Have a question about networking, telecommunications, broadband, Wireshark, or technology in general? You’ve come to the right place. Our Frequently Asked Questions section provides answers to many of the most common questions we receive about CellStream’s consulting services, technical training programs, online courses, and industry expertise.
In addition to information about our products and services, you’ll find helpful explanations, technical guidance, and answers to a variety of networking and computing topics. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, we’re always happy to help—simply contact us and we’ll do our best to provide the information you need.
We hope you find these resources informative, practical, and valuable in your professional and technical journey.
Views: 1,085This is a great question that is answered in my courses that teach L2 Ethernet, but I have never answered here. So let’s dive in. VLANs are one of the fundamental building blocks of Ethernet switching. They allow us to divide a physical switched network into multiple logical Layer 2 broadcast domains. But when
Native VLAN vs. Normal VLAN: What Is the Difference on a Cisco Switch? Read More »
Views: 7,905I am often asked this question of where to access PCAP or PCAP-NG files so that folks can explore packet captures using Wireshark. I have always provided these resources in my Wireshark classes at the Online School, but thought I should also just list them here for public consumption. Before you click! One caution:
Where can I get PCAP Packet Captures for Learning and Exploration? Read More »
Views: 1,905If you spend much time on CellStream.com, you may notice something that has become increasingly unusual on the Web: We don’t fill our articles with advertising. There are no advertisements interrupting a Wireshark tutorial. No pop-up covering the network diagram you’re trying to read. No video suddenly playing while you’re studying IPv6. No advertisement
Why CellStream Doesn’t Fill This Site With Ads — and How You Can Help Read More »
Views: 1,542Wi-Fi 8 is the informal market name for IEEE 802.11bn, currently being developed as the next major Wi-Fi generation after Wi-Fi 7. Its technical theme is UHR — Ultra High Reliability. Unlike earlier Wi-Fi generations that mainly advertised higher peak speeds, Wi-Fi 8 is aimed at making Wi-Fi more consistent, predictable, and reliable in
It’s Early Days – but what is Wi-Fi 8? Read More »
Views: 1,505Sometimes you need more than another vendor presentation, another product data sheet, or another search through the Internet. You need someone who understands the technology, understands the operational environment, and can help you determine what is actually happening and what you should do next. That is where CellStream consulting comes in. Since 1998, CellStream
What consulting services does CellStream Provide? Read More »
Views: 7,760For many broadband folks, this is a question that you need to know the answer to. So let’s answer in a picture and with supporting data. Well, let’s just say this is as best as one can determine. Naturally there is an intellectual property barrier to what Starlink/SpaceX has and is developing. There are
What is the Starlink Operational Model? Read More »
Views: 999This is a frequently asked question, especially from folks who troubleshoot fax in VoIP networks. Until today, I would have said “I have never seen it. That does not mean it can’t be done.” I also would have admitted that it is above my pay grade. But that all changed today. I found this:
Can you extract Fax from Packets? Read More »
Views: 2,419This question was sent to me in an email following my posts on regarding TCP CUBIC. The answer is Yes—Microsoft Windows does support TCP CUBIC, but the nuance is in how and when it’s used. For many years, Windows defaulted to Compound TCP (CTCP) rather than CUBIC. Meanwhile, Linux distributions standardized on TCP CUBIC,
Does Windows support TCP CUBIC? Read More »
Views: 10,095The 169.254.x.x IPv4 address is called the APIPA address. APIPA stands for Automatic Private IP Addressing. It’s a fallback mechanism built into Windows (and most modern operating systems) to give your network interface a “link local” address when it can’t get one from a DHCP server. The APIPA IPv4 Addresses are any address in
What is the 169.254.x.x IPv4 address? Read More »
Views: 3,210Great question. In one sentence it is a purple tool, meaning both! Wireshark itself is a passive tool, it is non-intrusive — it doesn’t create attacks — but it’s a force multiplier for both Red and Blue Teams depending on who controls the capture point and how the data is used. Let me dig
Is Wireshark a Red Team or Blue Team Tool? Read More »
Views: 2,561This is a common and great question. Simply answered, a wider channel in Wi-Fi results in higher bandwidth and throughput because it allows more data to be transmitted simultaneously. Here’s a breakdown of why: Channel Width and Frequency Space More Subcarriers = More Data Streams More specifically, in a 20 MHz channel, there are
Why is a Wider Wi-Fi Channel Faster? Read More »
Views: 1,978This has been a common question I get asked over the years. Frankly, I confess that I may have answered differently depending on my mood the day I was asked!! I got asked this again recently and decided to put fingers to keyboard and answer with the plusses and minuses. My answers below apply
Should you get Certified? Read More »
Views: 3,175I get asked this question all the time. It is indeed a great question. I previously posted an answer to this FAQ in 2017 – you can look at that here. I often point folks who ask to that post, but they claim it is ancient history. But is it? So I decided to
If I want to get into Networking, what should I learn in 2025? Read More »
Views: 2,281It’s graduation time. Congrats to all of you graduating!!! It seems that every year around this time someone will ask this great question. In my day, the answer was simple: none! Not anymore. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in Network Engineering (what I call Network Science) and related technologies, several universities across
Where can I get a degree in Network Engineering? Read More »
Views: 21,389Great question. The short answer is Yes – Starlink supports IPv6. Starlink is fully dual stack when it comes to IPv4 and IPv6 addressing. It is IPv6 capable and supports native IPv6 connectivity across all its routers, kit versions, and service plans. This includes the allocation of a /56 IPv6 prefix via DHCPv6 Prefix
Does Starlink Support IPv6? Read More »
