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Prismiq Commander Wireless RouterThe Big Brother of Routers Price: $79.95
by John Brandon 
It costs a little more than a typical 802.11g router, but the Prismiq Commander Wireless Router provides one very unique feature: a program for monitoring all incoming and outgoing network traffic. This control solidifies it as a great option for homes or small offices where security is a chief concern.
The Commander’s intelligence comes from the included Internet Warning and Control Software (IWCS), which monitors incoming, outgoing, and unwanted traffic. The program supports AOL, MSN, and Yahoo instant messaging, POP3 e-mail messages, and Web sites. If you notice a suspicious site, right-click on the URL within the streamlined Commander interface and block it. The router displays where employees are surfing. If too many are tuning into Launchcast radio or other leisure sites, simply block those sites and get your staff back to work. The program records all instant messaging conversations and prevents access to specific user accounts. No other standalone software works nearly as well. The Commander’s controls are seamlessly integrated with the router. It’s eye-opening to see which sites feed banner ads to your favorite Web portals. With the router, you can block P2P transmissions, create filters to block offensive content, and disable ports for file sharing. These extra security options come in handy when monitoring and controlling Internet activity. The router uses WPA-PSK encryption and other security measures. Because it doesn’t use the latest MIMO technology found in higher-priced routers, you won’t enjoy the fastest throughput or the greatest range with the Commander. This router ran at a respectable 17 Mbps, and maintained that speed in a variety of indoor and outdoor tests. We don’t recommend it for transferring large video files between PCs, but the Commander is fine for surfing the Web, e-mailing, and streaming music and small video clips. The Commander offers decent range; the signal held strong for about 250 feet. Fortunately, the router supports an external antenna, so it’s possible to add some extra power to the 802.11g signal. The router supports 802.11b, but in a mixed-mode setting the signal dropped significantly, to about 7 Mbps. If you desire the fastest Wi-Fi speeds and longest range, there are better options. However, if keeping close tabs on your network and keeping potential threats out are top priorities, the Commander Wireless Router is a good value. Compare Prices | Prismiq Commander Wireless Router Specifications
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