Performance evaluation of wireless networks

In this paper, we identify the various effects on radio signal strength due to the change in antenna height, elevation change, and the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. We use OPNET TMM (Terrain Modeling Module) to characterize the channel of the wireless communications using Free Space propagation model and Longley-Rice propagation model. The first contribution of the paper is to simulate radio signals being distributed over the varying terrain to see the changes in the signal strength. These signal strength are observed as the receiver is moved over a simulated path that goes through many elevation changes. The second contribution of this paper is to simulate the RTS/CTS mechanism to evaluate the performance of IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol. We have concluded our findings by analyzing the different network statistics such as data traffic sent/received, WLAN Delay, network throughput. ©2008 IEEE