Why does traceroute on airplane wifi only show three hops?
Synthesized Answer
Based on 1 community responses
Traceroute on airplane WiFi typically shows limited hops due to the network architecture. Airplane WiFi networks often use a combination of satellite and cellular connections, which can obscure the actual routing path. The first hop is usually the onboard router, the second hop is likely a gateway or proxy within the airline's network, and the third hop is the destination server. The limited number of hops is likely due to the network configuration and the use of tunneling or VPNs to route traffic.
Key Takeaways
Airplane WiFi networks use a unique architecture that can limit traceroute visibility
The first hop is usually the onboard router
Tunneling or VPNs are often used to route traffic, obscuring intermediate hops