How to limit someone's access to wifi

Dotson525

Reputable
Jan 7, 2016
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Hello,

I currently live with 4 other roommates. A new roommate recently moved into the apartment, and we have noticed our internet is extremely slow (or disconnects) when the roommate is home. This past week the roommate is away on vacation, and there have been no problems with internet. This particular roommate downloads many movies, etc. In addition, the roommate works within computer programming, and utilizes many devices.

Is there way to limit the amount of use/access to the roommate's devices?

All suggestions are appreciated!

I forgot to mention we use Verizon fios for internet.
Thank you
 
Solution
Roomie may be causing the problem inadvertently or at least thoughtlessly by seeding torrents. Seeding will jam the upload connection and slow everything down. Offer to look at his computer with him to see if you can identify the cause and look for a torrent client, like utorrent. Then politely help him to stop or significantly throttle the uplinking.

If he doesn't go along with the friendly intervention and the rest of the room feels the need to be more aggressive, there may be a way to block the ports. Failing that, it is possible to set him up on a separate wifi access point and set it to run in B mode to limit his bandwidth.
Probably not, since I doubt that Verizon is providing a router with QOS or rationing controls. But what router do you have?

There's always the social solution - talk to the roomate, or split the bill by usage. Or get a separate, slower WAP just for that one person.
 


The router we have is Actiontec MI424WR Verizon Fios Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router 4 Port Gigabit. The utilities are within the landlord's name. The household is a "rent a room" situation.

We have tried talking to the roommate, but denies having multiple devices. I can tell when the roommate is home, because all of sudden the internet will be extremely slow.

Thank you for your input! Hopefully then description of the router helps!
 


Thanks! I have not asked Verizon support. That will be my next step. I was hoping there was a program that gauged the person's usage. I wanted to be absolutely sure it was that roommate.

Question: I was wondering if the roommate had some type of program that enabled them to gain a stronger signal?

Thank you for the suggestions! Sorry for some many questions.
 
Roomie may be causing the problem inadvertently or at least thoughtlessly by seeding torrents. Seeding will jam the upload connection and slow everything down. Offer to look at his computer with him to see if you can identify the cause and look for a torrent client, like utorrent. Then politely help him to stop or significantly throttle the uplinking.

If he doesn't go along with the friendly intervention and the rest of the room feels the need to be more aggressive, there may be a way to block the ports. Failing that, it is possible to set him up on a separate wifi access point and set it to run in B mode to limit his bandwidth.
 
Solution