Hello fellow networking folks,

I’m looking for advice from people who have experience deploying and managing Starlink in an enterprise/manufacturing environment.

We’re a manufacturing company where uptime is critical. Although it’s a rare occurrence, we recently had an incident where two independent EDI circuits from different providers, using different connection types, went down in the same window. One was only down for a short period, but even a small amount of downtime can cost us thousands of dollars.

Because of this, I’m looking into wireless Internet options as an additional backup. We previously tried Cradlepoint and AT&T 5G-based devices, but unfortunately, they’ve been unstable in our environment.

I’m considering Starlink as a backup, and the cost doesn’t seem too bad compared to the EDI circuit we currently have. I’d appreciate some advice on a few things:

1. Performance Kit vs. Standard Kit: Which would you recommend for an enterprise backup use case?
2. Silver Peak SD-WAN: We use Silver Peak for SD-WAN and remote-site connectivity. Have you experienced any issues maintaining SD-WAN tunnels over Starlink? Anything specific we should account for with latency, CGNAT, IP addressing, etc.?
3. Cabling: Our manufacturing facilities are quite large, and the standard 50/150 ft cables included with the kits wouldn’t reach the nearest switch in some locations. What’s the best way to handle this? Is there an approved/ideal way to extend the connection, or should we place additional network equipment closer to the Starlink termination point?
4. Installation: Who did you use for the physical installation? Would you typically have your structured cabling contractor handle the Starlink installation, or would you recommend using a Starlink-specific installer?

Any other lessons learned, especially around reliability, enterprise deployments, or using Starlink as an SD-WAN backup, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

My girlfriend recently moved to Denver, while I live in Indiana, and we’re planning a trip in Colorado to experience the fall colors together. We’re thinking of visiting Aspen during the last weekend of September.

I’m having a hard time figuring out what places we should prioritize and what’s actually worth doing that time of year. I know Maroon Bells is very popular, but I’d love to experience the fall colors to the fullest and explore some other scenic spots around Aspen as well.

Our rough plan is:
Friday: Leave Denver around 5 PM 2 PM and drive to Aspen

Saturday: Spend the day exploring Aspen and the surrounding areas

Late Saturday: Drive back to Denver

Sunday: Planning to visit Pikes Peak

For those familiar with the area, what would you recommend for a one-day Aspen itinerary focused on peak fall colors, scenic drives, viewpoints, easy/moderate hikes, or any must-see spots?

We’re open to driving around a bit if there are places nearby that are especially beautiful in late September. Also, is doing Aspen as a Friday evening → Saturday → late-night return too rushed, or is it reasonable?

Would really appreciate recommendations from people who’ve done this around late September!

Edit: I think I underestimated the drive. I would not return to Denver just to head to Pikes peak again. I’m currently contemplating leaving on Friday afternoon and spending the night in Aspen on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday morning, I plan to drive to Pikes Peak from Aspen via the Independence Pass.

Not sure if I should drop Pikes peak altogether and hit other spots closer to Aspen for a better experience? Is Pikes Peak worth it?

Now that the final "End of Duration of Status (D/S)" rule is officially published (with the transition to fixed-term admissions taking effect on September 17, 2026), I’ve spent some time reading through the operational changes.

My takeaway? This rule is going to absolutely kill the Day-1 CPT model, not by banning the academic framework directly, but by completely neutralizing its practical purpose.

Sure, You can transfer to Higher level program but Day1CPT is not part of it.

Here is exactly how the trap closes on students trying to transition (for example, moving from STEM OPT to a Day-1 CPT PhD program):

1. You cannot "seamlessly" transfer anymore

Under the old D/S system, you could transfer your SEVIS record to a new school, and your active F-1 status remained continuously active in the background. Your new DSO could immediately issue a new I-20 and authorize Day-1 CPT.

Under the new rule, once your current program (or OPT) ends and you transfer your SEVIS record, your prior fixed period of admission expires. You are now required to file Form I-539 with USCIS for an Extension of Stay (EOS) to bridge the gap.

2. The I-539 Processing Black Hole

An I-539 requires a formal application, fees, and biometrics collection. Adjudication typically takes 4 to 6 months (or longer, given the massive wave of extensions this rule will trigger).

While the rule allows you to legally remain in the U.S. and physically attend classes while your I-539 is pending, you do not have active F-1 status, you only have "authorized stay."

3. Why Day-1 CPT is dead in this scenario

Because your F-1 status is technically "pending" and not active during those 4 to 6 months:

• Your new school's DSO cannot legally authorize or issue CPT work authorization. DSO authorization requires an active F-1 status.
• You cannot work a single hour from the day your previous program/OPT ends until the exact day USCIS formally approves your I-539.

This means "Day-1" CPT is functionally dead for anyone doing an in-country transition. You won't be working on Day 1, Day 30, or Day 90. You can only work on "Day-After-USCIS-Approval" CPT, forcing a massive multi-month employment gap that most employers won't tolerate.

The only remaining workaround to bypass this pending period is to leave the U.S. and do a physical re-entry with your new I-20 to get a fresh, active I-94 stamped at the border, which obviously comes with its own major travel and CBP scrutiny risks.

DHS didn't need to outlaw Day-1 CPT. They just built an administrative bottleneck that makes continuous employment impossible to maintain.

Curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Now that the final "End of Duration of Status (D/S)" rule is officially published (with the transition to fixed-term admissions taking effect on September 17, 2026), I’ve spent some time reading through the operational changes.

My takeaway? This rule is going to absolutely kill the Day-1 CPT model, not by banning the academic framework directly, but by completely neutralizing its practical purpose.

Sure, You can transfer to Higher level program but Day1CPT is not part of it.

Here is exactly how the trap closes on students trying to transition (for example, moving from STEM OPT to a Day-1 CPT PhD program):

1. You cannot "seamlessly" transfer anymore

Under the old D/S system, you could transfer your SEVIS record to a new school, and your active F-1 status remained continuously active in the background. Your new DSO could immediately issue a new I-20 and authorize Day-1 CPT.

Under the new rule, once your current program (or OPT) ends and you transfer your SEVIS record, your prior fixed period of admission expires. You are now required to file Form I-539 with USCIS for an Extension of Stay (EOS) to bridge the gap.

2. The I-539 Processing Black Hole

An I-539 requires a formal application, fees, and biometrics collection. Adjudication typically takes 4 to 6 months (or longer, given the massive wave of extensions this rule will trigger).

While the rule allows you to legally remain in the U.S. and physically attend classes while your I-539 is pending, you do not have active F-1 status, you only have "authorized stay."

3. Why Day-1 CPT is dead in this scenario

Because your F-1 status is technically "pending" and not active during those 4 to 6 months:

• Your new school's DSO cannot legally authorize or issue CPT work authorization. DSO authorization requires an active F-1 status.
• You cannot work a single hour from the day your previous program/OPT ends until the exact day USCIS formally approves your I-539.

This means "Day-1" CPT is functionally dead for anyone doing an in-country transition. You won't be working on Day 1, Day 30, or Day 90. You can only work on "Day-After-USCIS-Approval" CPT, forcing a massive multi-month employment gap that most employers won't tolerate.

The only remaining workaround to bypass this pending period is to leave the U.S. and do a physical re-entry with your new I-20 to get a fresh, active I-94 stamped at the border, which obviously comes with its own major travel and CBP scrutiny risks.

DHS didn't need to outlaw Day-1 CPT. They just built an administrative bottleneck that makes continuous employment impossible to maintain.

Curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Hi,

I have the GoWild Summer Pass, which is valid through September 30, 2026. However, with the early booking promotion, I can see GoWild fares available for October and November as well.

Am I allowed to book those flights? If I do, will I be denied boarding since my Summer Pass expires on September 30?

Has anyone else booked flights beyond the pass expiration date using the early booking promotion?

Thanks!

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1370061

P.S. I’m panicking if it’s gonna affect already enrolled students.

Edit: For those curious about the impact on students already enrolled in a second master’s program, the original proposal vaguley states that it would apply retroactively. However, we won’t have definitive information until the final rule is published in the federal register in a few days. Possibly tomorrow.

Hi everyone,

My lease at current Apartments complex on Main Street is coming up, and I'm looking to move out when it ends. Right now, I'm considering Alexandria of Carmel and Highpointe on Meridian. Both are within my budget and each seems to have its own pros and cons.

If you're a current or recent resident at Alexandria of Carmel, I'd really appreciate your feedback.

My biggest concern is the community-provided internet at Alexandria. I've seen quite a few negative reviews about it, and it's honestly the main thing holding me back from signing a lease there.

A few questions:

• How reliable is the internet for day-to-day use?
• How's the maintenance?
• Are there any hidden charges?

Any other pros, cons, or things you wish you had known before moving in would also be helpful.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking forward to securing tickets for The Odyssey at Indy IMAX tomorrow. The only 70mm IMAX presentation I’ve experienced was Oppenheimer at Celebration Cinema GR North in Michigan.

I'm a little confused about the projector and aspect ratio situation, though. Indy IMAX confirmed they'll be showing The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm. What projector do they use there, and does showing it in IMAX 70mm automatically mean it will be presented in the full 1.43:1 aspect ratio, or are there other factors involved?

For anyone familiar with Indy IMAX, how does it compare to other IMAX 70mm locations?

Hi guys,

I recently booked a rental car through a Priceline Express Deal, where the provider could’ve been Hertz, Enterprise, or National. The booking ended up being with Hertz.

The charge on my credit card is showing up as Priceline, not the rental company. I’m trying to figure out how this works:

- Is this Priceline charge just a hold, and the actual charge will come later from Hertz?

- Or is Priceline the final charge and the rental company won’t bill me separately (assuming no extras)?

The main reason I’m asking is because I have Amex Premium Rental Car Protection, which usually gets triggered when the rental company charges the card directly. Since this shows as Priceline, it didn’t trigger automatically.

Has anyone here booked a car through a Priceline Express Deal before? How did the billing work for you, and did you run into any issues with credit card rental coverage?

Edit: Called Amex assurance and they manually added the charge after 5 days, ended up getting a good deal out of priceline.