Netopia adds parental controls and other features for $99
Gotta love technology pricing: Each generation offers more bang for fewer bucks. For $99, Netopia’s new 8587W broadband wireless router (802.11b) performs well and includes a year of parental control service. The wired version costs $69.
Gotta love technology pricing: Each generation offers more bang for fewer bucks. For $99, Netopia’s new 8587W broadband wireless router (802.11b) performs well and includes a year of parental control service. The wired version costs $69.
First, the good things: The router, which works with a DSL or cable modem, includes a four-port switch and decent firewall. Management information doesn’t go as far as some, but is better than many in the sub-$100 range. And the wireless connection, though 802.11b, has an extended reach, and Netopia configures encryption right out of the box.
Now the annoyances: Installation is illogical and the parental controls aren’t ready for serious business use. The filtering itself is fine, but its management needs improvement.
Installation works easily – so long as you ignore the request to verify your Internet connection during the CD-ROM-based install process. Yes, the software wants to check your connection before you hook up the router, akin to the old joke about shipping VCR set-up instructions on a VCR tape. But following the quick start guide works, too.
Netopia’s 3D Reach wireless enhancement feature improved the connection range in my home lab. Where a fairly new Netgear wireless router connects at about 80% signal strength from upstairs, the Netopia link showed 100%. The connection stayed strong even when using a 2.4 GHz-wireless phone and my microwave. An 802.11g version of the router is in beta testing now, Netopia says.
Geared to non-technical users, security options are adequate. Firewall configuration is a matter of choosing off, low, medium or high. The default is medium, which allows all outbound traffic but hides the router address and internal device identities. High stops all traffic to and from the Internet but lets internal traffic through – the equivalent of unplugging your broadband connection cable for blocking all network traffic, yet keeping your wiring hub active.
The only security configuration options are opening specific holes in the firewall for a long list of games and other services, such as H.323 applications like Microsoft’s NetMeeting, IP telephones and peer-to-peer services. You can also open custom ports. While options are limited, one look at the myriad choices in a security appliance from SonicWall or Checkpoint will make many users favor Netopia’s minimalist approach.
Engaging the parental control module requires separate registration because the box comes with only a one-year subscription to the service. Once started, you must control filtering through a Web-based admin utility separate from the router admin utility, again reinforcing the subscription model. After the first free year, service costs $35 annually.
The depth and flexibility of the filtering is impressive, and covers areas not often watched, such as instant messaging and e-mail connections. You define each user on the network, and a grid breaks the week up into hours, so blocking out night-time usage for kids is easy, for instance.
Log information on the router proper doesn’t list where users surf or try to; you must look at the parental controls administration screen for that. Access requires you to log in to the router directly, instead of just giving your username and password. Once there, though, you’ll find a good set of reports for each defined user.
Home users, and those of you running companies in which filtering is important but 802.11g speed isn’t, should be happy at the filtering controls offered. These are better than earlier products we’ve seen. Business users who need a cheap wired/wireless router will be happy with the price, even if they don’t enable filtering, (which is good until Netopia adds group user options and more business-like admin access screens.)
