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A comparison of wi-fi and wimax with case studies - Florida State ...

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3.3.2.3. Hidden node <strong>and</strong> CSMA/CA<br />

When a station is communicating <strong>wi</strong>th another station, there is an existing risk that the<br />

packets may collide. It is due to the hidden node problem. Each station has limited coverage, so<br />

stations may not be aware <strong>of</strong> the other nearby stations. Thus if there are more than two stations<br />

that try to transmit a signal to the same station at the same time, <strong>and</strong> then the collision <strong>wi</strong>ll<br />

happen. In Figure 3-15, station A <strong>and</strong> C are hidden nodes to each other. If station A is sending a<br />

signal, station C cannot be aware <strong>of</strong> it. Since most stations are half-duplex (cannot transmit <strong>and</strong><br />

listen at the same time), the collision is dif<strong>fi</strong>cult to be detected. In Figure 2-17, it shows that only<br />

station B knows collisions happened. [17][55]<br />

Figure 3-15 The Hidden Node Problem<br />

To deal <strong>wi</strong>th this problem, 802.11 WG uses a different method from Ethernet. With <strong>wi</strong>red<br />

transmission they use CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection), but since<br />

the <strong>wi</strong>reless transmission has very limited resource <strong>and</strong> is not as reliable as Ethernet, 802.11 WG<br />

turns to use collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).<br />

There are two technologies used in CSMA/CA, physical channel sensing <strong>and</strong> virtual channel<br />

sensing. [17][55]<br />

Physical channel sensing<br />

When a station wants to send signals, for example, it senses the channel <strong>fi</strong>rst. If the channel<br />

is idle, it just sends. During the transmission, it <strong>wi</strong>ll not sense the channel at the time, but keeps<br />

sending signals. However if the channel is busy, it <strong>wi</strong>ll wait until the channel is idle <strong>and</strong> then<br />

start the transmission. Once a collision occurs, the stations <strong>wi</strong>ll wait for certain time, by using the<br />

Ethernet binary exponential back <strong>of</strong>f algorithm, <strong>and</strong> then try again later. [17][55]<br />

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