Approximation of the IEEE 802.11p standard using commercial off-the-shelf IEEE 802.11a hardware

IEEE 802.11p hardware is hard to find. Previous research efforts often relied on project-specific prototype implementations which are characterized by a high cost and are not always available to the entire research community. Commercially available turnkey implementations are rare and quite expensive compared to commercial of-the-shelf (COTS) IEEE 802.11a/b/g hardware. However, the difference between the IEEE 802.11p amendment and the other IEEE 802.11 standards is quite small. It can be seen as a combination of the IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11e standards, with some specific adjustments. This paper presents how an approximation of the IEEE 802.11p standard can be implemented using COTS IEEE 802.11a hardware and some specific software adjustments. This way, vehicular test infrastructures can be established in a much more cost effective manner, and existing IEEE 802.11 wireless testbeds can be used to support VANET research.