Diversity combining and packet size adaptation for maximizing throughput of ARQ protocols in AWGN and fading channel

Multi-hop wireless network based on IEEE 802.11 WiFi technology has emerged as a cost effective solution for accessing cellular networks or the Internet from the remote rural areas of the developing countries. Such access networks, typically, have long distance links that span tens of kilometers. Because of the long distance nature of the links, bit error rate is significant. Hence, to make these networks a viable access technology, it is imperative to design schemes that combat noise and the fading effect and thereby improve the links´ throughput. In this paper, we propose diversity combining along with packet size adaptation to maximize the throughput. We also show that the significant throughput improvement can be achieved by using selective repeat or Go-back-N ARQ instead of Stop-and-Wait ARQ, which is currently used in IEEE 802.11 WiFi.