the router. Everyone uses the router in a different way. Trust me, I have used Linksys 1900ac, Asus 68u, Apple Time Capsule and HomeHalo router. None of these are "perfect" routers but Asus came close to being a really good router.

 

Currently, I am using a Synology rt2600ac router.  Synology is based on there NAS products and they have only two routers ie. 1900ac and 2600ac.  The 2600ac is more expensive than the 1900 due to hardware reasons.  This router is not "perfect" but Synology is heading in the right direction in terms of features. I like what I see so far. 

Message 17 of 30
jdoo5434
Initiate

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I am SO disappointed in the lack of flexible device access scheduling on this router. I cannot believe a company with the consumer base of Netgear hasn't figured out that parents want flexible control on a per device basis in their household. I just "upgraded" to this modem router (xfinity user) because I wanted fuller support for the xfinity service i have, and because netgear has in general been more on the ball with needed firmware udpates.

 

Netgear--seriously--content filtering is at best a very limited form of parental control. I have teens in my house, and desperately need a way to schedule their access by device by day and by hour--variable. I did figure out how to block services on a schedule, but it only allows me to set one schedule, so I can only block access to services in one way regardless of the day of week. OMG--my kids have different weekday/weekend access schedules!!! Are you kidding here? Get some parents involved in your product ideation. 

 

This may or may not stall my netgear adoption.

Model: C7000|Nighthawk - AC1900 WiFi Cable Modem Router
Message 18 of 30
bob1057
Aspirant

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

@storm1985 im trying to do exactly that on a FVS318Gv2,  can you send me more details on how?

Message 19 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

jdoo5434

I have said this time and time again.  Netgear SUCKS.  They are clueless when it comes to parental controls. They use OpenDNS for content filtering which they suck too.  Don't waste your time and effort fixing OR looking at fixing something that you that is out of your control.  Stop using their product.  Depending on your budget, buy a Linksys, Asus or Synology router. 

Message 20 of 30
Kkorm3
Aspirant

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

My c7000 has two channels the 2.4 and 5, I went to advance setup then wireless and set a time block on channel 2.4 so at 10pm my 2.4 wifi goes off but the 5 continues to work. My son does not have the password for the 5 so all his electronics go off and the rest of ours work.
Model: C7000|Nighthawk - AC1900 WiFi Cable Modem Router
Message 21 of 30
storm1985
Prodigy

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

@bob1057 - it is under OUTBOUND rules ( Under Security > Firewall) 

*** you can set service (HTTPs,VPN or any service you want or set ALL services to be sure 🙂

*** actions (block or allow, set per schedule or always)

-- schedule profile is configure under Security > Schedule

* ** LAN users ( where you can set the IP addresses) 

 

Let me know if it works for you.

Message 22 of 30
chowphx
Initiate

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I agree that the parental controls are trash. Not what the description/feature-set were prior to purchase. 

 

Setup an OpenDNS account for what... blocking phishing sites? Total BS.

 

Where are the controls on time of day, device or user? 

 

The existing parental settings ARE GARBAGE and worthless.

Model: R7800|Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Wifi Router
Message 23 of 30
guyguy
Apprentice

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls

I have said this time and time again. Today I will say it again, Netgear SUCKS.  They are clueless when it comes to parental controls. They use OpenDNS for content filtering which they suck too.  Don't waste your time and effort fixing OR looking at fixing something that you that is out of your control.  Stop using their products.  Depending on your budget, buy a Linksys, Asus or Synology router.  Buy something other than Netgear products. 

Message 24 of 30

Re: Time Schedule and Parental Controls


@chowphx wrote:

Setup an OpenDNS account for what... blocking phishing sites? Total BS.

 

Have you been out into Google land for information on this?

 

I fear that you will find that OpenDNS, now a part of Cisco, is a common feature on "parental control" technologies. Linksys, for example.

 

Home Internet Security | OpenDNS

 

You will find discussions just like this one on the support forums where they support other makes.

 

Some of the technology behind Parental controls, like other services, comes from third party suppliers. So whoever you buy hardware from, you may end up back at the same place.

 

It might be worth doing some background reading if you want to find an alternative that avoids the bad stuff that you see in Netgear's approach.

 

Message 25 of 30
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