Performance Evaluation of Wimax Network Using Qualnet Simulator

Mitul R. Khandhedia1, Prof. K.H.Wandra2, Prof. D.N.Khandhar3 and Nirav R. Khandhedia4

1, 2, 3

C.U. Shah College of Engineering & Technology, Wadhwan, 4 Project Engineer, Wipro Technologies, Pune
mrkhanhedia@aits.edu.in

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Abstract--WiMAX which represents World interoperability for Microwave Access is a major part of broadband wireless network having IEEE 802.16 standard provides innovative fixed as well as mobile platform for broadband internet access anywhere in anytime. This paper provides the detail about Mobile WiMAX. Mobile WiMAX gives full mobility of cellular networks at higher broadband speeds than other broadband networks like Wi-Fi. Mobile WiMAX and Fixed WiMAX is analyzed on the base of the variation in FFT size, Bandwidth and cyclic prefix factor. Keywords: WiMax, FFT, IEEE 802.16, Qualnet Simulator

Mobile WiMAX operates in 2 to 6 GHz range which is mainly licensed bands. Mobile WiMAX will be the most famous technology in the coming years. Here, we are considering a network of WiMAX as shown in figure 2. This network is having two applications of WiMax. One is Fixed WiMAX connection while another is Mobile WiMAX. be reached. WiMAX provide high speed internet regardless of the location. Mobile WiMAX services are cost effective solution as compared to 3G technologies. II. CASE STUDY

I. INTRODUCTION Mobile WiMAX [1] (802.16e) has allowed users to access high speed internet access anywhere and anytime, it also provides true mobility. Users that are moving at the speed of 75 mph can get data and other multimedia support without any problem. Subscribers who are accustomed to the cellular environment will be able to get data services with a speed comparable to that of wired communications.

Figure 2 Case Study WiMax Network Figure 1 Mobile Wimax v/s Other technologies [1]

Mobile WiMAX technology will be able to address the most users needs, now-a-days wired high speed internet access provide high data rates but the problem is mobility and the same is the case with wireless internet access which has very limited range and very slow transfer rates. WiMAX [2] provides high broadband internet access at high transfer rates and meeting the demands of various users. Mobile WiMAX can be applied to various fields other than mobile communications .mobile WiMAX can be applied to those areas where wired infrastructure cannot

This network is 40 km x 40 km. It has 4 base stations. There are four subscriber stations. There are two CBR applications under considerations. Node 5 and 7 are fixed nodes while 8 is a mobile node and 9 are fixed. Node 8 travels path from node 8 to node 9 as static path shown by flags. This path is taken such that node has to take hand off from base station 1, 2, 3, 4 and last back to 1. This network is analyzed on the base of variation of FFT size, Bandwidth and Cyclic prefix factor. Results are analyzed on based of the throughput of server, jitter at server and also end to end delay of packets.

As per IEEE 802.16 power level is 20dbm. But as per FCC norms any wireless network can have power level up to 3dbm and antenna gain up to 6db.
AKGEC JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY, vol.1, no.2

WiMAX node, whose jitter almost remains same for any value of FFT size. But when we talk about mobile WiMAX node, its jitter decreases appreciably as we increase FFT size. So, we can say that increasing FFT size decreases jitter of mobile WiMAX Effect on End to End delay by change in FFT size is shown in above figure 5. It is clear from above figure that end to end delay of fixed WiMAX almost remains same for all size of FFT. But mobile WiMAX decreases very much when FFT size is increased. So, we can say that increasing FFT size, we can decrease end to end delay.

So in this network we have varied power level from 15 dbm to 25 dbm to find out optimum level required to reach out every corner of above network. Path loss model for any wireless network is preferred to be free space model. Other Parameters: We have kept other parameter like FFT Size 128, 512, 1024, 2048 Bandwidth 5, 10, 15, 20 MHz Cyclic prefix factor 4, 8, 16, 32 Packet reception model PHY802.16 MAC Protocol 802.16 Station type Subscriber station Base Station 802.16e Mobility Model Promiscuous Mode Enable Network Protocol IPV4 Now lets see experiment carried out and its analysis. Variation FFT Size [3]: This parameter specifies the FFT size used in the device. Four FFT sizes are supported here: 2048, 1024, 512, and 128. The FFT size determines the number of available subcarriers and OFDM symbol duration. In general, for a given bandwidth, a larger FFT size results in a greater number of available subcarriers and a longer OFDM symbol duration.

Figure 4: Effect of FFT size on jitter

Figure 5: Effect of FFT size on delay

Effect of Cyclic Prefix Factor [3]

Figure 3: Effect of FFT size on throughput

figure 3 shows the comparison of throughput of various nodes for 128, 512, 1024 and 2048 FFT size. It is clear from above figure that client node throughput remains constant for any FFT size. Throughput of server 1 fixed WiMAX remains also almost same, less affected by the FFT size. But throughput of mobile WiMAX node increases appreciably by increasing FFT size. Figure 4 shows effect on jitter by increasing the FFT size. In comparison we have two server nodes. One is fixed

Figure 6: Effect of Cyclic Factor on throughput

This parameter specifies the ratio of useful symbol time to cyclic prefix time. Four ratios are supported here: 4, 8, 16, and 32.

Now we have varied cyclic prefix factor from 4, 8, and 16 to 32. We have compared the effect on throughput, jitter and end to end delay. First lets check effect on the throughput.

of fixed WiMAX node decreases slightly by change of cyclic prefix factor.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF WIMAX NETWORK

From figure 6, it can be seen that throughput of client nodes remains same for all the values of cyclic prefix factor. So, it is not affected by variation. Now remaining are two other nodes, server 1 is fixed WiMAX node and server 2 is mobile WiMAX node. If we check above graph, throughput of fixed WiMAX node does not change appreciably. But if we check throughput of mobile WiMAX node, it is clearly visible that it increases appreciably for 4 to 8 and then it slightly for 16 and 32. We can conclude that throughput increases of mobile WiMAX node by increase of the cyclic prefix factor.

Now on mobile WiMAX case, end to end delay of this node decreases from a very high value to small value when we change from 4 to 8, and then it changes slightly. So, we can conclude that it decreases end to end delay of mobile WiMAX. Hence, we can conclude that by increase in cyclic prefix factor, we can improve throughput, jitter and end to end delay. Effect of Bandwidth [3]: Now we will check effect of variation of bandwidth on throughput, jitter and end to end delay. It is known that increase in bandwidth increases ability to include more number of subscriber nodes. From figure 9, we can say that we have varied bandwidth to 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz. And as we vary client node throughput remains same. So, it is node affected at all. Now when we see server nodes, fixed WiMAX nodes throughput increases as we increase bandwidth and achieves max value for 15 MHz.

Figure 7: Effect of Cyclic Factor on jitter

In figure 7, we have seen the effect on jitter for variation of cyclic prefix factor on both fixed and mobile WiMAX nodes. It is clearly seen from above figure that jitter of fixed WiMAX decreases slightly by rise of cyclic prefix factor. But change in jitter of server 2 i.e. mobile WiMAX is appreciable. From 4 to 8 it decreases appreciably and also for values for 16 and 32, it decreases more and more. So, it means that jitter decreases by rise of cyclic prefix factor.

But it decreases for 20 MHz. Similar is the case for the mobile WiMAX node that its throughput increases to higher value for 15 MHz and falls for 20 MHz. It means that for this network, 15 MHz bandwidth is optimum for our network.

Figure 9: Effect of Bandwidth on throughput

Figure 8: Effect of Cyclic Factor on delay

From figure 8, we can see that change in cyclic prefix factor, decreases end to end delay also. End to end delay

optimizing all above parameters improves performance of network.

IV. REFERENCES [1] Analysis of Fixed and Mobile WiMAX, Umar Tarique, Umeer Jilani, Tuafique Siddiqui, Bleking Institute of Technology. [2] Wireless communications, Andrea Goldsmith, Stanford University, Cambridge University Press. [3] Dissertation Report Performance Evaluation of Wireless Technologies using Qualnet Simulator, Mitul R. Khandhedia, C.U.Shah College of Engieering and Technology. [4] Qualnet 5.0 Wireless Model Library. [5] Qualnet 5.0 Programmers Guide. [6]Implementation of IEEE 802.16a in Glomosim Benoit Louzel, Dublin City University. [7] Qualnet 5.0 Developer Model Library.
M.R. Khandhedia obtained M.E. (E.C) from Sauashtra University, Rajkot, and B.E (I.C.) from Bhavanagar University in 2003. Currently working as Sr. Lecturer and Head of IC Dept. at Atmiya Institute of Technology and Science, Rajkot, having seven years of teaching experience, Published / presented Five International Research Papers. He is life member of ISTE. Areas of Interest are mobile communication, control system, process control, controller, system design and so on. K.H. Wandra submitted PhD thesis On Role of Wireless Technology for Mobile Augmented Reality System. Obtained ME Microprocessor System Applications from M.S. University, Vadodara in 1999 and BE in Electronics and Communication form North Gujarat University, Patan in 1995. Currently working as Professor and Head of CE and IT at C. U Shah College of Engineering and Technology, Wdhwan, with over 13 years of teaching experience. Written over 10 Research Papers. Member of IEEE and CSI. Areas of interest include wireless communication, networks and advanced microprocessors. He is Chairman of Board of Studies Computer Engineering, Saurashtra University, Rajkot.

Figure 10: Effect of Bandwidth on Jitter AKGEC JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY, vol.1, no.2

From figure 10, we can say that jitter is also affected by change in bandwidth. Jitter of server 1 and 2 both remains almost constant for 5 to 15 MHz bandwidth. But it decreases sharply for 20 MHz bandwidth. It means that jitter decreases as we increase bandwidth. So increase in bandwidth improves the jitter, which is desirable.

Figure 11: Effect of Bandwidth on Delay

From figure 11, we can see that end-to-end delay is also affected by change in bandwidth. End to end delay of fixed WiMAX is less value for 5 MHz but it increases for 10 MHz and then it decreases sharply for higher values of bandwidth. It achieves minimum value for 20 MHz bandwidth. End to end delay of mobile WiMAX nodes decreases as we increase the bandwidth. It has maximum value for 5 MHz bandwidth, and which in turn decreases to minimum value for 20 MHz. So, we can say that increase in bandwidth decreases end to end delay of both mobile and fixed WiMAX nodes. III. CONCLUSION From various experiments mentioned, one can conclude that as a result of increase in the FFT size or bandwidth or cyclic prefix factor for fixed WiMAX network, there is not significant change in performance of network. But for mobile WiMAX network, increase in FFT size, bandwidth or cyclic prefix factor increases throughput, decreases jitter and end-to-end delay of network. So,

D. N. Khandhar obtained ME (EC) CSE from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, and BE (Power Electronics) from Saurashtra University. Currently working as Assistant Professor at C. U. Shah College of Engineering and Technology, Gujarat having 11 years of teaching experience. Published / presented seven research papers. He is Life member of ISTE. Areas of Interest include mobile communication, controllers and VLSI. Nirav Khandhedia completed Bachelors Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Atmiya Institute of Technology and Science, affiliated with Saurashtra University, Rajkot, in June, 2008 with distinction. He has 18 months of experience in teaching as lecturer and Assistant Professor in Nirma University. Currently, working as a Project Engineer in Wipro Technologies, Pune for 6 months. Prepared final year Project on 32-bit RISC Pipelined Processor. Guided five projects at undergraduate level.