Performance measurements of coexisting IEEE 802.11g/n networks

• DOI: 10.1145/2016039.2016087
• Publication Date: 2011-08-10T12:16:32Z
• Authors: Michael Galloway
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology

This paper presents the problems of coexisting IEEE 802.11 protocols in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The focus is on introducing IEEE 802.11n products into a heavily used IEEE 802.11g area. We show that the newer wireless n protocol has adverse effects on the transmission rate of the older, more commonly used protocols. The adoption of IEEE 802.11n in areas with high data rates might incur a negative impact on other low-power 2.4 GHz band communication protocols. This can be due to the fact that IEEE 802.11n can use multiple channels concurrently. Technologies such as sensor networks in buildings, Bluetooth communication, and other wireless protocols might sustain lower throughput in the presence of IEEE 802.11n wireless communication. The range of IEEE 802.11n can also be a factor with interference with multiple IEEE 802.11g networks that are out of range of each other.