Wireless Network Design for Nanya Arid Zone Research Station

Q1- Communication Channel Selection

Given that Nanya is situated in a remote area characterised by unfavourable environmental conditions, satellite communication would be the most appropriate mode of communication. Satellite links can therefore offer an economical way of establishing long haul connections especially where terrestrial infrastructures are well developed (Kang et al., 2024). Compared with microwave or cellular communication system, satellite has several superiorities when applying in Nanya. First, being versatile in geography, it will be possible to connect the entire research station, even if it is situated in the area with rocky grounds or if it is rather far from the next town. 

 

Figure 1: Satellite communication system
(Sources: Kang et al., 2024)

Satellite links are also less interfered by obstacles or problems as line of sight which is a problem in Nanya environment. Besides, satellite communication affords Nanya higher bandwidth and lower delay than HF or VHF radio systems by which real-time data are available for Nanya ‘s monitoring as well as research (Wei et al., 2021). The cost of operating satellite services might, therefore, be slightly higher compared to other service providers, but the outstanding features such as the ability to cover all the regions, reliability and high data throughput makes satellite the most appropriate communication channel for Nanya’s business operations.

Q2- Use of Frequency Bands

The single most significant decision that is made with respect to Nanya’s wireless network is whether to use licensed frequencies or the unlicensed frequencies. Some of the advantages of the global license bands like the cellular network are as described below (Elsaadany et al., 2017). It provides an assured connectivity to a definite frequency range and therefore ensures consistent and interference less communication.

Also, the licensed bands are usually least affected by the outside interferences and this is particularly so in the harsh environments of the Nanya area. Nonetheless, relative costs of obtaining and holding licenses for using the licensed spectrum are still high compared to the unlicensed ones.

On the other hand, the unlicensed frequency bands including the ISM bands are available for anyone and are very easy to access (Ferreira et al., 2015). This makes them an ideal choice when it comes to deployment and operation for Nanya as it is cheaper than the other alternatives.

The same can be said for the unlicensed bands where it is possible to use more frequencies for a wider range of wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and that allows to obtain benefits in terms of equipment availability and integration. The trade off is that these bands are more vulnerable to the interference from other wireless devices and this is potentially dangerous to the stability of Nanya’s network.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of both licensed and unlicensed bands can be regarded as the best strategy that Nanya can follow in an attempt to provide the population with an effective wireless network.

Q3- Addressing Transmission Impairments

The Nanya Arid Zone Research Station is situated in a very dry region and as a result, there are several transmission issues that have to be addressed to enable wireless communication. The key impairments to consider include: 

Attenuation: This is due to the fact that large distances and rough terrains within the research station will lead to signal loss and therefore a low received signal strength (Rosencrance, n.d.). This can be overcome by the use of high-gain antennas, higher power transmitters and the setting up of repeater stations to boost the signal along the transmission path.

Free space loss: The free space path loss which is proportional to the square of the distance and the square of the frequency will be a major factor (Tang et al., 2021). To this end, the low frequency bands like the VHF or UHF can be employed to reduce the free space loss and therefore increase the range and coverage.

Atmospheric absorption: Nanya is located in a region that experiences a dry and arid climate and this may lead to higher attenuation in the atmosphere particularly at the higher frequencies (Shamsan, 2019). One can select the frequency bands that are least influenced by the atmospheric absorption as compared to other bands such as the C-band or the Ku-band for satellite communication.

Multipath and interference: This results in multipath propagation and signal distortion because of reflection from the surrounding ground and other structures and interference from other wireless devices (Próchniewicz & Grzymala, 2021).

These effects can be minimized by employing diversity reception, equalization and spread spectrum modulation.
Considering these transmission impairments and their impact on the wireless network through frequency selection, antenna design and signal processing techniques, a reliable and robust wireless network for Nanya can be designed.

Q4- Channel Modeling

For the wireless network performance prediction in the Nanya Arid Zone Research Station, the right channel modeling approach has to be selected. Because the environment is remote and extreme, it would be logical to apply not only large-scale and small-scale propagation models.

The large-scale propagation model that one can use is the Longley-Rice model, also known as the Irregular Terrain Model (Oughton et al., 2020). This model incorporate the topographic maps, weather and the land use that is appropriate to the Nanya environment. Given the fact that hills, valleys and other geographical barriers are observable at the research station, Longley-Rice model can predict the average signal strength over large distance.
 

Figure 2: Line-of-sight (NLOS) and Non-line-of-sight (NLOS)
(Source: Haider et al., 2018)

For the small scale fading effects one would expect to use Rayleigh and Ricean fading models. It is appropriate that the Rayleigh fading model is used for the NLOS propagation between the transmitter and the receiver which is seen in the hilly and wooded area of Nanya (Haider et al., 2018). That is why, the Rician fading model can be used in the cases when the LOS component is stronger, for example, when there are less obstacles or when the height of the antennas is higher.

Therefore, the channel modeling for Nanya that is involving the large-scale Longley-Rice model and the small-scale Rayleigh and Rician fading model will assist in defining the wireless propagation conditions and develop an effective and reliable network.

Q5- Multipath Propagation Effects

The main issue of multipath propagation is noticed at Nanya Arid Zone Research Station because signal in the area is reflected, scattered and diffracted due to the irregular terrain and other factors. To effectively mitigate the effects of multipath, several techniques can be employed:

Diversity Techniques: Multipath can be fought by the use of spatial, temporal or frequency diversity. Spatial diversity, which is achieved by using several antennas, can be used to mitigate the problem of fading and add redundancy (Keti, 2023).

Different signal components can be faded decorrelated with the help of temporal diversity that employs such methods as interleaving and coding. The other benefit of frequency diversity is that the many number of frequency channels can be used to enhance the overall system performance.



   
Figure 3: Linear equalizers and decision feedback equalizers
(Source: Stack Exchange Inc, 2018)

Equalization: Linear equalisers or decision feedback equalisers can be used to combat the intersymbol interference (ISI) due to the multipath propagation (Stack Exchange Inc, 2018). These equalization techniques can be used to equalize the amplitude and phase of the received signal which is distorted by the multipath channel so as to improve the signal quality at the receiver end.

 
Figure 4: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
(Source: Keysight Technologies, n.d.)

OFDM: The application of OFDM can be more advantageous in the Nanya environment specifically (Keysight Technologies, n.d.). OFDM splits the total available bandwidth into a number of subcarriers which are less sensitive to selective fading and can easily reduce the impact of multipath.

With the application of these mitigation techniques on multipath, it is possible to design a wireless network for Nanya that will offer satisfactory communication even when multipath propagation is a major concern.

Q6- Effects of Extreme Weather

The Nanya Arid Zone Research Station is subjected to extreme environmental factors such as heat, dust and in some occasions, water or fire which if encountered hampers the performance and reliability of the wireless communication network.

• Temperature Extremes: Temperature extremes in Nanya can cause signal fading while the components could also degrade and the short battery life of the network equipment (Sabu et al., 2017). In order to reduce these effects it might be required to use the temperature-hardened hardware and to install the active cooling systems for the critical network elements.

• Dust and Particulates: The weather conditions in the area of Nanya are dusty and particulate that may affect the electronic equipment and the components and the antennas as well (Nouzák et al., 2020). This is important so that the network infrastructure will not be exposed to dust, dirt and other environmental factors that may leads to damages of the equipment used in the network infrastructure.

• Floods and Fires: Some of the threats to the physical components of the wireless network include natural disasters such as floods and fires which are common in Nanya from time to time (Van Ackere et al., 2019). Some of the measures that can be taken to protect the network elements from such environmental factors include mounting of equipment at higher levels, use of waterproof cabinets and fire resisting materials.

When the necessary measures are taken in order not to let the extreme weather of Nanya to affect the network, and the wireless communication system is to be designed to be immune to such condition, the effectiveness of the wireless communication system can be enhanced to support the continuity of monitoring and data acquisition of the research station.

Q7- Spread Spectrum Techniques

When considering the spread spectrum techniques applicable to the NanyaNet wireless network, one has to decide between the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) and Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS).

 

Figure 5: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum
(Source: “Lecture 6- Spread Spectrum, Wireless Receiver,” n.d.)

FHSS: Given the nature of NanyaNet setup, the FHSS should be appropriate. FHSS has some benefits such as the ability to resist the penetration of narrow band interferences and also a level of inherent security from frequency hopping pattern (“Lecture 6- Spread Spectrum, Wireless Receiver,” n.d.). Further, the FHSS can be more power effective than the DSSS, which is an advantage for the remote and distributed structure of the Nanya network.
 
Figure 6: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(Source: “Lecture 6- Spread Spectrum, Wireless Receiver,” n.d.)

DSSS: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum may also be a proper solution and in general this method seems better fitted to the Nanya environment (“Lecture 6- Spread Spectrum, Wireless Receiver,” n. d.). DSSS is more vulnerable to the narrow-band interference than FHSS and may consume less power in contrast to the later; it is crucial for the given context since the research station locality is remote, and therefore severe conditions.

In addition, the spread spectrum techniques will improve the security of the NanyaNet as it will become hard for those who have no permission to decode the information being transmitted to accomplish the act. These unpredictable hopping patterns or spreading codes of FHSS and DSSS respectively can increase the security levels for perceived unlawful intruders interested in the transmitted research data diffused over the wireless channel.

For the purposes of low power consumption, high immunity to interference and improved security in the NanyaNet wireless network, the appropriate choice of modulation technique should be the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

Q8- Spread Spectrum for Security

The application of spread spectrum techniques in NanyaNet wireless network can improve data transmission security to counteract a number of threats.

• Eavesdropping: Spread spectrum signals are by their nature are more difficult to intercept, decode as compared to narrowband transmissions (Maksymyuk et al., 2018). The unpredictable hopping patterns in FHSS or the spreading codes in DSSS make it difficult for the unauthorized users to lock on to the target signal thus minimizing chances of eavesdropping.

• Jamming: Spread spectrum techniques are less susceptible to intentional interference or jamming as compared to the conventional modulation techniques (Pirayesh & Zeng, 2022). The spreading gain poses a problem to a jammer since the wideband signal is much harder to counter compared to a narrow band signal, the jammer has to have much greater power and bandwidth than the spreading gain.

• Spoofing: In spread spectrum systems, the use of spreading codes or hopping patterns will further add authentication to determine whether the transmitter is an imposter or a genuine one (Wang et al., 2021). The receiver would like to confirm whether the signal is valid or not by checking the correct spreading code or hopping sequence.

• Denial of Service: Spread spectrum techniques can also reduce the probability of the Denial of Service (DoS) attacks (Islam et al., 2020). FHSS and DSSS are of wider bandwidths and frequencies, it becomes difficult for an attacker to jam the whole network since he or she has to jam all the FHSS or DSSS frequency channels or code sequences.

Thus, incorporating the security aspects of spread spectrum the NanyaNet wireless network can be developed to deliver a secure and reliable wired-like communication environment protecting the transferred top-secret research data from the Nanya Arid Zone Research Station.

Q9- Network Deployment Plan

Nanya Arid Zone Research Station covers a size of about 1000 km² and as a result, the network deployment plan has to encompass the whole area to ensure effective communication.

• Base-Station Placement: Most important factor that plays a key role in the achievement of the goal of coverage is base-stations or access-points. Because of the large area and the need for a stable connection, the application of both central and distributed base stations would be desirable (Chen et al., 2023). The base stations could be placed at the main research center while other distributed base stations or repeaters could be placed at strategic points in the research station to overcome any obstacle to line-of-sight transmission.

• Antenna Design and Orientation: The location and placement of the antennas also have an influence on the coverage area. It is also possible to use sector antennas or parabolic dishes to point the signal in certain directions, which in fact covers larger areas of the research station (Calles-Esteban et al., 2024). The antennas should be positioned in a manner that they can capture the terrain and at the same time, should not be in any way obstructed from the base stations to the distributed network nodes.

• Power Supply: The power supply for the network equipment must be assured because the Nanya research station is situated in a remote area and is not connected to the grid (Aris & Shabani, 2015). Some possibilities to supply the network elements with power includes solar panels, wind turbines, and backup generators to minimize the grid electricity dependence.

If the base stations are well located, the antennae well positioned and the power sources well chosen, then the NanyaNet wireless network can be well planned to offer adequate coverage for the Nanya Arid Zone Research Station.

Q10- Reliable Data Transmission

The transmission of data from the remote weather stations and wildlife cameras to the NanyaNet wireless network is important because the cellular connection in the Nanya Arid Zone Research Station is somewhat restricted.

Hybrid Communication Approach: To ensure that the data is transferred accurately, the dual communication system can be employed which employs both the cellular and satellite networks (Yang et al., 2024). The weather stations and wildlife cameras should be fitted with cellular modems because the area is covered with cellular networks. However, for the places where cellular network is either weak or unavailable satellite communication modules can be installed as a standby.
 
Figure 7: Store-Carry-and-forward mechanism
(Source: Malekar & Kulkarni, 2015)

• Store-Carry-and-Forward Mechanism: To address the issue of intermittent connectivity, store-Carry-and-forward mechanism can be applied at the remote nodes (Malekar & Kulkarni, 2015). The weather stations and wildlife cameras can store the data in local storage devices and then transmit the data to the central hub after sometime when a stable communication link is established either through the cellular or satellite link.

• Delayed Synchronization: In the case of prolonged connectivity the data can be synced with the central hub in a delayed manner (Liu et al., 2021). The remote nodes can send the collected data during other time intervals during which the satellite or cellular connection is more stable and the important information will reach the main research facility.

Through integration of the cellular and satellite communication, store-and-forward as well as the delayed synchronization techniques, the NanyaNet wireless network can offer a stable and reliable data transmission despite the intermittent connectivity issues.

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References

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