Impact of Bit Errors on the DCF Throughput in Wireless LAN over Ricean Fading Channels

This paper explores the throughput performance of CSMA/CA (carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance)-based DCF (distributed coordination function) protocol over frequency-selective, slow Ricean fading channels at the MAC layer in the 802.11a wireless LAN. By analyzing the DCF throughput with the mandatory data rate of 6 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 24 Mbps and the highest data rate of 54 Mbps, we find the fact that the higher the E_b/N_o be and the less the BER be, the higher the throughput be. We also find the fact that when the number of stations is decreased and the size of MSDU (MAC service data unit) is increased, the throughput of DCF protocol is improved