CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab

Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark

Lab 4: Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark

Introduction to Digital Transmissions
In modern computer networks, digital transmission is the foundation of reliable communication.
Data is transmitted as digital signals over network cables or wireless channels. The efficiency of
this transmission depends on multiple factors, including transmission modes, encoding
schemes, bandwidth usage, data rate, signal rate, and error detection mechanisms. These
elements collectively determine how efficiently and accurately data moves across a network.

Wireshark, a powerful packet analyzer, allows us to observe real network traffic, measure
transmission speeds, and analyze error detection mechanisms. By capturing packets in real
time, we can gain valuable insights into how digital transmission works in practice.

Transmission Modes: Parallel vs. Serial

Transmission modes define how data moves from one device to another. In parallel
transmission, multiple bits are sent simultaneously over multiple channels. This method is used
in short-distance communication, such as transferring data inside a computer between the
processor and memory. Since each bit travels on a separate wire, parallel transmission can be
fast but requires more hardware and is prone to synchronization issues over long distances.

In contrast, serial transmission sends bits one at a time over a single channel. This method is
widely used in networking technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB, where data must
travel efficiently over long distances. Serial transmission is slower per cycle than parallel
transmission but is more reliable for network communication. In this lab, we will analyze ICMP
(ping) and TCP packet sequences in Wireshark to observe how serial transmission works in real
networks.

Data Rate vs. Signal Rate

A fundamental measure of transmission efficiency is the data rate, also called the bit rate, which
refers to the number of bits transmitted per second (bps). However, data is not always
transmitted as individual bits; instead, multiple bits can be encoded within a single signal
change. The signal rate, or baud rate, refers to the number of signal changes per second. If a
transmission system encodes multiple bits per signal change, the baud rate will be lower than
the bit rate.

Signal Rate (Baud) = Bit Rate (bps) / Bits per symbol (r)

For example, if a system transmits data at 10 Mbps while encoding two bits per signal change,
the baud rate will be 5 Mbaud (note that the transmitted data was in Megabits and thus the

0
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
final result is Megabaud). Understanding this relationship is crucial for optimizing
bandwidth usage in digital networks. In this lab, we will capture network traffic, extract real-time
timestamps, and compute the data rate versus signal rate to compare theoretical and observed
values.

Bandwidth and Nyquist Theorem

Bandwidth refers to the data transfer rate of a network. In digital transmission, the amount of
bandwidth needed depends on the data rate and the encoding scheme used. The Nyquist
Theorem states that in order to accurately reconstruct a signal, the sampling rate must be at
least twice the highest frequency present in the signal:

Sampling Rate >= 2×Maximum Frequency

For example, human voice signals typically have a maximum frequency of 4 kHz. To digitize
voice signals accurately, a minimum sampling rate of 8 kHz is required. This principle is applied
in various technologies, such as telephony and audio processing, to ensure high-quality signal
transmission.

In this lab, we will use Wireshark to compare bandwidth consumption for different types of
network traffic, such as web browsing, video streaming, and file downloads. By analyzing real-
world data, we will determine how different applications affect bandwidth usage and network
performance.

Error Detection in Digital Transmission

During digital transmission, errors can occur due to noise, interference, or signal degradation.
To ensure data integrity, networks use error detection techniques embedded within network
protocols. One of the most common error detection methods is the Frame Check Sequence
(FCS), found in Ethernet frames. This sequence allows the receiver to verify whether a packet
has been corrupted during transmission.

Another widely used technique is the checksum, which is included in TCP/IP packets. The
checksum algorithm calculates a unique value based on the contents of the packet. When the
receiver receives the packet, it performs the same calculation and compares the result. If there
is a mismatch, the packet is considered corrupted and may be discarded or retransmitted.

A more advanced error detection technique is the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), which is
used in various network and storage systems to detect errors in data. Unlike simple checksums,
CRC uses polynomial division to generate a more robust error-checking value.

In this lab, we will analyze real network packets in Wireshark to observe these error detection
mechanisms in action. We will also identify packets with checksum errors and investigate
whether errors occur more frequently in wired or wireless network connections.

Task 1: Capturing and Understanding Packet Transmission

1
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
The first step in analyzing digital transmission is to capture network packets and examine
their transmission characteristics. You will capture ICMP (ping) packets to observe how data is
transmitted serially over the network.

For this you will:

Open Wireshark and select the active network interface (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). Start a packet
capture session by clicking the Start Capture button. Open the command prompt on your
system and run this: ping -n 5 www.google.com . Which will send five ICMP echo request
packets to Google's server. After the ping operation completes, stop the packet capture in
Wireshark. In the Wireshark filter bar, enter the icmp filter to isolate ICMP packets.

Select an ICMP request packet and examine the Frame Details. Record the following
information on a document:

1. Packet arrival time (timestamp) [any packet]

2. Frame length (bytes) [any packet]
3. Time difference between consecutive packets (inter-packet delay) [first and last request]

Based off this information, answer the following questions:

Q1. How frequently are packets being sent?

Q2. What is the average packet size, and how does it compare to other traffic types? (hint: you
will have to generate different traffic - udp/tcp)

Q3. What transmission mode is used?

Task 2: Data Rate vs. Signal Rate Calculation

Capture TCP packet transmissions to analyze data rates and calculate the signal rate (baud
rate).

For this:

Open Wireshark and start a new packet capture. Download a large file (e.g., from Google
Drive, OneDrive, or a website) to generate sustained traffic. Stop the capture after a few
seconds. Apply the TCP filter to display only TCP packets. Navigate to Statistics → I/O
Graph

and observe the transmission pattern. Identify the total number of bytes transmitted and the
duration of the transmission on the same document as task 1 (under a new heading for task 2).
[you can also view it on Conversations]

Calculate the following:

1. Data Rate (Bit Rate) = Total bits transmitted / Transmission duration

2. Packet Transmission Rate (Packets/sec) = Total packets captured / Transmission
duration

2
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
3. Baud Rate (Signal Rate) using the formula given in the manual at the start.

Based off this information, answer the following questions:

Q1. How does the observed data rate compare to the expected network speed? (hint: you will
need to check your connection speed to see the expected network speed)

Q2. If multiple bits per symbol are used, how does this affect the baud rate? (hint: you will have
to find the modulation scheme for your network to find this. Mention it if you find it.)

Task 3: Measuring Bandwidth Usage for Different Traffic Types

Investigate how different applications consume bandwidth by analyzing web browsing and
video streaming.

For this:

Open Wireshark and start a new capture session.

Perform the following network activities one at a time while capturing packets:

● Browse a website (e.g., search on Google).

● Watch a video (YouTube, Netflix, or Twitch).

Stop the capture and apply the appropriate filters. For web browsing use the TCP filter and for
video streaming use the UDP filter (hint: you are going to need a filter like frame contains
“google” or tcp contains “google”).

Open Statistics → Conversations and examine the total Bytes and Packets exchanged
for each activity. Compare the bandwidth usage of web browsing and video streaming by
answering the following questions.

Q1. Which type of traffic generates the most packets and consumes the highest bandwidth?
Mathematically prove it using the given formula.

Bandwidth (bps) = Total Bytes×8 / Time (seconds)

Q2. Does streaming use larger or smaller packets than file web browsing?

Q3. How does UDP (used in video streaming) compare to TCP (used in web browsing)?

Task 4: Identifying Error Detection Techniques in Packet Headers

Many error detection mechanisms such as checksums, Frame Check Sequence (FCS),
and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) exist. We will view one simple mechanism in this lab.

3
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
For this:

Open Wireshark and start capturing network traffic. Select a TCP segment from the captured
packets and expand the Frame Details or expand TCP.

Locate and examine the TCP Checksum – which verifies data integrity in TCP packets. (hint
use: tcp.checksum filter)

Apply the tcp.analysis.flags filter to identify packets with checksum errors. Compare error rates
in wired vs. wireless network captures to observe any differences (you can connect an
ethernet cable to your laptop/PC to test this).

Based off your observations answer the following questions:

Q1. How frequently do checksum errors occur in wired vs. wireless networks?

Q2. Why are Wi-Fi packets more prone to errors compared to Ethernet?

Submission Guidelines:
● Submit a single PDF document containing all tasks to the GCR. (no wireshark files)
● Ensure that all screenshots are clear and labeled appropriately.
● Include your name, roll number, and lab number inside the first page of the document.
● Name the submitted document as follows: SectionLetter_RollNumber_LabNumber, for
example: J_i221234_Lab1.
● In case a demo is conducted, there will be deductions based on your answers to the
questions asked.

NOTE: You must show clear screenshots of every step you take. Marks will be deducted for this
mistake and in some cases you may be awarded 0 (this applies to all tasks).

Marking Criteria (25 marks):

Either 0 [not achieved], half [partial achieved] or full [achieved]

Task 1: Capturing and Understanding Packet Transmission (5 Marks)

1. Packet Capture & Filtering (2 Marks)

○ 1 mark for successfully capturing ICMP packets in Wireshark.
○ 1 mark for applying the icmp filter and selecting a request packet.
2. Data Recording (2 Marks)
○ 1 mark for correctly recording packet arrival time, frame length, and inter-packet
delay.
○ 1 mark for analyzing inter-packet delay trends.
3. Answering Questions (1 Mark)
○ 1 mark for accurately answering Q1–Q3 based on observations.

4
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
Task 2: Data Rate vs. Signal Rate Calculation (5 Marks)

1. Packet Capture & Filtering (2 Marks)

○ 1 mark for capturing TCP packets during file download.
○ 1 mark for applying the tcp filter and examining transmission statistics.
2. Calculations (2 Marks)
○ 1 mark for correctly calculating Data Rate and Packet Transmission Rate.
○ 1 mark for computing Baud Rate using the given formula.
3. Answering Questions (1 Mark)
○ 1 mark for accurately answering Q1–Q2 based on observations.

Task 3: Measuring Bandwidth Usage for Different Traffic Types (5 Marks)

1. Packet Capture & Filtering (2 Marks)

○ 1 mark for capturing packets for all activities (web browsing, streaming).
○ 1 mark for correctly applying tcp (web), udp (streaming) filters.
2. Data Analysis (2 Marks)
○ 1 mark for comparing total bytes and packets exchanged across traffic types.
○ 1 mark for noting key differences in packet sizes and bandwidth usage and
demonstrated it mathematically.
3. Answering Questions (1 Mark)
○ 1 mark for accurately answering Q1–Q3 based on observations.

Task 4: Identifying Error Detection Techniques in Packet Headers (5 Marks)

1. Packet Capture & Filtering (2 Marks)

○ 1 mark for selecting a TCP segment and expanding Frame Details.
○ 1 mark for applying tcp.analysis.flags filter to find checksum errors.
2. Error Analysis (2 Marks)
○ 1 mark for identifying and recording Checksum.
○ 1 mark for comparing wired vs. wireless error rates.
3. Answering Questions (1 Mark)
○ 1 mark for accurately answering Q1–Q2 based on observations.

Submission Guidelines (5 Marks)

1. PDF Document Submission (2 Marks) - NO ZIP files.

○ Single, clear, and well-organized PDF document with all tasks and screenshots.
2. File Naming (1 Mark)
○ PDF and Cisco files correctly named as per the guidelines.
3. Details on the First Page (1 Mark)
○ Name, roll number, section and lab number included.
4. Clear and Professional Presentation (1 Mark)
○ Screenshots, labels, and descriptions are neat and easy to understand.

Demo:

- If student cannot answer at all -5 marks.

- If student can answer somewhat -2 marks.

5
CL3001 - Computer Networks Lab
Instructors: Mr. Muneeb Baig, Ms. Zoya Mahboob, Mr. Naveed Khursheed
Lab 4 - Analyzing Digital Transmissions using Wireshark
- Correct answers results in no deductions.

Sample screenshot: