Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I replace my existing router with this one?
   
   Yes! In most cases you will simply remove your existing router and replace it with the Pandora's Hope router. If you have a "Combined" modem/router (meaning you don't have a router) then you will plug the Pandora's Hope router into your modem/router and make sure all devices are connected to the Pandora's Hope router.
   
   
2. Will it slow down my web browsing?
   
   No! You should not experience noticeable slow down in your web browsing. One situation which may cause slowness is the presence of viruses and malware on the network. If computers on your network are heavily infested it could slow down your entire network as the Pandora's Hope router handles and blocks each of the unauthorized requests. We recommend Malwarebytes as excellent free software for cleaning computers which are infected. You can find it at www.malwarebytes.com.
   
   
3. How does the filtering actually work?
   
   The router works on text-based algorithms to detect inappropriate pages. Each page and it’s URL is dynamically registered against known words and phrases that can trigger the blocking. There are actually 7 layers of filtering going on as each page is loaded. And on top of that, each page is logged for a complete history.  On top of that, each page is logged for your personal usage reporting.
   
   
4. How does it handle sites like Google, YouTube, and Facebook that have dynamic content?
   
   Google and YouTube have a "Safe" feature which applies it's own content filter. Pandora's Hope forces both of these sites to use the strict setting regardless of your local configuration. In addition the router scans the pages as they come thru, looking for words and phrases that would trigger the blocked page. This allows all pages with dynamic content to (like Facebook) to be effectively scanned for unwanted content.
   
   
5. How does it handle images and videos?
   
   One of the first questions to consider about images and video is: How do you find these images and videos? Every image or video has to have a name and usually associated comments in order to be found at all. By limiting the search, and by filtering text on the pages it makes it tricky to find the images in the first place. Next, from the text that we have tested coming through on pages that are not appropriate, there are very few instances where only a picture or video on the page. We are doing a full dynamic search of every page's url and content - even the name of the image itself. The router’s robust hardware is able to scan through the text fast enough to make the speed difference minimal - most people don't even notice a difference. While it does leverage some blacklists, we have found the dynamic filtering to be much more effective. And, the great part, if you find a page or a scenario that gets through - let us know! We are constantly updating and improving the routers since the web is constantly changing.
   
   
6. Will it protect my (or my kid's) iPod Touch?
   
   Yes! If the iPod Touch is connected to your Pandora's Hope wireless connection it will be protected. However, if the iPod Touch is connected to your neighbors unfiltered, unsecured wireless connection then it will not be protected. If you know of unsecured wireless connections in your area we recommend that you contact your neighbors and kindly ask them to secure their wireless, meaning put a password on it.
   
   
7. Will the Pandora's Hope router work with my...modem, ISP, network hard drive, network printer, etc?
   
   Very likely yes. We have customers who use a wide range of modems, ISP's, network hard drives, and network printers with no problems at all. In some cases where your modem is 7 or 8 years old, better performance will be achieved if you upgrade your modem to a newer model. Other than that, chances are very good that you will connect it and everything will communicate without a glitch.
   
   
8. I purchased one of your routers previous. Is mine now outdated? Or did I just pay more for the same thing?
   
   You actually got a great deal! The same router that you had before is now our Pro version and you got it for a great deal! With the work that we did to scale the filtering to work on the Family version made your Pro version run even faster! Look for updates to be coming to your existing router very soon!
   
   
9. What is the subscription?
   
   When you purchase the Pandora's Hope router you get 6 months of subscription for free. The subscription is only $19.99 per year and covers support and continuing updates. Updates are vital to the Pandora’s Hope routers to keep pace with the ever-changing environment of the internet. The subscriptions starts 6 months after your purchase.
   
   
10. If I buy your router and something doesn't work right for me can I return it?
    
    Yes! We have a 30 day money back guarantee. Our router is almost universally compatible. We have had very few customers desire to return the router. Chances are very good that it will work great and you will not want to return it. In fact, you’ll likely end up recommending it to your friends!