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Teenagers

Controlling Internet Access? (tech question)

7 replies

bindlestiff · 12/04/2017 21:44

Hello, I'm new Grin
I do lurk and I've read a lot of threads, but this is the first time I've needed to ask!

This might not be the place either, but I can't really find a tech group. I've asked before on tech forums a few years back, but I was put down as a "meddling parent who's treating their teenager like a small child" Hmm

Firstly, I work in a tech environment, so I'm pretty clued up, however, we've just changed from BT to Sky and unfortunately, that's stopped my ability to be able to control "access times" for my DS. He's Y11 and currently doing his GCSEs so I really can't afford for him to be playing Xbox or on his laptop through the night.

Our old BT router allowed you to have multiple "times" when you could block access (so for instance, we set a rule of 10:30 on a School night, midnight on weekends, 2pm-4pm on weekends to get him to walk away for at least a couple of hours and so on).

Unfortunately, because he can't help himself, even at 15, we need to get him to leave his tech outside when he goes to bed, but there's often "something" he forgets to put out.......

Any ideas on a tech solution like an internet router or something? Happy to take advice on models etc.

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StuntEgg · 13/04/2017 09:53

Can't you just switch your router off at night? That works for us, although I'll generally leave it on at the weekends.

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ThereIsIron · 13/04/2017 10:00

Can you not just keep using your BT router?

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mineofuselessinformation · 13/04/2017 10:13

You can set up an access list on the router. At night, turn it on and only allow your own devices access, then in the morning, turn the access list off.

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bindlestiff · 13/04/2017 21:30

I've tried using the BT router. It's not really working very well - for instance, on phones, it brings up a page that says disconnected.

Stunt Egg, not a bad idea, but it seems a bit daft keep turning it off overnight. I'm worried if I left it on all weekend, he'd literally play his Xbox overnight! Hmm

I can't be the only person with this issue? am I?

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TheBogQueen · 13/04/2017 21:34

We have OpenDNS which I think acts a filter and then use our provider's software to allow access to the wifi at certain times for each seperate device.

I'm sure Sky must have something?

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cdtaylornats · 13/04/2017 23:10

The Sky router has a watershed facility that might do some of what you want.

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lawn · 20/06/2017 11:49

Sorry I know this is an old thread but koalasafe is brilliant. (There are other similar brands.)

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