WatchWAN

This application effectively monitors and logs your bandwidth, but will not return accurate results unless you alter a select setting. WatchWAN’s small tabbed interface is well designed to display pertinent data. This utility monitors TCP, UDP, and ICMP traffic, though each can be easily set to ignore. Current speed is displayed in a scrolling bar graph that can be frozen, but not enlarged. The packet display features the From and To IP addresses for each packet, along with the port, type, and amount of data transferred. The ability to scroll the packets display is available in WatchWan’s settings. Scrolling helps users note select IP addresses to better discover hidden spyware or match URL to IP address. The log display merely lists the total data transferred per day broken down into upload, download, and pass-by usage. The utility does not include a needed help file, but offers a link to the publisher’s Web site. On the site is a brief mention of a required setting to accurately measure usage. Novices will have little need for this helpful freeware application, but power users will find it one of the better bandwidth monitors available.WatchWAN is a more accurate alternative to DU Meter, Netmeter and other bandwidth monitors. Unlike others, it allows you to set filters to capture only the traffic you are interested in. It shows all the active connections you have to the Internet at any given moment and also the volume of traffic flowing through them. Of course, keeps an exact record of your bandwidth usage too.