New virgin router needed-decent MAC Filtering

[chimponarope]

Hi all

I could do with some advice if you would be so kind.

We've been using our SH2 for a few years now but now our eldest is becoming a touch problematic regarding accessing the web when he should really be asleep with exams etc just round the corner. He gets all his TV content through a Now TV box so the SH2 Mac filtering isn't going to help with that if he's already got a connection going when I want to turn off his access.

Something with better wifi range wouldn't hurt (the signal often drops out in our bedroom and the conservatory is a dead spot unless the door is open).

Been years since I looked into after market routers, the ASUS were popular at one point but no idea if they're still the best option?

So the good people of OCUK, please spec me a cable router to:
Allow me to block his access (can't see him figuring out MAC spoofing, too lazy!) at silly times.
Easy to use is good (got 3 kids don't have too much time to play with gear anymore).
Good wifi range.
QoS would be a bonus for when he's stealing all the connection.

Any help appreciated!

 

[Vish Petrol]

Have a look at Billion Routers, a relative of mine went from 3mbps to 3.5mpbs with one of them. He lives in the countryside outside the city so this is a big upgrade for him.

 

[Broken Hope]

Asus AC68U should do everything you require, you can even set up a guest network that he connects to to give you greater control.

 

[chimponarope]

Thanks for the replies, worth spending the extra bit for the AC87u?

Had a play with the Asus software on their site and seems simple enough to use.

 

[Vertigo]

Any of them will do the job. I have the 87U and it works flawlessly with very good range but the 68U will probably do just as good a job.

 

[BlackAle]

MAC filtering is so easy to defeat, making it largely pointless.

 

[B@Th*nG]

MAC filtering is so easy to defeat, making it largely pointless.

Only allow certain MAC addresses. true you have to add every (new) device manually on the router each time, but it works well enough. I'm sure the standard virgin routers allow you to do this tbh

B@

 

[chimponarope]

MAC filtering is so easy to defeat, making it largely pointless.

Like I mentioned in the original post though, it's only to defeat a stroppy teenager and he's so incredibly lazy and lacking any form of interest in tech that I think it will have him completely flummoxed.

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

Like I mentioned in the original post though, it's only to defeat a stroppy teenager and he's so incredibly lazy and lacking any form of interest in tech that I think it will have him completely flummoxed.

Does he have a smart phone?

 

[chimponarope]

Does he have a smart phone?

He does its some low end htc.

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

He does its some low end htc.

Bare in mind he will probably be able to use it as an internet hot spot. How long for will depend on how much data his tariff has and what he uses the internet for.

 

[OspreyO]

It will stop him doing anything that requires a lot of data if he has a limited data plan, or no data. If he has unlimited data then you'll have to try something else.

Hiding the chargers etc.

I feel your pain, I have one kid who does everything to get around every restriction possible. Nightmare.

 

[chimponarope]

Thanks guys, he's got very limited data (his choice so he could get a new phone) so that will rapidly run out if he does anything taxing.

OspreyO- It's a nightmare isn't it. In some ways his utter cluelessness with tech plays into my hands.

 

[OspreyO]

I was thinking of having two WiFi networks, one 2.4, other 5 and throttle one by time and device. Not found anything like that. Just don't get the time any more to set any of this up.

 

[Broken Hope]

Asus routers allow you to have different settings per network so you could have a locked down 2.4Ghz with a time schedule if you wanted.