Can I tell if son is online?

tigermatt

Personally, I think if the technology is there to prevent this, then you should use it to it's full advantage. That's what it has been created for.

If you do implement the blocking thing in the early hours of the morning, I wouldn't setup the filter for dead on 11pm, set it for say 11.30pm so it isn't so strict and "kicks" him off dead on the time. You can then monitor the attached devices area of the router control panel between these times to check whether he is online. The attached devices/station list (depends on netgear model) should show the name of his computer on the network. If you're not sure what this is then go to Control Panel > System (or CP > Performance & Maintenance > System) and have a look under the computer name tab. You can easily use this to identify his PC without having to worry about confusing IP addresses or MAC addresses. If he changes it, you go and look and find out again and again.

You also need to decide on the time to allow him to use it in the mornings? (Sorry, this is going into a parenting issue now :rolleyes:) Does he sit on his computer in the mornings and not want to get ready for school? Again you can prevent this by allowing internet access after he goes out the front door. Or perhaps he doesn't use it at all in the mornings in which case you don't have to worry.

I hope this helps.

Katgoddess

I really have no idea how wireless internet works, but can't you just switch it off? Is it attached to a computer that has to be switched on for it to work? Unplug it? Tell your family its for environmental and money saving reasons and maybe start being really spot on with switching lightbulbs and tvs off etc. If he's not suppost to be using it he can't complain can he?

ben500

In my experience it is better to monitor than to try and prevent, your attempts to curtail his activities are most likely to fail because if he doesn't have the knowledge himself to flout your attempts it will be readily available to him from his network of friends,better to obtain a monitoring program and be prepared for the odd shock, again in my experience its a naive parent who baulks at "spying" on their kids. My children have been made aware that any activity they carry out on any of the pc's in the house can be viewed, (not how I do it of course) the occasional reminder by way of demonstrating my knowledge of sites visited has been enough to keep the transgressions to a minimum, the result is they are wary but cheeky, but most importantly safe and controlled

amcluesent

>His sister who lives with their mother<

I would guess that his Dad is very concerned that if he is 'strict', his son could easily turn around and say "Right, I'm off too"' and he would lose further contact with children. No doubt the RAF is well-used to sorting out soft-lads who aren't happy with taking orders - cleaning the latrines with a tooth-brush would be a starter for 10!

hobo28

I'd be very surprised if a 15 year old isn't visiting the odd dodgy site. No harm in my opinion in moderation.

If the aim is to limit his time on the computer, just unplug the router and take it with you! All these wonderful techie solutions such as sniffing, filtering, DHCP etc. all sound great but sometimes low tech works better.

Its like America who spent millions researching and producing a pen which works in space. The Russians used pencils!

BungleGirl

Thank you all for your comments, I think that further to the other post I started I have figured out that my issues were not really with him being up past 11 and more to do with the fact that he doesn't contribute to the household in any way and I felt that he was taking advantage of the fact that his Dad let's him get away with anything. I do still have a problem with him dowloading music though as there are legal implications.

I think these boards are great because when OH and I discuss things we don't get anywhere because we just have differing opinions and we are both very strong willed - it is really good to hear other peoples opinions, even when they are very different to my own and it has made me realise that sometimes I am wrong :eek: although obviously that is not very often

Alltheloginsaretakenappar

Hmmm, signing up to msn or blocking ports, or using msn sniffer, etherwatch or etherreal etc isn't necessary!
If you just want to see if he is or has been online, just log into the router and look at the logs!

Darksun

hobo28 wrote:

Its like America who spent millions researching and producing a pen which works in space. The Russians used pencils!

Actually, pencils in space are generally a bad idea, if the lead snaps it can float off and get stuck somewhere it could cause damage. And the whole story of the space pen is (mostly) urban legend. See http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

But anyway, as most people have said, most routers include a function that will allow you to block access at certain times. Just block access to ports 1-65535 for his IP at whatever times you want. This will block access to all internet services, including games and MSNM (whereas some parental control software will only block websites)

hobo28

Darksun wrote:

Actually, pencils in space are generally a bad idea, if the lead snaps it can float off and get stuck somewhere it could cause damage.

I think that if I was flying up to space in a tin can filled with rocket fuel, the last thing I'd be worried about is a pencil lead!


Anyway, the problem with all this fancy blocking is that there is always a way around it. Block my IP, I'll change it. Block MSN site, I'll bounce off a proxy. Check the logs? All you'll see is I'm talking to a proxy. So what? Take another rollocking for surfing the net? Ho hum a teenagers lot! I used to get told off on a daily basis!

My point is that without addressing the fundamentals (which it seems BG is now doing), all that will end up happening is that you'll end up in a tit-for-tat battle which you may not actually win.

tigermatt

hobo28 wrote:

I think that if I was flying up to space in a tin can filled with rocket fuel, the last thing I'd be worried about is a pencil lead!


Anyway, the problem with all this fancy blocking is that there is always a way around it. Block my IP, I'll change it. Block MSN site, I'll bounce off a proxy. Check the logs? All you'll see is I'm talking to a proxy. So what? Take another rollocking for surfing the net? Ho hum a teenagers lot! I used to get told off on a daily basis!

My point is that without addressing the fundamentals (which it seems BG is now doing), all that will end up happening is that you'll end up in a tit-for-tat battle which you may not actually win.

On the technical side of things you can also limit the IP Addresses that are permitted to access the internet, and the port blocking can always be done by MAC Address. Unless OP's husband's son knows how to change the MAC address on a Network Card or replace the card and dispose of the old one then he'd have trouble evading that protection. :rolleyes:

But, it could be that blocking is too much and may just cause endless more problems.