2.7 & 2.8: Internet Connection Types, Network Types, and Networking Tools

Satellite Networking

Uses non-terrestrial communication via satellite; high cost and high latency.

Satellite Speeds

Common speeds are 50 Mbit/s down, 3 Mbit/s up.

Satellite Latency

Typically ~250ms; Starlink advertises 40ms (aiming for 20ms).

Satellite Frequency

Operates at high frequencies (~2 GHz); susceptible to rain fade and line-of-sight issues.

Fiber Networking

Uses light for high-speed, long-distance communication; expensive to install and repair. High bandwidth, long distance, and used in WAN backbones (e.g., SONET).

SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)

Standardized protocol by ANSI for transmitting digital data over optical fiber. Uses wavelength division multiplexing (enables multiple signals to be sent simultaneously over a single optical fiber)

Cable Broadband

Uses DOCSIS for data transmission over cable lines; supports video, voice, and data. 50-1000Mbit/s is common

DSL

Uses existing telephone lines (ADSL); asymmetrical speeds (faster download).

200Mbit/s downstream, 20Mbit/s upstream; speed drops with distance from central office

Cellular Networks

Mobile networking using cell towers and frequencies; includes tethering and hotspots.

WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider)

Terrestrial wireless for rural or remote locations.

Deployed by:

• Meshed 802.11

• 5G home internet

• proprietary wireless tech

Requires an outdoor antenna (10-1000 Mbit/s)

LAN (Local Area Network)

Network in a building or campus; high speed and low latency.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Connects LANs over long distances; slower speeds; uses MPLS, point-to-point, etc.

PAN (Personal Area Network)

Very small range network for personal use; includes Bluetooth, IR, NFC.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

Network covering a city or metro area; often government owned.

SAN (Storage Area Network)

High-speed network connecting storage devices to servers; block-level access.

Provides shared pool of storage for multiple servers to access. Improves performance, availability, and data management. Requires a lot of bandwidth

WLAN (Wireless LAN)

Wireless version of LAN using 802.11; coverage extended by multiple access points.

Cable Crimper

Tool used to attach connectors (e.g., RJ45) to cables by pressing metal pins through insulation.

Crimping Best Practices

Use high-quality crimper, scissors/snips, and wire stripper; match connectors to cable type.

WiFi Analyzer

Tool (hardware or app) for diagnosing 802.11 wireless networks.

Detects errors, validates access point installation, finds RF interference.

Tone Generator (Toner Probe)

Sends analog tone on wire; used to trace cables with inductive probe.

Connect generator to wire, use probe to follow sound; useful for coax or modular jack.

Punch Down Tool

Tool used to connect wires into patch panels or blocks; trims excess and secures wire. Best to maintain twist integrity, document cable layout, and stay organized.

Cable Tester

Verifies electrical integrity and wiring of cables; detects shorts, miswires, or breaks.

Continuity Tester

Confirms unbroken electrical path in a cable; subset of cable tester functionality.

Loopback Plug

Device that loops signal back to test port; tests Ethernet, serial, and fiber interfaces.

Crossover Cable

Ethernet cable that directly connects two similar devices without using a switch/router

Taps

Hardware that duplicates network traffic for analysis; non-intrusive monitoring. Used for performance, security, and traffic analysis.

Passive Tap

Simple splitter; doesn’t require power; often used for fiber or older copper.

Active Tap

Powered tap that regenerates signal; used in modern copper networks.

Port Mirror

Software-based tap built into switches; mirrors traffic to another port for monitoring.

SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer)

Cisco’s implementation of port mirroring.