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How do I limit when the router/modem is active and can be used
pfgpowell
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Over the summer my two young ones have cost me an arm and a leg by watching TV and films on the net and downloading films. And I mean an arm and a leg: I have 120gb of data included in my broadband package but in both July and August they exceeded that limit by almost half again and I have had to pay up. I did ask them to slow down a little and they did, but really not enough.
The trouble is that for part of that time I was abroad and otherwise work away from home four days a week so there's no way I can keep things sane as far as broadband is concerned.
I have a Netgear modem and can access through my browser, and I know my way around it a bit, but when I look at the schedule, it seems just to relate to when specified firewall rules are to operate, but I want some way to ensure that the router can only be used when I specify to limit usage a bit.
Does anyone here know their way around Netgears. It doesn't matter which model it is as the browser window is the same. Thanks.
PS I'm with Plusnet
The trouble is that for part of that time I was abroad and otherwise work away from home four days a week so there's no way I can keep things sane as far as broadband is concerned.
I have a Netgear modem and can access through my browser, and I know my way around it a bit, but when I look at the schedule, it seems just to relate to when specified firewall rules are to operate, but I want some way to ensure that the router can only be used when I specify to limit usage a bit.
Does anyone here know their way around Netgears. It doesn't matter which model it is as the browser window is the same. Thanks.
PS I'm with Plusnet
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http://helpdeskgeek.com/networking/limit-bandwidth-on-a-netgear-wireless-router/
Thanks, that seems what I was after. Seems it's quite a common problem.
What devices are you children using to download/stream? Many of them, such as Windows 7, have parental controls. Yes, Plusnet just sent me a half-price offer for their unlimited package.
I know about the restriction in Windows 7 and have it in use during term time, but it seemed - seemed - a bit heavy-handed in the holidays. I know Plusnet have a download/cost limit, but I didn't want to go down that route because I would hit as well at the end of the month, and I also have to work from home.
The unlimited package sounds very promising, and I'll look at that. Thanks for that info, too.
Speak to your kids and getting them to refrain from excessive downloading should be the way to go IMO (plus, also go unlimited for peace of mind). You can give them a download count software and tell them to monitor themselves and maybe give them a 40GB limit each.
Are you worried at all by their copyright infringement of movies?
Their free account is fairly comprehensive, and if you pay $19.99 a year you have extra options available such as logging of what websites your kids are using etc.
You can use it to block access to adult sites, or also social networking, filesharing and other categories.
It can be done individually on your kids PC/laptop (although they could easily get round that, especially if they know how to change the DNS servers back to the ISP defaults) but if you change the DNS settings on your router (they provide instructions for most routers) and set a decent admin password, they then cannot change them and it affects all devices on the network.
But no matter what filtering or control options you choose, there are ways around them if they know what they are doing.
The other alternative is to get them to d/l big stuff after midnight / before 7:00, when it doesn't increment your allowed usage.
Solution >> get a bigger monthly allowance so they can steal even more stuff
there's some real comedians here today - what about teaching the kids the difference between buying and stealing?
Where ?, I didn't spot them.
You can argue all day long about the rights and wrongs of downloading/streaming things that you are not supposed to, for me that is a personal choice ... I don't (apart from the football ) but the 2 'kids' left in the house will stream an odd movie ... they are not kids any more 17 and 22 so I will let them decide what they want to do on the internet @ my IP address, foolish maybe but I'm not too bothered.
I also used to be concerned about internet usage when I was restricted to limits, little point or cost saving these days not to be unlimited.
Ho hum...
I had a 'day in' yesterday as I wasn't feeling well, and I used 9GB of data just watching HD streams on Netflix. I can see how two children could easily run up 180GB in a month.
It's not just illegal downloads that eat up any allowance.
I don't download illegally, but I can easily use between 20Gb and 100Gb a month, depending on what I am doing such as Iplayer, 4OD, music streaming, YouTube, updates for the PS3 and it's games, online gaming and such like.
You're assuming the downloads are 'illegal' - I download 50-60GB of films/TV each month - legally from Sky.
Best to know the facts before rushing to judgement eh?
One of the reasons I gave up on PC servicing was the constant losing battle of mostly teens downloading tons of shite without a care for what they were downloading or any legal or virus implications. Probably because when they trashed the PC poor old mum or dad paid me to fix it.
I agree but it's wrong to assume. I uploaded 60GB of data last month - none of it was seeding torrents.
You completely miss the point I'm afraid. No matter how old I was, when my parents were alive I would never have run up any bill they were responsible for without first asking their permission - it's called respect.
Judgemental much?
No where did the OP say they were illegal downloads. that says more about you.
this is a computing forum. so i assumed that the advice the OP was after related to computers. he didn't ask for parenting advice, had we been posting on mumsnet then my interpretation may have been different.
Jeez-a-lou, I don't think I use that much in a year. There is life outside your front door you know. :rolleyes:
Your response explains a great deal - UK 2013!!!!!
Whatever happened to going to the Zoo, the local park, museums, playing board games walks, etc. etc. Just a thought.
do all of that and still use a min of 50GB a month
How are they supose to know when they have reach a limit?
Wow talk about on youre high hourse.
Well with all the reports about overweight unfit children, the amount of time they spend in front of a screen and the dire warnings about their future health then maybe that allowance needs a further trim?
Seriously if I had young kids today I would be alarmed. When I was growing up my parents couldn't keep me in.