two routers/networks for parent/kid access

[Electraglow]

In my quest to regulate my kids' internet access in house, I've set up my routers such that there are two LANs/two wireless networks in the house, one for kids/TVs and one for parents devices. The first is the router/modem that has the parents' wireless network. The second router (for the kids) is connected from one of the first router's ports to the second's WAN port, and uses an IP on the first subnet as its WAN. This router has an iOS app so it is easy to turn block some or all internet connections very easily, while my wife and I, and smart devices in the house can always remain connected to the first router/network. There is also a PC that is wired to the first router.

Here is a diagram:

The setup seems to be working fine, but there are two things I’m not having luck with:

1) I use OpenDNS for blocking some web content. However, on the kids’ router, even though manual DNS is enabled and I have the correct IPs for OpenDNS, it’s not doing what it’s suppose to do, and I assume the second router is getting DNS from the first router. Is there some way to rectify this?

2) The second issue is that I’d like the PC to be accessible from both networks. As I mentioned it’s wired to the first router and I have a USB wireless adapter that is connected to the second router. It only works sometime, and sometimes not. I can’t find any rhyme or reason to it.

The DNS issue is the main one I want to solve, and the second is a nice to have. Any thoughts on that? Is there a way to get the DNS on the second router to go to OpenDNS without having to implement it on the first router (i.e. all parents’ devices)? Is there a better way to set this up to accomplish what I’m trying to accomplish?

Thanks

 

[AnonymouseUser]

There are a few things you could do, depending on the functionality of the modem/router.

• Use MAC filtering on the modem/router to block the kid's devices. This will prevent those devices from receiving IP assignments from the modem/router and force them to get their IP assignments from the second router. It should not block their internet access.
  
• Use OpenDNS settings in the modem/router and disable DHCP on the second router creating a single LAN instead of two. All devices will get OpenDNS for DNS, but you then manually set the DNS settings on the parent's devices to your desired DNS. All local devices will be accessible on the single LAN.
  
• Eliminate one of the routers and use option number two.

 

[Electraglow]

Thanks. Not sure how the first bullet addresses the issue. With regards to 2 and 3, I don't want to eliminate the second LAN/router - that's the core of the setup and the ability to easily block kids' access without blocking any parental devices. But indeed, I could set the first router to OpenDNS and set the DNS manually on the parents' devices to our ISP DNS or other DNS without filtering. Thanks

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I see the confusion, and I should clarify this part:

It should not block their internet access.

By using MAC filtering you won't block their internet access entirely (as MAC filtering generally does), but OpenDNS will still work to block them per the OpenDNS rules. The second router can still filter per configured parental settings.