Have you contacted Netgear? You maybe looking for a feature that they don't support.

Precisely. They do not support this feature. All they offer is the ability to view users but no control over user network keys.

I am attempting to set up a wireless access point in Nairobi (dense population ravenous for the Internet) at a fair price. I have checked with the DSL provider about maximum bandwith and it appears one router can conservatively serve ~15 PC's or ~30 smart phones in regular use.

The only hurdle is the ability to renew individual network keys monthly to serve a monthly pre-pay system.

Ahem, then it sounds like you have purchased the wrong hardware for what you want to do.

What I need is a server.

Now I know!

You don't have to assign anything, as most computer/peripheral equipment already have a "unique" address.

I use the MAC address to police the users on my wifi hub. I run my hub open with a hidden ssid and a list of MAC addresses that are allowed to access the hub.

I had to do this due to the variety of operating systems(Linux/win 2k/win7/ and whatever the f*ck an apple imac uses) and puters/tablets & Ifreaking phones in use.

It also ensures that warchalking wonks won't impact on my interweb usage.

Yup. Even consumer-class routers can restrict wireless access to specific MAC addresses. If someone quits the service, just remove their MAC address from the list. Check your User Guide. And don't forget to change the administrator user name, and to use a strong password.

Yup. Even consumer-class routers can restrict wireless access to specific MAC addresses.

This is what I thought my cheap Netgear router could do but it turned out to be incapable. This router is set up to be either secured or unsecured (without or with network key required to connect.) Coupled with the ability to view ID's of connected devices, this administrative sytem enables management by simply changing the network key and sharing it with only those you allow into your network.

This is insufficient for my business model because subscribers can simply share the network key among each other to avoid paying. Even if the router allows for removal of unwanted ISP/MAC addresses, I will have to continuously police the traffic. I'm a tech entrepreneur not a cop.

I am actively pursuing set-up with a sever for the kind of control I require: individual network keys that ONLY work for an individual ISP/MAC address.

You don't have to assign anything, as most computer/peripheral equipment already have a "unique" address.

What I mean by "assigning unique network keys" is assigning a password that can only be used by a single PC. Not naming as the ISP/MAC address already serves this purpose.

Perharps I carelessly used "network key" which is synonymous with "password."

I believe that what you are trying is impossible. Access for hotspots is controlled by a server, not the router itself. I would suggest you have a look at http://www.hotspotsystem.com (I have no association with this company) or I'm sure there are others out there. Hope this helps

And the clouds parted and finally there was light...

The router is just an antenna while the server is the brains that will allow IP/MAC address accessibility control.

GA from me. Thanks for the details

Just try to open the gatesway or the network site of the netgear as the administration of the internet network.As your using a cdrom installer to configure your wifi try to put the default IP of your router to the address bar and hit enter key and the browser will as you to enter the username and password to open your account as the administrator and try to configure inside

Almost a year later, here I am in Africa with this screen up:

Thanks folks