Good afternoon all, I am looking for a solution to limit internet usage in a household. (Kids are constantly on it from when they get home from school to when they pass out) I am probably looking for a hardware solution as I want internet usage cut off completely, not only from the computer, but other devices that use DHCP like, XBox Playstation, etc. Maybe a Cable modem with security settings, and limits. (Damn kids are smart enough to plug devices directly into the existing cabel modem as it uses DHCP with no authencation, if I go with a secure switch.) Your help is greatly appreciated, Thanks, -Mario-

This is not a hardware issue It is a parenting/ kids issue. If you don't deal with this now directly, you are gonna have a lot more serious problems when they get older. You said: ""Damn kids are smart enough to plug devices directly into the existing cabel modem"" Well, pretty soon it's gonna be "damn kids are smart enough to...... duplicate the car keys break into the liquor cabinet pick the lock on the gun cabinet etc etc etc Otherwise, uplug the cable modem, and lock it up somewhere.

agreed YOU are the parent, THEY are the child YOU pay for the internet, THEY are SUPPOSED to use it at YOUR discresion yup!

You guys have kids or are you just spouting off Father Knows Best 1950's stuff? Mario I just drove my 18yr old son to college for the fall. I still have a 16 year old daughter at home. I can tell you how to control your kids internet usage AND how to lock up the TV so the damn XBox can't do squat. I did not have to lockup the cable modem. I made it very clear they mess with it their computer and xbox were going to Good Will. I also did a wax seal so there would be no temptation. You don't mess with Dad. My rule was you have internet from 6:30 to 9:45 at night. I enforced this with a wireless router and a schedule. This was from after dinner to 15minutes before bedtime. I also had router configs. This is where you can backup a configuration and then restore it when you want. So I had a no internet for son where everyone else could get on. Same for my daughter. Real handy when they have not completed their homework. I would just logon to the router and restore that config. I also had all open for everyone config so if I didn't want to abide by the schedule I could override it for awhile then put the more restrictive schedule back again. I also set it up to email me if any of the key words were hit like xxx, sex, or blocked sites etc. and I let them know it. My son tested it twice but when I called him on it I never had a problem again. Yes you need a hardware solution and a wireless router is perfect for this. How I locked the TV was pretty simple. I got a piece of schedule 40 1 1/2" ABS pipe with a single cap end. I cut the pipe 12" long. I drilled a 3/4" hole in the center of the cap just big enough to put the tv plug thru. I glued the cap on at one end. On the other end I drilled thru the pipe a hole off center that would take one of the long shank key locks. I fed the tv cord thru the end cap hole all the way thru the pipe. I then took to cable straps and folded the cord over on itself creating a loop with about 6" from the cable ties to the plug end. The lock goes thru the top hole in the pipe, goes thru the cord loop, and then thru the final hole in the pipe. This keeps the plug end from being able to be plugged into anything. The cap with hole at the end prevent the children from putting a cord extender on the end and bypassing the locking system [my son taught me this :-) ] This has worked for two years without a hitch. Golly gee wilerkers everyone! Learn to Internet Search

microsoft shared computer toolkit, i dont think this forum is dr. phil

I just told my daughter the rules, and enforced them by actually being there to make sure she wasn't watching TV or playing on the computer. Keep the TV and the computer in a "Family" room so that there is no expectation of privacy. Worked for me. Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

wanderer, you are too funny. First, you reinforce MY point that this IS IN FACT a parenting issue by saying: "I did not have to lockup the cable modem. I made it very clear they mess with it their computer and xbox were going to Good Will." and then you turn around and make it a hardware issue by saying: ""How I locked the TV was pretty simple. I got a piece of schedule 40 1 1/2" ABS pipe with a single cap end...."" So which is it? "Father knows best" or "lock up the hardware?"