Cross-layer analysis of a smart antenna for wireless mesh networks

The goal of this paper is the analysis of the performance of a low-cost switched-beam adaptive antenna for wireless mesh networks, recently developed at the Microwave Laboratory of the University of Cassino, in terms of throughput of the network, using a cross-layer approach. The analysis confirms the effectiveness of the antenna, provided that a proper MAC protocol is adopted; furthermore, the results open interesting prospectives in the cross-layer synthesis of antennas, in which antennas and driving strategy are jointly synthesized.