Addressing scalability in a laboratory-based multihop wireless testbed

The MeshTest wireless testbed allows users to conduct repeatable mobile experiments with real radio hardware under controlled conditions. The testbed uses shielded enclosures and a matrix switch of programmable attenuators to produce multi-hop scenarios and simulate the effects of mobility and fading. Previous work focused on the theory and performance of a single-switch testbed. Connecting more than 16 nodes requires multiple matrix switches and introduces theoretical and practical challenges. In this paper we examine, in theoretical and practical terms, several potential designs for a scalable version of the MeshTest testbed. We identify one design that seems to provide the most powerful test environment, and describe our progress towards building it.We also describe our new testbed control architecture, that is an important part of making MeshTest scalable.