SOHO router with download limits per mac/ip

[Pantlegz]

Just list the title says, I'm looking for a SOHO router to limit individuals downloads over the course of a month, really weekly limits would be nice as well. I've got an issue with volume so QoS wont really help, even with everyone online the speed is fine the issue is we're a week into the month and getting over the limit emails from our ISP. I don't know who is downloading what and I really don't care I just need to limit the data usage. Are there are good SOHO routers that would work well for this or would I have to bump up to something a bit more expensive to limit individual users?

I've tried DD-WRT on the current Cisco E3000 (I think) and I can't SSH into it for whatever reason, I turn everything on and it just fails. Tried flashing several times and verified the checksum was correct but still no luck. So preferably a router whose stock OS will allow bandwidth limits per user.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Is the only issue with DDWRT that it won't let you SSH?

Did you try to setup limits and see if it works ok?

 

[Mushkins]

Frankly, the newer Cisco SOHO stuff after they sold off Linksys to Belkin have all been more or less junk.

I'd go with an Asus N66-U. It comes with an Asus version of DDWRT on it already, but it's not as robust as the normal version and the UI is a little clunky. It might be able to do those bandwidth limitations out of the box. If not, flash it with DDWRT or Tomato and you're good to go. It's pretty much the gold standard for SOHO routers at the moment.

 

[ccbadd]

It comes with an Asus version of DDWRT on it already, but it's not as robust as the normal version and the UI is a little clunky.

It actually based on TomatoUSB not DD-WRT. Personally, I haven't felt DD-WRT has been very stable for a couple of years, probably due to their lack of access to current wifi drivers.

 

[azazel1024]

Just list the title says, I'm looking for a SOHO router to limit individuals downloads over the course of a month, really weekly limits would be nice as well. I've got an issue with volume so QoS wont really help, even with everyone online the speed is fine the issue is we're a week into the month and getting over the limit emails from our ISP. I don't know who is downloading what and I really don't care I just need to limit the data usage. Are there are good SOHO routers that would work well for this or would I have to bump up to something a bit more expensive to limit individual users?

I've tried DD-WRT on the current Cisco E3000 (I think) and I can't SSH into it for whatever reason, I turn everything on and it just fails. Tried flashing several times and verified the checksum was correct but still no luck. So preferably a router whose stock OS will allow bandwidth limits per user.

I haven't looked at them all, but most routers admin consoles I've looked at allow bandwidth limits per user. A few will let you set them on specific IPs or exempt specific IPs from those limits.

There may also be some that allow you to set actual total data caps, but I can't think of any that I've seen that with.

Out of curiousity, what is your household situation? Can't you just ask everyone what it is they are doing? Also, what kind of caps do you have?

Netflix much? HD netflix is around 2GB per hour, so if several people watch netflix a lot, that can add up quickly.

Most routers also allow you to set wireless availability times, so you could also just shut the wireless off at some period. Along with that, a lot allow guest networks. You can setup just the handful of devices you want to always have access on the main network, put everyone else's on the guest network and have the guest network both bandwidth limited per device AND have it shut off at some point when you don't want people using it (IE shutting it down at 9pm, because you don't want your kids pretending to be asleep watching netflix on their phone at 11pm, or on facebook, etc).

 

[Pantlegz]

Is the only issue with DDWRT that it won't let you SSH?

Did you try to setup limits and see if it works ok?

Lots of stuff didn't work properly. I was trying to install a mod to allow tracking. Blacklisting mac's didn't work. There was something else but I can't think of it off the top of my head. Basically anything outside of setting up the wireless I didn't have any luck.

I haven't looked at them all, but most routers admin consoles I've looked at allow bandwidth limits per user. A few will let you set them on specific IPs or exempt specific IPs from those limits.

There may also be some that allow you to set actual total data caps, but I can't think of any that I've seen that with.

Out of curiousity, what is your household situation? Can't you just ask everyone what it is they are doing? Also, what kind of caps do you have?

Netflix much? HD netflix is around 2GB per hour, so if several people watch netflix a lot, that can add up quickly.

Most routers also allow you to set wireless availability times, so you could also just shut the wireless off at some period. Along with that, a lot allow guest networks. You can setup just the handful of devices you want to always have access on the main network, put everyone else's on the guest network and have the guest network both bandwidth limited per device AND have it shut off at some point when you don't want people using it (IE shutting it down at 9pm, because you don't want your kids pretending to be asleep watching netflix on their phone at 11pm, or on facebook, etc).

Lots of netflix, lots of pandora, lots of users/devices. 1 TV, 2 PS3's, 4-5 PC's, 4-5 tablets, some phones - that I'm trying to get off the network.

 

[azazel1024]

Lots of stuff didn't work properly. I was trying to install a mod to allow tracking. Blacklisting mac's didn't work. There was something else but I can't think of it off the top of my head. Basically anything outside of setting up the wireless I didn't have any luck.



Lots of netflix, lots of pandora, lots of users/devices. 1 TV, 2 PS3's, 4-5 PC's, 4-5 tablets, some phones - that I'm trying to get off the network.

Please, I don't need a preview of my future. I have 3 kids. As it stands we have 2 TVs, 1 laptop, 1 desktop, 1 server, xbox one, 4 tablets and 2 phones. At least my kids are all young and internet usage is basically just netflix on their tablet, occasionally, when we allow it, and nothing else.

My eldest son seems to be taking after me, which means I'll probably have to be dealing with the "torrentbitting" from him when he is older, and downloading big ISOs, games, what have you...if not my younger son and daughter too.

I very much feel for you. Its in part why I am at least very familiar with Netgear's Genie setup and TP-Links setup (I have netgear routers now, looking at newer TP-link routers in the near future), though as I mentioned, I don't see options for them on being able to setup total data limits in a period, just bandwidth limits (and thankfully Verizon FIOS doesn't have data caps. yet). That and Wifi windows for when they are up.