Impact of clustering on the BER performance of ad hoc wireless networks

Ad hoc wireless networks are characterized by multi-hop radio communications. The spatial distribution of the nodes is seldom perfectly regular. In particular, in a realistic ad hoc wireless network communication scenario, the nodes are likely to be clustered, i.e., to configure themselves in subgroups such that the nodes inside each subgroup are relatively close to each other with respect to the distance between different subgroups. In this paper, we consider a very simple clustering scenario, defined as “uniformly clustered,” which allows to derive a parameterized analytical description. The proposed clustering model, although simple and idealistic, allows to gain insights valid also in a more general case with non-regular clustering. In particular, the obtained results highlight the fact that a single long hop can significantly degrade the network communication performance and quantify this performance degradation. Topology-dependent power control is then proposed, and its advantages are evaluated.