VLAN Puzzle

The Luddite is still confused.

When a VLAN port on a switch is "tagged", that means that every packet going out that port will contain the 802.1Q Header Type/Size field immediately after the Source MAC address.  When the packet goes into another managed switch, the VLAN tag remains part of the packet.  When the packet exits that second switch:

• If that port is "tagged", then the VLAN tag remains in the packet.
• If that port is "untagged", then the VLAN tag is removed.
• When packets go through unmanaged switches, nothing is done to the payload.  If there is a tag in the packet, it remains in the packet.  If the tag has no packet, it just goes through the unmanaged switch "as is".

So, on switch 1 everything from the LAN port on the router is configured to be part of VLAN 4092.  If the switch sends it out any of the untagged Ports, it has no VLAN tag.  When it goes to switch 2, the 4092 tag goes with it.  In switch 2, if the packet goes out any untagged port (like to a printer, computer, etc.) the tag is removed.

If the packet goes out the port leading to the satellite, we want to keep VLAN tag 4092 in the packet.

This is where I am confused.  When observing the connection between Orbi router and satellite, I do not pick up any packets that contain VLAN tags. (no switches, just a simple Etherent cable.)  Are they optional?  i.e. the satellite is so smart it can recognize router packets with or without a VLAN tag?