Performance measurement of IEEE 802.11b-based networks affected by narrowband interference through cross-layer measurements

Researches and development efforts in wireless networking and systems are progressing at an incredible rate. Among them, measurement and analysis of performance achieved at network layer and perceived by end users is an important task. In particular, recent advances concerning IEEE 802.11b-based networks seem to be focused on the measurement of key parameters at different protocol levels in a cross-layered fashion, because of their inherent vulnerability to in-channel interference. By adopting a cross-layer approach on a real network set-up operating in a suitable experimental testbed, packet loss against signal-to-interference ratio in IEEE 802.11b-based networks is hereinafter assessed. Results of several measurements aimed at establishing the sensitivity of IEEE 802.11b carrier sensing mechanisms to continuous interfering signals and evaluating the effects of triggered interference on packet transmission.