QUMESH: Wireless mesh network deployment and configuration in harsh environment

Abstract

The link delivery probability in a wireless mesh network is most accurately determined only by experiment, as it depends on many factors, including environment characteristics, transmission power, distance between transmitter and receiver, channel fading, and background noise. This paper provides an insightful framework for characterizing link performance results produced at Qatar University (QU) wireless mesh test-bed under harsh environmental conditions, including heavy buildings structure, mixed indoor/outdoor architecture, weather conditions, and coexistence with high interfering wireless transmission. Indeed, we are interested in looking at the link quality behavior for indoor and outdoor environments. In the outdoor environment, the effect of different weather conditions such as high humidity and sandstorms, which are typical in the Qatari weather, will be analyzed. Regarding the indoor environment, we investigate the effect of unique cell structure, and heavy lab machinery of the engineering building on the link performance. Furthermore, we study different wireless mesh node configurations and equipments' effect on performance and network connectivity. The causes behind link instability and performance shortcoming of the QU wireless mesh network (QUMESH) are identified. Thus, the content of this paper provides an input for developing the criteria for the test-bed and performing the evaluation of new proposed adaptive mechanisms. 2012 IEEE.