Freedom Wi-Fi FAQs

HomePass gives you the ability to briefly freeze or pause internet access globally for multiple devices belonging to different people instantly through the Time Out feature. If you want to set a scheduled Internet break, consider our Device Freeze feature.  

Setting a custom Time Out for multiple devices 

1. From the Home screen scroll to the Control section and find the Time out menu.
2. Under Set time out, tap on the pencil icon to create your custom time out. 
3. Use the + or –  buttons to modify the Time out period in 10-minute increments. 
4. Tap on the devices checkmark next to all the devices you want to be affected by this Time out. 
5. Tap on Save to return to the previous screen.
6. Tap on the pause icon to activate the Time Out.  All devices selected will now have Internet access blocked. The Time Out timer will count down until expiry.
7. Use the +, – or x to modify the duration or cancel the Time Out.

Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91

Setting a custom Time Out / Global Time Out (All people)

1. From the home screen, tap on the global mesh unit icon and scroll down to the Time Out menu.
2. Tap on the pencil icon to edit who will be put in a Time Out and the length of the Time Out. 
3. Use the + or – to modify the Time Out period in 10-minute increments. 
4. Under Devices belonging to, tap on the people individually or you can use the black checkmark to select everyone.
5. Tap on Done to return to the previous screen. 
6. Tap on the pause icon to activate the Time Out.  All devices assigned to the people selected will now have Internet access blocked. The Time Out timer will count down until expiry. 
7. Use the +, – or x to modify the duration or cancel the Time Out. 

Setting a custom Time Out / Global Time Out (All devices)

1. From the home screen, tap on the mesh unit icon and scroll down to the Time Out menu.
2. Tap on the pencil icon to edit who will be put in a Time Out and the length of the Time Out. 
3. Use the + to increase the Time Out period in 10-minute increments. Use the – to reduce the duration. 
4. Under Devices at home, tap on the devices individually or you can use the black checkmark to select all devices.
5. Tap on Done to return to the previous screen. 
6. Tap on the pause icon to activate the Time Out.  All devices selected will now have Internet access blocked. The Time Out timer will count down until expiry. 
7. Use the +, – or x to modify the duration or cancel the Time Out. 

A Time Out gives you the ability to briefly freeze or pause Internet access for a person or specific device with just a few taps. This lets you easily manage Internet access in real-time in addition to setting Device Freeze schedules. There are two ways to use a Time Out:

• Set a custom or global Time Out for all people or devices  (any timeframe in 10-minute increments)
• Set a Time Out for select people or devices  

What will the user see when in a Time Out?

When a device is frozen, it will not be able to access Internet content. When trying to load an HTTP site, they will be redirected to the captive screen (left). However, if it is an HTTPS site, the page will simply timeout or say it cannot be reached (right). 

Non-browser devices like media players and game consoles will simply get an Internet connection error when they are in a Time Out.

HomePass’ content access feature will allow you to restrict content for a device or person. We have identified the most common content filtering categories that you can use when personalizing your online experience.

When setting up content filtering for a person or device, you can enable any of the four content filtering categories:

1. No limits: You can access all types of content.
2. Kids appropriate: Content that is tagged as NOT appropriate for kids will be filtered and inaccessible.
3. Teenager friendly: Content that is tagged as NOT appropriate for teens will be filtered and inaccessible.
4. No adult content: All content tagged as adult content will not be accessible.

Please note that all devices associated with a person will inherit the content access settings assigned to that corresponding person. Likewise, applying content access restrictions to a device assigned to a person will apply the same settings to that person. However, if the device is unassigned, the rule will only apply to the device.

Content access will not work if Privacy Mode has been enabled or if the device is using a Private/Random MAC Address. 

What is seen by the end-user when their content is blocked?

Content that was restricted by our security feature whenever you see the “Access to this website is blocked” message displayed in their browser window.

Note: This only appears for HTTP sites; HTTPS sites prevent this and display the browser’s default “can’t be reached” message. HTTPS connections cannot be redirected to the HTTP blocked page because it would break the secure trusted SSL connection.

Nope!

Our team has completed extensive internal and external testing to verify that you won’t see any decrease in performance after enabling Adblocking, Online Protection, or any Content Access settings!

Adblocking, Online Protection, and any custom Approve / Block lists can only be configured on a location, person, or device level. Content Access (parental control) settings can be configured on a person and device level.

Location level: Applies to all devices connected to the network.

Person level: Applies to all devices assigned to a person.

Device level: Applies only to the single device if unassigned. If the device is assigned to a person, the Content Access rule will be applied to that person.

What happens if you have different settings configured on different levels for a device?

Priority is given to the most specific settings for a device. For example, if Online Protection is disabled on a location level and enabled for a device, the setting is turned on for the device.

Additionally, if a location has a setting enabled, any new devices and profiles added will inherit the same settings by default.

It should be noted that if a device is assigned to a person, Content Access rules will always be the same for that person and their associated devices.

For any additional questions, please contact our support staff for assistance.

——— Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91 ———

Adblocking, Online Protection, and any custom Approve / Block lists can only be configured on a location, person, or device level. Content Access (parental control) settings can be configured on a person and device level.

Location level: Applies to all devices connected to the network.

But what happens if you have different settings configured on different levels for a device?

Priority is given to the most specific settings for a device. For example, if Online Protection is disabled on a location level and enabled for a device, the setting is turned on for the device.

Additionally, if a location has a setting enabled, any new devices and profiles added will inherit the same settings by default.

It should be noted that if a device is assigned to a person, Content Access rules will always be the same for that person and their associated devices.

For any additional questions, please contact our support staff for assistance.

When it comes to getting the best performance out of your Plume network, mesh unit placement is everything! While every home has a unique size, shape, and Wi-Fi environment, here are some guidelines for maximizing your speeds.

We recommend one mesh units for every two rooms. Mesh units should be spread evenly around the home, especially in rooms and open spaces where is more common to use Wi-Fi. Typically, mesh units should be placed about 30-40 feet apart through walls and 60-80 feet apart for large open spaces (like a large living room).

Be sure to position mesh units in central locations along interior walls of your home to take advantage of the mesh units’ omnidirectional radios!

• Additional Mesh Unit Placement Examples

Additional Tips to Improve Coverage & Performance

Turn Off Additional Wi-Fi Networks

• Parallel networks from an upstream or additional router increase interference, dramatically decreasing your Plume network’s performance
• If your secondary network shared an SSID and Password with your Plume network, devices will often become confused and hop between the two networks, hurting their connectivity

Steer Clear of Furniture

• Dense padding and metal/wood framing in furniture can inhibit your Wi-Fi performance. Try placing your mesh unit in an open, exposed area to improve signal and show off your new hardware!
• Similarly to how mirrors reflect light, they also reflect Wi-Fi signal, decreasing signal strength. Try to position mesh units to connect around large mirrors and windows, rather than through.

Avoid Appliances

• TVs, refrigerators, subwoofers, and metals doors are Wi-Fi killers. Avoid placing pods too close to or behind these appliances.
• Devices like microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones often share the same frequency as your Wi-Fi networks, creating additional interference when placed too close together.

Work Around Your Home’s Construction

• Just like mirrors, energy-efficient windows can negatively impact your Wi-Fi signal.
• Metallic blinds/shades can also prevent your network from reaching balconies, terraces, or gardens.
• Foil-backed underfloor insulation can prevent Wi-Fi signals from passing between floors in your home. Try placing mesh units near stairs where they might have a more direct line of sight.

Adding people allows you to conveniently monitor and manage their WiFi access.

Adding a Person

1. From the People screen, tap on the + button.
2. Choose the Create a person option.
3. Add a photo using the +, enter the Person name and Email (optional) and tap on Next.
4. Set their Person profile information. This allows you to control Content access as well as their Guard settings for all their assigned devices while they are connected to the network.
5. Tap on Done and the person will be added to the list of people.
6. Use the Tap to assign device option under their card. The devices you select will apply the rules set in the previous step to those devices and allow you to monitor and manage the person’s Internet usage.
7. Once all devices have been selected and you tap on Done, you will be prompted to assign a Primary device, which is used to determine if they are home. Be sure to choose a device that they will always take with them.
8. Tap on Done once a primary device is chosen.

Please note that creating a person using the steps above does not give them the ability to manage the network. Click here if you want to Invite a person to help you manage the network.

Internet Freeze allows you to easily manage how much time is spent on the internet by a device or person by using a Freeze schedule or as needed.

Schedule or Turn on Internet Freeze for a device

1. Select the device in the app to access the device details page.
2. Tap on Schedule Internet Freeze.
3. Type in a name for this Freeze schedule.
4. Tap on a day and enter the Freeze internet (start) time and Unfreeze internet (end) times.
5. Choose the Repeat option if this schedule will be the same on multiple days or tap on another day to set different Freeze and Unfreeze times for that day.
6. Choose a person if this Freeze schedule will be used for all of their devices.
7. Tap on Save once your schedule is complete.

Schedule or Turn on Internet Freeze for a person

1. Select the person from the People page.
2. Tap on Schedule Internet Freeze.
3. Type in a name for this Freeze schedule.
4. Tap on a day and enter the Freeze internet (start) time and Unfreeze internet (end) times.
5. Choose the Repeat option if this schedule will be the same on multiple days or tap on another day to set different Freeze and Unfreeze times for that day.
6. Tap on Save once your schedule is complete and Apply to confirm.

Interrupt Internet Freeze

You will be able to interrupt the internet freeze by either choosing Unfreeze Until End of Day or Clear Internet Freeze to reset the freeze internet schedule.

What will the user see when frozen?

When a device is frozen, it will not be able to access content. How that is displayed depends on the content you are trying to access. If you try to load an HTTP site, you will be redirected to the captive portal screen. However, if it is an HTTPS site, the page will simply timeout or say it cannot be reached.

Plume also gives you the ability to pause internet access on a device or person instantly through the Time Out feature.

——— Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91 ———

Internet Freeze allows you to easily manage how much time is spent on the internet by a device by using a schedule or as needed.

Schedule or Turn on Internet Freeze

1. Select the device in the app to access the device details page.
2. Tap on Schedule Internet Freeze.
3. Select Until End of Day, School Night, Bedtime, Indefinitely or Custom.
4. Set the start and end times using the slider if you selected School Night or Bedtime. 
5. You can set a different duration on each day when you choose the Custom scheduling option.

Interrupt Internet Freeze

You will be able to interrupt the internet freeze by either choosing Unfreeze Until End of Day or Clear Internet Freeze to reset the freeze internet schedule.

What will the user see when frozen?

When a device is frozen, it will not be able to access content. How that is displayed depends on the content you are trying to access. If you try to load an HTTP site, you will be redirected to the captive portal screen. However, if it is an HTTPS site, the page will simply timeout or say it cannot be reached.

Plume also gives you the ability to pause internet access on a device or person instantly through the Time Out feature.

If you accidentally assign a device to the wrong person, you can simply reassign it to another person’s profile (or create a new profile).

1. Navigate to the incorrectly assigned device.
2. Tap on the ⋮ on the upper right-hand corner to view the device menu and select Assign Device to…
3. Select the appropriate profile to move the device to. You can also add a new person profile to your app at the same time!
4. Your device will now appear under the new profile!
5. Please note that any rules (Adblocking, Content Access, or Online Protection) will be reset to match the new profile.

——— Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91 ———

If you accidentally assign a device to the wrong person, you can simply reassign it to another person profile (or create a new profile).

1. Navigate to the incorrectly assigned device.
2. Tap on the ⋮ on the upper right-hand corner to view the device menu and select Assign Device to…
3. Select the appropriate profile to move the device to. You can also add a new person profile to your app at the same time!
4. Your device will now appear under the new profile!
5. Please note that any rules (Adblocking, Content Access, or Online Protection) will be reset to match the new profile.

You can approve a website for a person, the entire network, or a device if not assigned to a person. Up to 50 websites can be approved in total.

If you notice a website has been incorrectly blocked, please report it to support.

Approving Websites for Everyone

1. From the Home page, tap on the Guard events.
2. Go to Approve tab and tap on Approve..
3. Choosing Approve Website allows you to enter the URL of the domain, while Approve IP Address allows you to enter the server IP address.
4. Enter the URL or IP address and tap on Approve to save. Please note that the full domain name is required. For example; make sure to write “youtube.com” instead of “youtube”.
5. Tap on Apply to confirm the changes.
6. Additionally, you are able to view previously blocked sites under the Protected tab. Tap or swipe on the blocked event to start the approval flow.

Approve websites at a person or device level

1. Navigate to the desired person or device
2. Tap on Manage security events at the bottom of the page
3. Tap on Approve
4. Choosing Approve Website allows you to enter the URL of the domain, while Approve IP Address allows you to enter the server IP address.
5. Based on your previous choice, enter the URL or IP address and tap the checkmark to save. The full domain name is required for websites. For example; make sure to write “youtube.com” instead of “youtube”.
6. Tap on Approve to confirm your choice.
7. If you are approving the site for a device that has been assigned to a person, the rule will also apply to the person. Likewise, approving a site for the person automatically applies that rule to all of their assigned devices. If the device is not assigned, the rule will only apply to the device.

You can also unblock a website from Protected list.

Simply swipe or tap to add a site to your Approved list

Confirm that the site is now Approved

Up to 50 total sites can be manually blocked at the network, person, and device levels combined.  IP addresses can only be blocked if you have Outbound IP Protection and Intrusion Prevention enabled.
<h5">Blocking a website at the network level or the person level

1. From the Home page, tap on the Guard events.
2. Go to the Block tab and choose for whom you want to block the website.
   • All – applies to all devices on the network.
   • At home – applies to all devices not assigned to a person
   • Person – applies to all devices assigned to that person
3. Tap on Block.
4. Choosing Block Website allows you to enter the URL of the domain, while Block IP Address allows you to enter the server IP address.
5. Enter the URL or IP address and tap on Block. Please note that the full domain name is required. For example; make sure to write “youtube.com” instead of “youtube”.
6. Tap on Apply to confirm the changes.

Blocking a website at a device Level

1. Navigate to the desired device.
2. Scroll down to Events at the bottom of the page and tap on View all.
3. Go to Block tab and then tap on Block… 
4. Choose either Block Website or Block IP Address. 
5. Enter the URL or IP Address you wish to block and tap the checkmark to save. Please note that the full domain name is required for websites. For example; make sure to write “youtube.com”  instead of “youtube”.
6. Tap on Block to save.

Please remember that a website blocked for a person will automatically be blocked on all the devices assigned to that person and vice-versa.

Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91

Blocking a Website for Everyone

1. Tap on the Guard tab inside the main menu.
2. Tap on Manage security events.
3. Go to Block and then tap on Block… on iOS or the + if you are using Android.
4. Choose either Block website or Block IP Address. 
5. Based on your previous choice, enter the URL or IP Address you wish to block. Please note that the full domain name is required for websites. For example; make sure to write “youtube.com”  instead of “youtube”.
6. Tap on Block to confirm

Plume allows you to personalize your online experience with customizable Approved and Blocked lists. Up to 50 total sites can be manually blocked at the network, person, and device levels combined.

1. To remove sites from the Approve or Block lists, tap on the Guard events on the home page.
2. Choose the list level (All, At home, or the person profile) using the icons on top.
3. Find the site under the appropriate Approve or Block tab.
4. Tap on the options next to the entry you want to remove from the list.
5. Tapping View will bring up the website in your browser.
6. Depending on which list you are viewing, tap either remove from approved list or remove from blocked list.

——— Follow the instructions below if you are using a version of HomePass prior to 3.91 ———

Plume allows you to personalize your online experience with customizable Approved and Blocked lists. Up to 50 total sites can be manually blocked at the network, person, and device levels combined.

1. To remove sites from the network level block or approved lists, go to the Guard tab from the main menu. Navigate to the person or device to remove sites from their blocked or approved lists.
2. Navigate to the Manage security events option. This is accessible on the device, person, and at the network level as seen below.
3. Find the site under the appropriate Approve or Block tab.
4. Tap or swipe to remove the site from your list. Tapping View will bring up a web view of the site.

For more details, you can refer to:

• How to block a specific website?
• How can I approve a website?