🚫 Wi-Fi Device Blocker Guide 🚀

👋 Hello there! This guide will help you (attempt to) restrict a device from using your Hathway Wi-Fi network. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This is not a foolproof method, and effectiveness may vary! We'll cover both the recommended (router interface) and the less reliable (command prompt) approaches.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! ⚠️

• Read this entire README before you start!
• Router Access Needed: You must know your router's IP address, username, and password.
• Device ID: You must know the MAC address of the device you want to block.
• Hathway Variations: Exact steps will vary slightly based on your Hathway router model.
• Admin Rights: You need administrator privileges on your laptop.
• Security: Change your Wi-Fi and router passwords after making changes!

💻 Part 1: Gathering Info 🔍

1. Find Your Router's IP Address (Gateway)

This is the address you'll type into your web browser to access your router's settings.

• Windows (Command Prompt):

  ipconfig

  Look for "Default Gateway" in the output. It will look like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

  Windows ipconfig example (click to expand)

  Windows IP Configuration
  
  
  Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
  
     Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
     Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx%4
     IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
     Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
     Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
  

• macOS (Terminal):

  netstat -nr | grep default

  The IP address next to "default" is your router's IP.

  macOS netstat example (click to expand)

  default            192.168.1.1        UGScg           13      0 en0
  

• Linux (Terminal):

  route -n

  Look for the "Gateway" entry associated with the destination 0.0.0.0.

  Linux route example (click to expand)

  Kernel IP routing table
  Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
  0.0.0.0         192.168.1.1     0.0.0.0         UG    0      0        0 wlan0
  

2. Find the MAC Address of the Device to Block

The MAC address is a unique identifier for the device's network interface. It's crucial for blocking!

• On the Device Itself (Easiest):

  • Windows: ipconfig /all (Command Prompt), look for "Physical Address" under the Wi-Fi adapter.
  • macOS: System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > Hardware. "MAC Address".
  • Android: Settings > About phone > Status > Wi-Fi MAC address (location varies by Android version).
  • iOS (iPhone/iPad): Settings > General > About > Wi-Fi Address.
    It will look like : 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E.

• From Your Router's Interface (Recommended if you can't access the device):

  Log into your router (see Part 2) and look for sections like:

  • "Attached Devices"
  • "DHCP Clients"
  • "Wireless Clients"

  These sections usually list connected devices and their MAC addresses.

🔑 Part 2: Accessing Your Router's Web Interface 🌐

1. Open a Web Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.

2. Enter Your Router's IP Address: Type the IP address you found in Part 1 into the address bar and press Enter.

3. Log In: 🔑 You'll be prompted for a username and password. This is not your Wi-Fi password. It's the admin password for the router!

   • Default Credentials: If you've never changed it, try:

     • Username: admin or blank
     • Password: admin, password, blank, or the router's serial number (look on the router itself).

   • Forgotten Password? 😱 Consult your router's documentation, the Hathway website, or contact Hathway support. You might have to reset the router to factory defaults (but this will erase all your settings!). Only do this as a last resort.

🛡️ Part 3: Blocking the Device (MAC Filtering) 🚫

This is where it gets specific to your Hathway router model. 🕵️ Search for these sections in your router's interface:

• MAC Filtering (most common)
• Wireless MAC Address Filter
• Access Control
• Parental Controls (sometimes hidden here!)
• Wireless Security

Once you find the right section:

1. Enable MAC Filtering: Check the "Enable" box or similar. ✅

2. Choose Allow or Deny List:

   • Allow List (Whitelist): Only devices with listed MAC addresses can connect. More secure, but requires you to add every authorized device.
   • Deny List (Blacklist): Devices with listed MAC addresses are blocked. Easier to set up for blocking one device, but less secure overall.

3. Add the MAC Address: Enter the MAC address you found in Part 1. Give it a description if prompted (e.g., "John's Phone").

4. Save/Apply: Click "Save," "Apply," or "Submit." Your router may reboot. 🔄

💥 Part 4: The (Less Reliable) Command Prompt Method 🪤

⚠️ This is unlikely to work permanently on Wi-Fi. It's a temporary fix at best.

1. Find the Device's IP Address: Use your router or a network scanner (like nmap) to find the IP address assigned to the device.

2. Clear ARP Entry (Temporary):

   • Open Command Prompt (as Administrator!).

   • Type:

     arp -d <device's IP address>

     Example: arp -d 192.168.1.105

Why this is unreliable:

• Temporary: The ARP table will be repopulated, and the device will reconnect.
• Local Effect Only: It only affects your computer, not the router.
• Limited Control: Not a permanent block.
• Often Ineffective: Modern networks make this hard to do

🚑 Troubleshooting 🆘

• Can't Access Router?

  • Double-check the IP address. 🧐
  • Make sure you're connected to the Wi-Fi. 📶
  • Try restarting the router. 🔌

• Incorrect MAC Address?

  • Double-check! A typo will break everything. ⌨️

• Router Interface Different?

  • Consult your router's manual or the Hathway website. 📚

• Device Still Connecting?

  • The device might have a static IP address. Try blocking the IP address in addition to the MAC address (if supported).
  • The device might be using a VPN. 🛡️ VPNs make it harder to block devices effectively.

🌟 Conclusion ✨

The best and most reliable method is using MAC address filtering through your router's web interface. The command prompt method is a temporary and often ineffective workaround. Good luck! 👍

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