Multipath fading in wireless sensor networks: measurements and interpretation

Multipath fading heavily contributes to the unreliability of wireless links, causing fairly large deviations from link quality predictions based on path loss models; its impact on wireless sensor networks is considerable. Although analytical models provide a probabilistic description, multipath fading is a deterministic phenomenon. Moreover, in the case of static nodes, fading is time-invariant. We illustrate its spatial nature with experimental evidence obtained using lower-end sensing node hardware. We also show the limitations of the supposed immunity of wideband radios to multipath fading in indoor deployments. Categories and Subject Descriptors: C.2.1 [Network Architecture and Design]: Wireless Communication General Terms: Measurement, Experimentation.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: IWCMC
• Authors: Daniele Puccinelli, Martin Haenggi
• Keywords: IWCMC 2006, Link Quality Predictions, Multipath Fading, Wireless Sensor Networks