Performance of a channel access protocol for FH-SS packet radio networks

This paper proposes and studies the performance of a channel access protocol specifically designed for frequency-hopping spread spectrum packet radio networks. This protocol takes into account inherent FH-SS characteristics such as the time overhead for hopping pattern synchronization, the capture effect, and interference rejection. An accurate simulation model has been built to evaluate the protocol´s performance in terms of end-to-end packet throughput and end-to-end delay. The simulation results give evidence that as the traffic load increases the data link layer performance is much more sensitive to the acknowledgment and pacing strategy than to the parameters of the channel access protocol. Best results are obtained when active acknowledgment packets piggy-back other packets (data, control, update route, etc.)