Does anyone use orbi ax6000 router?

[all4dom 101]

I'm looking to replace my router soon & thought about buying the orbi ax6000. From what I read, it has no parental feature, which i need because i have my son on timers & the bands can not be split, it's just one. Does anyone have this router that they can confirm?  If this router cant do that, does anyone have some good suggestions for a router?

Thanks

Dom

[Luke 42077]

Hi, this user has an Orbi:

 

[BAlGaInTl 288]

I took a quick look at the user manual:

https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK852/RBK852_UM_EN.pdf

It doesn't have parental controls per se.  But it does have pretty robust access controls for a basic router. You can block keywords, services, and pages, and from my quick read, you can do that on a schedule.

Another good "trick" to use would be to create a "guest" wifi, and only let your Son use that.  Then you can turn that on and off as needed. 

It also has controls for not allowing new devices to simply connect. 

It looks like a good router, but it sure is pricey. 

[kaj 316]

I have an Orbi RBR50, which has parental control, but it's not just a router, it's also a mesh system, so maybe more than you need.

[BAlGaInTl 288]

13 hours ago, kaj said:

I have an Orbi RBR50, which has parental control, but it's not just a router, it's also a mesh system, so maybe more than you need.

Does that model have any more than what I listed above?

I think they just aren't calling it parental controls, but rather "Control Access." Seems to be about the same thing in practice.  Here is a the exerpt of features from the TOC

Quote

Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet
Allow or block access to your network............................................41
Use keywords to block Internet sites...............................................42
Delete keywords that are used to block Internet sites...................43
Avoid blocking on a trusted computer............................................44
Block services from the Internet.......................................................44
Manage network access control lists...............................................46
Schedule when to block Internet sites and services......................46
Set up security event email notifications.........................................47

 

[kaj 316]

25 minutes ago, BAlGaInTl said:

Does that model have any more than what I listed above?

I think they just aren't calling it parental controls, but rather "Control Access." Seems to be about the same thing in practice.  Here is a the exerpt of features from the TOC

 

It used to have a built in app called 'Circle' I never used it (no kids) and got them to disable it on my account. I think there's now a separate app:

Circle® - Smart Parental Network Controls | NETGEAR

[all4dom 101]

The circle app cost extra I believe & for that price it should be included. Its pricey but it sure seems like a beast. Inwas also looking at the asus zenwifi, which was about 400 & change & seems to cover all bases.

Linksys ax4000 looked good also but it had a lot of negative reviews.

[kaj 316]

I run Adguard Home (it's free) on a raspberry pi, and that has parental controls.

[BAlGaInTl 288]

18 hours ago, all4dom said:

The circle app cost extra I believe & for that price it should be included. Its pricey but it sure seems like a beast. Inwas also looking at the asus zenwifi, which was about 400 & change & seems to cover all bases.

Linksys ax4000 looked good also but it had a lot of negative reviews.

What do you envision these parental controls doing?

there may be other ways to accomplish what you want.

[all4dom 101]

I use the timers for my son's internet, his tv & other devices.

[BAlGaInTl 288]

2 hours ago, all4dom said:

I use the timers for my son's internet, his tv & other devices.

If the timers are something like, internet is available from 1600-1800, that is probably doable still.  If it's something like device X can only use internet for 2 hours each day, that's significantly harder.

Parental controls are notoriously flawed, and there is probably good reason why they are going to a subscription model.  It's not a trivial thing to do.

[Carlo 4560]

On 4/7/2021 at 10:09 AM, all4dom said:

I use the timers for my son's internet, his tv & other devices.

I assume you already have a router that can do this?

If so you could always keep you son on that router and just plug that router's WAN port into your new router.  Just don't let him know the new wifi password.

[all4dom 101]

I bought the orbi saturday, had to wait til tuesday with both kids in school to setup. Setup was horrible, had to reset router, modem, uninstall & reinstall app. So after 2 hours got it working. The thing is a beast. Was fast. Plus I got best buy to price match amazon price of 500. 

Now the bad part...m after all that, I go to install circle by netgear.... the parental software, but wouldn't install, had to go through a bunch of steps on netgear to get tech support #...  parental software not compatible with the orbi..... reset router, disconnected & returned to BB. 

Bought the linksys.... got setup in 20 min, named my son's devices & setup the timers. The fun thing with the linksys is now I can shut off the internet to his pc while he is playing fortnite . I really did like the orbi but couldn't keep it without the parental timers. 

Just an fyi.... my old router just plain sucked.