Efficient multicasting in multi-hop ad hoc networks using directional antennas

We present the Protocol for multicasting over directional antennas (MODA) for mobile ad hoc networks (MANET). MODA is the first protocol for MANET´s that uses directional antennas to reduce data packet overhead. Without increasing energy consumption, MODA increases the range of transmission as a result of which fewer nodes are involved in the forwarding process, which results in a reduction in data packet overhead. Using simulations in Qualnet 3.5, we compare MODA with PUMA and ODMRP. The results from a wide range of scenarios of varying mobility, group members, number of senders, traffic load, and number of multicast groups show that MODA attains comparable packet delivery ratios to ODMRP and PUMA, while incurring far less overhead