Reduce data consumption per device and track bandwidth usage in OpenWRT
Reduce data consumption per device and track bandwidth usage in OpenWRT
In short, my home setup mainly relies on 4G data with about 117 GB per month. It uses a simple OpenWRT router (a ZTE B860 Android STB) connected via USB tethering, and I’ve expanded it with an older 150 Mbps TP-Link router. It’s not huge, but there are no major issues so far. We haven’t switched to fiber because of cost concerns. There are still other financial priorities, and my parents have repeatedly encouraged me to consider fiber, though they still prefer the current setup. I’m okay with it since it’s close enough to my upcoming offline classes next semester. The 117 GB is sufficient for a month, even if sometimes I download extra content just to ensure usage matches the bill.
Recently, things changed. During my final semester (with minimal online classes) and while my brother was in his third semester, his heavy Zoom and Meet sessions (8–12 hours daily) quickly drained the data. Even with lighter use, it barely lasted a couple of weeks. I understand he’s busy, but it feels unfair.
Now, it might seem unfair to you all, but I’m trying to balance everyone’s needs. One idea is to cap usage per device—like limiting each phone or PC to 500 MB per day. I could use MAC addresses or IPs for this, but I’ve researched and still can’t find a clear solution. Another thought is to block Meet and Zoom specifically on his devices once limits are reached, forcing him to use a separate data plan. Unfortunately, the cellular ISP’s rules differ from our 117 GB package, making that option tricky.
I’m not trying to be difficult, but we all tend to forget to turn off Wi-Fi during long meetings and just keep using regular data. I did this because he’d switch to his own cellular plan afterward, which would save us money overall. So, any suggestions or tools for my OpenWRT router to help manage this? Thanks in advance.
Why not discuss this with your brother about securing a separate connection for his studies? Restricting his data without his input feels overly complicated and unfair. If his academic usage is consuming all your monthly allowance, it gives you a solid reason to ask your family to upgrade to a dedicated plan.
Netflix consumes up to 1Gig per hour for SD video. That’s a lot—500 Megabits an hour isn’t great. You’ll need sufficient bandwidth for Xoom and other services too. I’m suggesting you discuss data usage with your family or consider a better plan.