All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 in total
Episode 1: Welcome to the Network Plus PrepCast
This opening episode introduces you to the Network Plus PrepCast and lays the foundation for what to expect as you prepare for the CompTIA Network Plus exam. We explai...
Episode 2: What Is the Network Plus Certification and Why Take It?
In this episode, we explore what the Network Plus certification is, who it’s intended for, and why it holds value in the IT world. We look at how it fits into career p...
Episode 3: What to Expect on the Network Plus Exam
Before diving into the technical material, it’s essential to know what you’re up against. This episode walks you through the structure of the Network Plus exam—how man...
Episode 4: How to Think Like a Test Writer — The Anatomy of a CompTIA Question
This episode reveals a powerful mindset shift: learning to think like a test writer. Understanding how CompTIA constructs its questions can help you eliminate wrong an...
Episode 5: Study Smarter — Building a Bulletproof Learning Plan
Passing the Network Plus exam requires more than just watching videos or reading a textbook—it demands a focused, adaptable study plan. In this episode, we teach you h...
Episode 6: Labs and Simulations — Learning by Doing
One of the most effective ways to retain technical knowledge is by doing hands-on practice. In this episode, we focus on the role of labs and simulations in preparing ...
Episode 7: Exam Day Strategy — From Sleep to Scantron
Your exam-day behavior can have as much impact on your results as your study habits. This episode offers a complete strategy for the 24 hours before and during the Net...
Episode 8: Network Plus Glossary Deep Dive — Acronyms A to D
In this episode, we begin the first segment of a three-part glossary series designed to strengthen your foundational vocabulary for the Network Plus certification exam...
Episode 9 — Network Plus Glossary Deep Dive — Acronyms E to N
This second glossary installment covers acronyms beginning with the letters E through N, expanding your familiarity with intermediate-level networking vocabulary. You’...
Episode 10 — Network Plus Glossary Deep Dive — Acronyms O to Z
In the final part of our glossary deep dive, this episode explores acronyms from O through Z, completing the essential vocabulary framework for Network Plus certificat...
Episode 11: Data Types — Analog, Digital, and Signal Characteristics
This episode explores the fundamental types of data transmission—analog and digital—and how they relate to signal behavior on modern networks. You'll learn the differe...
Episode 12: Transmission Methods — Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast
When a device sends data on a network, it can do so in several different ways depending on the communication method. This episode covers the three major transmission t...
Episode 13: Bandwidth and Latency — Measuring Network Performance
In this episode, we look at two of the most critical performance metrics in networking: bandwidth and latency. You'll learn how bandwidth defines the maximum data capa...
Episode 14: Common Networking Hardware — Switches, Routers, and Beyond
This episode introduces the major hardware components that make up a network, focusing on their core functions and where they fit into the topology. You’ll learn what ...
Episode 15: Network Topologies — Physical and Logical Layouts
A network’s topology describes how its devices are connected and how data flows between them. In this episode, we explain the difference between physical and logical t...
Episode 16: Ethernet Standards and Speed Ratings
Ethernet is the dominant LAN technology in use today, and this episode breaks down the various Ethernet standards you need to know for the exam. We'll explain the nami...
Episode 17: IPv4 Addressing — Structure and Notation
IPv4 addressing is one of the most tested topics on the Network Plus exam, and this episode gives it the detailed attention it deserves. We start with the structure of...
Episode 18: IPv6 Addressing — The Future of IP
With the exhaustion of IPv4 space, IPv6 is increasingly important in modern networks. This episode introduces you to the structure of IPv6 addresses, including the hex...
Episode 19: Subnetting — Concepts and Purpose
Subnetting allows you to divide larger networks into smaller, manageable segments. In this episode, we explain why subnetting is important, how it improves network eff...
Episode 20: Binary Math for Subnetting and Addressing
Understanding binary math is crucial for mastering subnetting and IP addressing. This episode teaches you how to convert between binary and decimal, how to interpret i...
Episode 21: IPv4 Subnetting — The Process Step by Step
In this episode, we walk through the full process of subnetting an IPv4 network, step by step. You’ll learn how to take a larger network and divide it into smaller sub...
Episode 22: IPv6 Subnetting and Address Planning
While IPv6 offers a massive address space, subnetting is still necessary for organizing networks and managing routing efficiently. In this episode, we introduce how su...
Episode 23: Public vs. Private IP Addressing and NAT
In this episode, we explore the difference between public and private IP addresses and the role of Network Address Translation (NAT) in connecting internal devices to ...
Episode 24: Routing Concepts — Path Selection and Next Hops
Routing is how networks make decisions about where to send traffic, and in this episode, we focus on the underlying logic. You’ll learn how routers use routing tables,...
Episode 25: Static vs. Dynamic Routing — Use Cases and Protocols
In this episode, we compare static and dynamic routing, examining when each method is appropriate and what trade-offs they involve. Static routing offers control and p...
Episode 26: Routing Protocols — RIP, OSPF, and BGP Explained
This episode dives deeper into the most common dynamic routing protocols you’ll encounter on the exam: RIP, OSPF, and BGP. We begin with RIP, one of the oldest protoco...
Episode 27: VLANs — Segmenting the Network for Performance and Security
Virtual LANs, or VLANs, allow you to break a single switch into multiple logical networks. This episode explains what VLANs are, how they work, and why they’re essenti...
Episode 28: VLAN Configuration and Trunking Essentials
Building on the previous episode, this segment walks you through how VLANs are configured on switches and how trunking enables them to work across multiple devices. Yo...
Episode 29: Switching Concepts — MAC Address Tables and Frame Forwarding
Switches rely on MAC address tables to forward traffic efficiently, and this episode explains how that process works step by step. You’ll learn how switches build MAC ...
Episode 30: Switching Loops and STP — Preventing Broadcast Storms
Without protection mechanisms, switches can form loops that result in broadcast storms and network outages. This episode explains how loops occur and how the Spanning ...