A single burst method is used to determine the available bandwidth in a network environment. A sending node transmits test packets to a receiving node. The size of the test packets is dynamically determining based on network parameters within the network environment. The sending node then receives test receipt packets that have the same sequence numbers as the corresponding test packets. Packet clusters are formed from the test receipt packets. The available bandwidth is determined based on the packet clusters along with values set by the single burst method or inputted by a user.