Limit internet access on LAN

[flybers]

I have a home network comprising:

1 x Sky Broadband Router (Sagem)
1 x Personal PC 64bit Win7 (mine) which maintains overall control of the network & content of the NAS
1 x NAS
2 x Sky HD boxes with Anytime+ which require internet access
1 x Xbox 360
1 x 3D TV with Netcast & DNLA (Over which my wife maintains complete & strict control )
3 x Android mobile phones
3 x Children's PC's (only 2 of them are wireless capable laptops, 2x Win7 & 1x Vista)

The TV, Xbox360, Sky HD boxes & the children's computers all are connected via 200mbps powerline LAN adapters.

I work away from home for long periods & my wife is a complete technophobe.
My children tend to abuse the privilege of internet access while I am working away, staying awake until stupid o'clock on school nights etc.

My question is simple: Is there any way I can limit the amount of time the children have access to the internet? ie. automatically deny access between say 10pm & 6am. Ideally I would like to only restrict certain IP addresses, obviously the children's. While not affecting any of the other attached devices or PC's.

What makes things more complicated for me is the dynamic IP assignments which, due to the limitations of the SKY supplied router & equipment I am not able or allowed to change. Therefore use of MAC addresses to ID the children's PC's would be preferable. Remote access control while I'm working away would also be very useful too.

My intention is that access to the NAS will remain unrestricted as I have complete control over it's content & even my wife can manage to turn that off & on. Fortunately it's physically located where the children don't have easy access even when I'm away.

I don't need advice concerning restricting web sites, messagng or P2P etc. That is quite straight forward. My children are quite savvy teenagers. Need I say more?

Of course ideally freeware software would be good.

I tried PRTG but found it to be way too complicated & not really suitable for my simple needs.

Personally I feel that there is a gap in the market here. Home networks are much more prevalent now & some simple to use good GUI software which does the above would probably be well received by most parents.

Any feasible suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance...

[Fred Garvin]

flybers, it's possible to do what you want, but it all depends on the software in your router. I'm not familiar with Sky or their routers. I'd read through the manual for your current router and see if there are access restriction policies you can apply. If not, it sounds like purchasing a new router is worth the investment.

Before buying another router, download the manual from the manufacturer's website and read through it. See if you can do what you want to do. Many routers will allow you to restrict or disable internet access on a regular schedule, as well as limit access to the router by MAC address (you'd need to assign MAC addresses for wireless & wired NICS on a laptop).

Another option is installing firmware like DD-WRT on a router. It's open source firmware/software which gives you much more control over your router. For remote access software, try Teamviewer or Logmein

[A1tecice]

I have done a little googling and found some software that will do what you require. You can find them HERE. (Not free sadly)

[flybers]

Thank you Fred & A1tecice. You've given me a good head start there. I shall have a good look through the suggestions. Teamviewer looks excellent for solving some other problems I've had when working abroad for long periods. The child access management suggestions look promising too.

Thanks again.