ANNOUNCMENT: 3 New Showcases are available on inet.omnetpp.org (Crosstalk, Coexistence, Spectrum visualization)

[Rudolf Hornig]

Visualizing the Spectrum of Radio Signals

INET supports the visualization of the physical properties of radio signals in the temporal, spectral, and spatial dimensions in various forms. This visualization can help you understand, for example, why a particular signal was received or not received successfully in the presence of interference from other signals or noise.

Coexistence of IEEE 802.11 and 802.15.4

Different wireless technologies sometimes operate in the same frequency range. For example, both IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4 have versions that use the 2.4 GHz ISM band. As such, the signals of the two protocols can interfere. This is called cross-technology interference, or CTI.

INET has support for simulating CTI between any of its wireless protocol models. Simulation can be used to examine how the different protocols interact and affect each other’s operation. This showcase demonstrates the coexistence of INET’s 802.11 and 802.15.4 models.

Crosstalk Between Adjacent IEEE 802.11 Channels

By default, 802.11 hosts and access points in INET are configured to use the same Wifi channel (Channel 1.) In reality, however, it is rarely the case. There are many Wifi networks at the same location, typically spread out on all channels (especially in the case of 2.4 GHz Wifi where only a few channels are available, compared to 5 GHz.) Transmissions on many adjacent channels also overlap in frequency and can cause interference.

INET has support for simulating communication on the different Wifi channels, both in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency range. This showcase demonstrates using both overlapping and non-overlapping Wifi channels in simulations, and how transmissions on different channels interfere with each other.