Router advice please

[Futter]

We're on talk talk which as a provider is fine for us. However, their router doesn't offer me the option to be able to connect to it and specify what can and can't use it, refuse something a connection, like an Xbox .... You can see where I'm going with this now can't you. Basically, I need to restrict access for my lads Xbox because he has exams but he is being stubborn and not studying. The main account is password protected but he has a number of non main accounts that can still access what he wants. Am I able to use an after market router that does the above that won't cause an issue with our talk talk provision?

[Yorick]

Man up and take the bloody box off him.

[Futter]

I'd rather not. I'd also add that of I can do this remotely it would be great.

[MingtheMerciless]

Have a look at Fritz!Box routers. We’ve got one with our Zen internet and it seems a very “tuneable” bit of kit.

[KungFooBob]

Surprised the TalkTalk box doesn't offer MAC Filtering.

Do Talk Talk provide the ADSL/VDSL username and password that you need to configure a 3rd party router, I know Sky don't (but there are ways).

If they do then Draytek Routers provide great bang for buck feature wise.

[KungFooBob]

Do Talk Talk provide the ADSL/VDSL username and password that you need to configure a 3rd party router, I know Sky don't (but there are ways).

Ignore that bit.

https://community.talktalk.co.uk/t5/Fib ... -p/2458474

[Horse]

Switch the box of at the mains.
"Show me your work"
Switch it back on.

Foal never worked out that the the wifi sometimes 'dropped out'.

[MingtheMerciless]

A work colleague put his sons room on a separate circuit breaker and if the “jungle music” got too loud or the TV was on at stupid o clock the CB would mysteriously “trip”.

[v8-powered]

Use a second router plugged in to the master and connect kids to that one. Then use a smart plug to power on and off second router at times that suit you.
Works well for us and doesn't interrupt over browsing, to viewing etc....

[Yorick]

I always thought parents were properly in charge.

Not secretly in charge.

[wheelnut]

The router will offer MAC address filtering. Find out the model and google how to do it. Get the MAC address off the Xbox (it will be on a label on it somewhere), enter it into the router filtering settings and that will block access from the Xbox.

It will be a bit faffy though and probably won’t offer you any option to set timings.

[Futter]

I always thought parents were properly in charge.

Not secretly in charge.

You dont have kids do you?

[Futter]

The router will offer MAC address filtering. Find out the model and google how to do it. Get the MAC address off the Xbox (it will be on a label on it somewhere), enter it into the router filtering settings and that will block access from the Xbox.

It will be a bit faffy though and probably won’t offer you any option to set timings.

I simply need to be able to block it until I choose to unblock it. Can I access my router if, for example I am at work, via my phone?

[v8-powered]

The router will offer MAC address filtering. Find out the model and google how to do it. Get the MAC address off the Xbox (it will be on a label on it somewhere), enter it into the router filtering settings and that will block access from the Xbox.

It will be a bit faffy though and probably won’t offer you any option to set timings.

I simply need to be able to block it until I choose to unblock it. Can I access my router if, for example I am at work, via my phone?

If you don't mind throwing a few quid at the issue, use a Tenda mesh system that can access via phone. You can stick kids in to their own groups and then switch on and off as you see fit.

[DefTrap]

I tried it but I couldn't stand the moaning.
Luckily they were good kids so I only had to get cross about twice.
My router can do the blocking thing though and they knew that.

[Futter]

I tried it but I couldn't stand the moaning.
Luckily they were good kids so I only had to get cross about twice.
My router can do the blocking thing though and they knew that.

He is a good kid, but, like everyone else has struggled with covid and how that has impacted on that time he would have been stretching his wings so to speak and he has lost confidence and I need to get him off the xbox. He is too big to take it off him and he is too tech savvy to just turn the router off etc so I need something more immutable that he can't simply undo.