Maximum throughput of FHSS multiple-access networks using MFSK modulation

Optimum values for the modulation order M, code rate r, and the number of frequency-hop slots q maximizing the network throughput are obtained based on simulations for frequency-hopped spread-spectrum multiple-access networks, where L Q-ary Reed-Solomon (RS) code symbols are transmitted per hop, and each Q-ary RS code symbol is transmitted using log_MQ M-ary frequency-shift-keying-modulated signals. Network throughput is evaluated under additive white Gaussian noise and Rayleigh fading channels. For the case when the received RS symbol is not interfered by multiple-access interference (MAI), a closed-form expression for the symbol-error probability is derived, and for the case when the symbol is interfered by MAI, simulated symbol-error probabilities are used. It is shown that the optimum M is four or eight, irrespective of the channel environment and the number of users. The optimum code rate is determined primarily based on the channel environment and does not show much dependence on M or Q. It is also shown that for the case of synchronous hopping under Rayleigh fading at high signal-to-noise ratios, the difference in instantaneous power among the interfering users significantly improves the performance, compared with the case when there is no fading. We also consider the case when the receiver erases the symbols that are interfered and compare the performance with the case of the hard decisions receiver.