Establishing Daily Internet Time Allowance for Children

With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in circular
fashion from one device to another
(workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to limit
overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
(i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.

I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such a
device?

Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to establish
a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same (predicatable) daily
schedule (not realistic for this situation).

I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but they
do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)

Any guidance is appreciated.

Thanks

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:07:39 -0400, "Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
>difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
>to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in circular
>fashion from one device to another
>(workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to limit
>overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
>since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
>(i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>
>I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
>parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
>configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
>time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such a
>device?
>
>Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to establish
>a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same (predicatable) daily
>schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>
>I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but they
>do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>
>Any guidance is appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>

For the PCs, I would suggest an application that limits the time.

For the consoles, if your router supports it(most new ones do) you can
grab the MAC address of the system(available from the statistics or
connections page on your router) and set an access rule for that
specific device for a set time range. You'll have to find out for
your specific router if it provides that functionality.

For example, my home router has a page where I can input either a MAC
address or an IP address, a time range and whether to allow or block
that device. If I wanted to block my computer from accessing the
internet from the hours of 2pm-5pm, I would set that time for that
address and at 2pm I would be cut off from the network, but not the
system itself.

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On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:51:45 -0400, Brandon Arnold
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:07:39 -0400, "Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote:
>
>>With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
>>difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
>>to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in circular
>>fashion from one device to another
>>(workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to limit
>>overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
>>since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
>>(i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>>
>>I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
>>parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
>>configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
>>time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such a
>>device?
>>
>>Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to establish
>>a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same (predicatable) daily
>>schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>>
>>I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but they
>>do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>>
>>Any guidance is appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>

I'm sorry, I completely overlooked the part where you went over this.
The best thing you can do then, as I know of no other solution short
of writing a small script that changes the times for you, is to just
manually unplug the consoles.

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another possible solution is called disipline. YOU tell them what times
they can use it and then there are consequences for disobedience. simple.

--
Steve Barker


"Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
> difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
> to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in
circular
> fashion from one device to another
> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to
limit
> overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
> since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
> (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>
> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
> parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
> configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
> time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such
a
> device?
>
> Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to
establish
> a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same (predicatable)
daily
> schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>
> I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but they
> do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>
> Any guidance is appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
>

Joe wrote:
> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
> difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
> to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in circular
> fashion from one device to another
> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to limit
> overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
> since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
> (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>
> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
> parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
> configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
> time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such a
> device?

Yeah, proper parenting.
Yes the feature (as another user mentioned with MAC addresses) is
available, but it's probably easier to take away the cord to the consoles..
Usually works.

I started out writing a rather lengthy email, but decided to cut back. I
will just say this - it's been my experience that people how spout "proper
parenting" and "simple - use discipline" generally don't have children and
have never actually tried the things they propose. As a parent myself who
is going through these same issues, let me assure you that wanting a little
technological assistance in this battle does not make one a bad parent!



"David Fairbrother" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dcEpi.11587$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Joe wrote:
>> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
>> difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access
>> time to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in
>> circular fashion from one device to another
>> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to
>> limit overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an
>> option since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
>> (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>>
>> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more
>> stern parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can
>> be configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified
>> daily time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know
>> of such a device?
>
> Yeah, proper parenting.
> Yes the feature (as another user mentioned with MAC addresses) is
> available, but it's probably easier to take away the cord to the
> consoles..
> Usually works.

Chris Shearer Cooper wrote:
> I started out writing a rather lengthy email, but decided to cut back. I
> will just say this - it's been my experience that people how spout "proper
> parenting" and "simple - use discipline" generally don't have children and
> have never actually tried the things they propose.

Irrelevant. If the OP can't pull the plug on their kid's console..

> As a parent myself who
> is going through these same issues, let me assure you that wanting a little
> technological assistance in this battle does not make one a bad parent!

Unfortunately there's no technological assistance for when your kids
start doing drugs and having run-ins with the law.

Far better for them to be taught discipline, proper parenting stands.

>
>
>
> "David Fairbrother" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:dcEpi.11587$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Joe wrote:
>>> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
>>> difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access
>>> time to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in
>>> circular fashion from one device to another
>>> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to
>>> limit overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an
>>> option since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
>>> (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more
>>> stern parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can
>>> be configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified
>>> daily time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know
>>> of such a device?
>> Yeah, proper parenting.
>> Yes the feature (as another user mentioned with MAC addresses) is
>> available, but it's probably easier to take away the cord to the
>> consoles..
>> Usually works.
>
>

Joe wrote:
> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is increasingly
> difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily Internet access time
> to online gaming. A parent can find themselves chasing a child in circular
> fashion from one device to another
> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to limit
> overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not an option
> since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other authorized
> (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and wireless.
>
> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more stern
> parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that can be
> configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a specified daily
> time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does anyone know of such a
> device?
>
> Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to establish
> a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same (predicatable) daily
> schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>
> I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but they
> do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>
> Any guidance is appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
>
http://www.zemericks.com/
has log software

I put one of those timer like you have for light and set it to turn off
my dlink router off at 11pm and back on at 7am

Smiles wrote:
> Joe wrote:
>> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is
>> increasingly difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily
>> Internet access time to online gaming. A parent can find themselves
>> chasing a child in circular fashion from one device to another
>> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to
>> limit overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is not
>> an option since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other
>> authorized (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and
>> wireless.
>>
>> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more
>> stern parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that
>> can be configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a
>> specified daily time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does
>> anyone know of such a device?
>>
>> Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to
>> establish a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same
>> (predicatable) daily schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>>
>> I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but
>> they do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>>
>> Any guidance is appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> http://www.zemericks.com/
> has log software
>
> I put one of those timer like you have for light and set it to turn off
> my dlink router off at 11pm and back on at 7am

That would cut out *all* access, not just the kids'; OP stated they
don't want regular access (ie. by parents) affected.

David Fairbrother wrote:
> Smiles wrote:
>
>> Joe wrote:
>>
>>> With so many Internet-connected devices in many homes, it is
>>> increasingly difficult for a parent to limit a child's total daily
>>> Internet access time to online gaming. A parent can find themselves
>>> chasing a child in circular fashion from one device to another
>>> (workstation->gamecube->playstation->workstaion, etc) in an effort to
>>> limit overall online time. Powering off the entire home router is
>>> not an option since the it would disrupt VoIP phone service and other
>>> authorized (i.e.parent) access. Devices are a mix or hardwired and
>>> wireless.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking that the solution to this problem (in addition to more
>>> stern parenting!) would be a consumer home networking appliance that
>>> can be configured to limit total Internet connectivity time to a
>>> specified daily time allowance per IP address (e.g. 2 hrs/day). Does
>>> anyone know of such a device?
>>>
>>> Many home routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) provide the ability to
>>> establish a daily time schedule, but that assumes the exact same
>>> (predicatable) daily schedule (not realistic for this situation).
>>>
>>> I know that MS-Windows software solutions are readily available, but
>>> they do not limit online access from gaming consoles (i.e. Playstation)
>>>
>>> Any guidance is appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>> http://www.zemericks.com/
>> has log software
>>
>> I put one of those timer like you have for light and set it to turn
>> off my dlink router off at 11pm and back on at 7am
>
>
> That would cut out *all* access, not just the kids'; OP stated they
> don't want regular access (ie. by parents) affected.

The OP could cascade two routers and use the "inner" one for the kids -
switching it off (or limiting ports) when deemed necessary.
--
Sue