Manpack UHF Radios

Model, simulate and analyze the performance of a Tactical MANET radio network.

  • 50 soldiers engage the enemy, in five groups of 10.
  • The soldiers in each group move continuously, and together.
  • Communication occurs within each group and across groups.

NetSim Simulator: Manet

NetSim Simulator: Manet
  • Technology: MANET over TDMA
  • Simulation Environment Size: 5 Km * 5 Km
  • No. of wireless nodes:50 wireless nodes in 5 groups of 10
  • Transport Layer UDP
  • Network layer DSR, AODV, ZRP, OLSRv1 (RFC 3626), OLSRv2 (RFC 7181)
  • Data Link Layer Dynamic TDMA
  • Physical Layer:
    • Protocol: DTDMA
    • Band: UHF
    • Frequency Range: 476 MHz to 478 MHz
    • Channel Bandwidth (MHz): 2
    • Modulation: QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
    • Transmitter power: 4W
    • Receiver sensitivity: -119 dBm
  • RF Propagation:
    • Path Loss Model: Log Distance
    • Fading Model: Rayleigh
    • Shadowing Model: Log Normal
  • Applications: Voice Applications
  • Traffic rate:
    • 9.6 Kbps voice traffic
    • Voice applications between the same group members
    • Voice applications between the members in different groups

Performance Evaluation

We analyzed two Network layer protocols: AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector) and OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing). The study measured:

  • Throughput: the rate of successful data delivery.
  • Latency: the delay in data transmission.
  • Multi-hop Communication: application performance across multiple network nodes.

We examined these metrics for voice applications, which have strict performance requirements.

Key Findings

Protocol Performance

  • AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector):
    • Converges faster with fewer active applications (traffic streams).
    • Performs better in non-congested network scenarios.
    • Has a better packet delivery rate in high mobility conditions.
  • OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing):
    • Converges faster with a higher number of applications.
    • Performs better in congested network environments.
    • Has a better packet delivery rate in low mobility conditions.

Multi-hop Scenarios

  • In all cases, OLSR has lower latency than AODV.
  • Both protocols show a significant increase in latency beyond three hops.
  • Latency exceeds acceptable thresholds for voice communication in these cases.

Conclusions

  1. Protocol Selection:
    • AODV is preferable for networks with lighter traffic load and fewer applications (traffic streams).
    • OLSR is more suitable for networks with heavier traffic load and more applications.
  2. Network Design Considerations:
    • Limit the number of hops to three or fewer when designing networks for voice applications.

This analysis helps network designers select protocols and network topology for voice applications in military radio networks.