[ASRG] The mistaken axioms of wireless-network research

[Simson L. Garfinkel]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: owner-cs-tr at Dartmouth.EDU
> Date: Fri Jul 18, 2003  9:52:05  AM US/Eastern
> To: cs-tr at Dartmouth.EDU
> Subject: Dartmouth TR2003-467
>
> The Department of Computer Science at Dartmouth College
> announces a new technical report:
>
> The mistaken axioms of wireless-network research
>
> Dartmouth Technical Report TR2003-467
>
> 	David Kotz
> 	Calvin Newport
> 	Chip Elliott
>
> Date: July 2003
>
>
>
> Abstract:
>  Most research on ad-hoc wireless networks makes simplifying
>  assumptions about radio propagation.  The ``Flat Earth'' model of the
>  world is surprisingly popular: all radios have circular range, have
>  perfect coverage in that range, and travel on a two-dimensional plane.
>  CMU's ns-2 radio models are better but still fail to represent
>  many aspects of realistic radio networks, including hills, obstacles,
>  link asymmetries, and unpredictable fading.  We briefly argue that key
>  ``axioms'' of these types of propagation models lead to simulation
>  results that do not adequately reflect real behavior of ad-hoc
>  networks, and hence to network protocols that may not work well (or at
>  all) in reality.  We then present a set of 802.11 measurements that
>  clearly demonstrate that these ``axioms'' are contrary to fact.  The
>  broad chasm between simulation and reality calls into question many of
>  results from prior papers, and we summarize with a series of
>  recommendations for researchers considering analytic or simulation
>  models of wireless networks.
>
> Note:
>  For more information related to this project see
>  http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~campus/.
>
> To obtain an electronic copy, point your web browser to the URL
>    <http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/reports/abstracts/TR2003-467/>.
> Most reports are available in both PostScript and PDF.
> You can either download them directly or order them to be sent through 
> email.
>
> To order a paper copy, write to reports at cs.dartmouth.edu or to
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> 	Department of Computer Science
> 	Dartmouth College
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> 	USA
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