Simultaneous measurements of 802.11p network performance and radio propagation characteristics at 5.9 GHz

Prototype applications built on Vehicle to vehicle communications have shown significant potential for improving both road safety and traffic efficiency but the underlying communications systems must be reliable in what are very challenging operating conditions. In this paper two measurement systems are used to investigate radio propagation in Non-Line-Of-Sight conditions at 5.9 GHz. There is an 802.11p network which outputs network performance information and there is a continuous wave system which is used to analyse propagation effects such as signal strength and Doppler spread. The results collected show that network performance may be improved by multipath propagation and packet delivery ratio is dependent on more than the power degradation or Doppler spread.