For years anyone with a internet connection could download as many files as they wanted, but now with companies such as Comcast implementing data caps this is changing.
Much the way data usage needs to be monitored on a phone now the same will need to be done at home.
If you only use one device to get online at home than data used can easily be monitored.
But how do you monitor bandwidth used across many devices?
Monitoring all the data in a home requires going to the source which is the router.
Since all the data in a home must go through the router logging the bandwidth as it passes though it is ideal.
Can Your Current Router Log Data Usage?
The only way to find this out is to look at the router manual. Its specification should be online also.
Unfortunately most routers do not have built-in logging capability.
There is Open Source Firmware software that may be able to give your router this option. DD-WRT and Tomato are the most popular.
Using DD-WRT or Tomato are good options if you have a compatible router and a bit of technical knowledge.
There are also routers that come with built-in monitoring tools that can be bought.
Routers That Can Monitor Data Bandwidth Usage
TP-LINK TL-WR841N Wireless N300 Home Router, 300Mbps, IP QoS, WPS Button
The TP-LINK TL-WR841N can monitor data usage and control how much bandwidth a user can have.
For example if you want to slow down or limit how much bandwidth a person gets than this can be done via the IP address of the device. It can also limit an entire IP Range.
The TL-WR841N is a Wireless-N router so it doesn’t support the new 802.11ac or 5 GHz frequency.
This is a good cheap solution that will get you up and controlling your bandwidth.
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TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 Dual Band Wireless AC Gigabit Router, 2.4GHz 450Mbps+5Ghz 1300Mbps, 2 USB Port, IPv6, Guest Network
The TP-LINK Archer can support the new 802.11ac and is a dual band router.
It also has IP-based bandwidth control which makes it easy for you to manage the bandwidth of devices connected to the router
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Buffalo AirStation HighPower N600 Gigabit Dual Band Open Source DD-WRT Wireless Router (WZR-600DHP)
The popular Open Source firmware DD-WRT can be bought pre-installed in a router.
DD-WRT has many more options than simply controlling bandwidth, such as being used as a bridge or VPN.
Also DD-WRT can limit a device based in IP address or Mac address with a Mac address built-in to a device much harder to change.
Even though DD-WRt has many more options than other packaged routers it does come with a degree of technicality that may not be for everyone.
For a simple way to watch and control bandwidth one of the TP-Link routers may be best.
Summary
Having control over your home bandwidth usage is becoming more important by that day.
Many who dont will wake up to find they have overage charges that have to be paid.
A router that can limit or shut off devices from bandwidth hogs around your home is also a extra benefit.