Effect of Error Probability, Data Rates, Output Power and Noise Floor on Link Quality of WSN Channels

Abstract

In this work, it is proposed that the use of statistical percentage of errors correlated to the Received Signal Strength (RSS) and to both the output power and noise bandwidth, together with the data rate ratio, can give a clear indication of the communication channel quality in the presence of a noise floor. Simulation of a WSN network with variable Data Rate to Noise Band Width ratio (R), different output power (Ptran), and variable Noise Floor Power (Pnoise), showed that each one of these parameters affects error probability distribution and values, which in turn affect channel utilization. The work also proved that these are critical parameters that, if correlated and optimized, can achieve a high utilization of WSN channels. The largest effect realized is related to Pnoise and interference, which, if present at high values, would reduce the probability of exchanging data by 25%. The work also showed that as the ratio R increases, the probability and magnitude of errors increases, which in turn contributes to lower utilization, as depicted in the tables and plots. The 10-nodes WSN is simulated in a uniform topology setting.