MAC performance analysis in long range wireless local loops

This paper considers medium access controls (MACs) for a long range wireless local loop. Firstly we show random access is inefficient by comparing the throughput between CSMA/CA and TDMA/TDD systems. We then consider two fixed access systems, TDMA/FDMA and TDMA/FDD. Throughput results for the MACs are provided as a function of the number of users, channel bit error rate and received signal power. The MACs perform comparably on the downlink. On the uplink, TDMA/FDD delivers higher throughput in good channel conditions, however as BER increases, TDMA/FDMA is more effective. Under binary modulation in an AWGN channel, the difference in power requirements to achieve comparable uplink throughput is significant. We find TDMA/FDMA to be the more economical option.