How to Start Wireless Communication Projects Using NS3

To start wireless communication projects using NS3 that encompasses to configure, setup, and examining the wireless networks to utilize protocols such as WiFi, LTE, or 5G. NS3 environment offers diverse modules, for wireless communication that particularly modeled which permits to replicate distinct wireless technologies, to learn signal propagation, estimate interference, and to monitor the mobility impacts within real-world situations.

We offer a stepwise guide to setup and analyse the wireless communication projects in NS3.

Steps to Start Wireless Communication Projects in NS3

  1. Install NS3 and Required Modules

Make sure that NS3 is installed on the system including the essential wireless modules particularly for WiFi and LTE.

  1. Download and Install NS3:

git clone https://gitlab.com/nsnam/ns-3-dev.git ns-3

cd ns-3

./waf configure –enable-examples –enable-tests

./waf build

  1. Confirm Installation: Execute a sample wireless example verifying the installation.

./waf –run=wifi-simple-infra

  1. Understand NS-3 Wireless Components

In NS3, wireless interaction simulations normally contain the following modules:

  • Nodes: In the network, signify the devices like clients, access points (APs), or mobile users.
  • NetDevices: It denotes the network interfaces at nodes including WiFi or LTE adapters.
  • Channels: Wireless channels, which describe how nodes are associated and how signals broadcast.
  • Mobility Models: Describe the wireless node’s movement patterns.
  • Applications: Make traffic over the network to replicate real-world applications.
  1. Create a Basic Wireless Communication Topology

Initially, we configure a simple WiFi to know the basics of NS3’s wireless capabilities. A simple configuration could contain a WiFi access point (AP) and numerous clients, which interact via it.

Example: Simple WiFi Communication Network

This instance configures a WiFi network including one access point (AP) and numerous client nodes.

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/wifi-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

// Create nodes for WiFi AP and clients

NodeContainer wifiStaNodes;

wifiStaNodes.Create(3); // Three WiFi stations (clients)

NodeContainer wifiApNode;

wifiApNode.Create(1); // One access point (AP)

// Set up WiFi channel and physical layer

YansWifiChannelHelper channel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWifiPhyHelper phy = YansWifiPhyHelper::Default();

phy.SetChannel(channel.Create());

// Set up WiFi network using 802.11n

WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetStandard(WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211n_5GHZ);

WifiMacHelper mac;

Ssid ssid = Ssid(“ns3-wifi”);

// Configure station (client) devices

mac.SetType(“ns3::StaWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid), “ActiveProbing”, BooleanValue(false));

NetDeviceContainer staDevices = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiStaNodes);

// Configure access point (AP) device

mac.SetType(“ns3::ApWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer apDevice = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiApNode);

// Set up the mobility model for nodes

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetPositionAllocator(“ns3::GridPositionAllocator”,

“MinX”, DoubleValue(0.0),

“MinY”, DoubleValue(0.0),

“DeltaX”, DoubleValue(5.0),

“DeltaY”, DoubleValue(10.0),

“GridWidth”, UintegerValue(3),

“LayoutType”, StringValue(“RowFirst”));

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(wifiApNode);

 

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

“Bounds”, RectangleValue(Rectangle(-50, 50, -25, 50)));

mobility.Install(wifiStaNodes);

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(wifiApNode);

stack.Install(wifiStaNodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

address.Assign(staDevices);

address.Assign(apDevice);

// Set up UDP traffic application

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install(wifiApNode.Get(0));

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.1”), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));

ApplicationContainer clientApp = echoClient.Install(wifiStaNodes.Get(0));

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Experiment with Different Wireless Standards and Frequency Bands

NS3 supports several WiFi standards that contain 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11n, and 802.11ac. Test with diverse standards monitoring how they influence the performance.

wifi.SetStandard(WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211ac); // Set to 802.11ac for higher throughput

  1. Configure Mobility Models

It is necessary to replicate the node movement for wireless communication. NS3 offers mobility models such as RandomWalk2dMobilityModel, ConstantVelocityMobilityModel, and RandomWaypointMobilityModel replicating diverse movement patterns like pedestrians, vehicles, or UAVs.

Example:

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantVelocityMobilityModel”);

wifiStaNodes.Get(0)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel>()->SetVelocity(Vector(5.0, 0.0, 0.0)); // 5 m/s in the X direction

  1. Introduce Interference and Range Limitations

Wireless communication is frequently impacted using interference and range restrictions. Set up transmission power, receiver sensitivity, and channel properties replicating the interference.

phy.Set(“TxPowerStart”, DoubleValue(20.0)); // Transmission power in dBm

phy.Set(“TxPowerEnd”, DoubleValue(20.0));

phy.Set(“RxGain”, DoubleValue(-10.0)); // Receive sensitivity

  1. Set Up Multi-Access Points and Handover

Append several access points to examine how clients shift or “handover” from one AP to another for larger situations. It can be useful within cellular or multi-AP WiFi scenarios.

NS3 offers built-in support for handovers in LTE. We require custom logic to handle the association and handover for WiFi.

  1. Generate Traffic Patterns for Wireless Applications

Replicate diverse kinds of traffic to utilize NS3 applications, like:

  • OnOffApplication: It makes bursty traffic that frequently utilized within real-time applications.
  • UdpEchoApplication: Replicates a basic client-server interaction.
  • BulkSendApplication: Transmits continuous data, which is ideal for replicating the file transfer through TCP.

Example:

OnOffHelper onOffHelper(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(interfaces.GetAddress(1), port));

onOffHelper.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“1Mbps”));

onOffHelper.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(512));

ApplicationContainer clientApp = onOffHelper.Install(wifiStaNodes.Get(0));

clientApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

  1. Collect and Analyze Performance Metrics

Accumulate parameters, to estimate the performance of wireless network:

  • Throughput: Assess data rate among the nodes.
  • Latency: Compute delay within packet transmission.
  • Packet Loss: Monitor packet drops by reason of range or interference.
  • Signal Strength: Calculate the RSSI values examining coverage.

Collect performance parameters utilizing FlowMonitor:

FlowMonitorHelper flowmon;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowmon.InstallAll();

monitor->SerializeToXmlFile(“wireless-flowmon.xml”, true, true);

  1. Visualize the Simulation
  • NetAnim: Envision the node movement, connections, and packet flow utilizing NetAnim.
  • Trace Files: For more detailed performance parameters, examine the in-depth trace files generated by NS3.
  • Plotting Tools: From trace files transfer data to make graphs, to allow throughput, latency, packet loss, and other metrics analysis.

In the end of the guide, now we have some knowledge about how the initiate and analyse the Wireless Communication using NS3 environment through the above comprehensive procedure. To initiate a Wireless Communication Project utilizing the NS3 tool, we can provide assistance with a unique and well-suited topic. Kindly forward all your project details to phdprojects.org, and we will support you in attaining optimal results. We specialize in replicating various wireless technologies and will guide you towards achieving the best outcomes. You will receive a comprehensive step-by-step guide to set up and analyze the wireless communication projects, along with personalized support tailored to your needs.