Link-level simulator for WLAN networks

Abstract

Nowadays, interest for compatible simulators with high flexibility to explore the performance of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) is definitely increasing. One of the main reasons of such interest is the upcoming 5G technology, related to the Internet-of-Things (IoT). In this paper, we present a MATLAB-based link-level simulator for WLAN with still used (IEEE 802.11g/n/ac) and upcoming (IEEE 802.11ah/af) technologies. Realization of the whole WLAN link-level simulator is highly inspired by the recognized Vienna LTE-simulator. As a result, it is possible to join together these simulators to explore the performance of WLAN and LTE, operating in the same radio frequency (RF) band. From the point of future 5G based cellular networks, such exploring is important because different coexistence scenarios can occur between wireless communications systems in the ISM and UHF bands.