Coupling effect in IEEE 802.11 DCF wireless multi-hop networks <Abstract> Hidden node problems are dominant factors of frame collisions in wireless networks with CSMA/CA, which deteriorates the network performance significantly. In this paper, coupling effects in IEEE 802.11 multi-hop networks are observed and investigated. From the investigations, the mechanism of the coupling effects is expressed. The coupling effect is the mutuality between hidden nodes, which causes transmission-unfairness in local durations, transmission delay, and frame drops. This mutuality has never been reported until know and may have an impact to the wireless multi-hop network designers. |