Wireless Network Simulation in MATLAB

By means of different toolboxes and modules, simulating wireless networks in MATLAB might be achieved and for various perspectives of wireless communication systems, these tools are specifically tailored to offer certain features. It provides an extensive toolkit by its Simulink, Communication Toolbox and specific toolkits such as LTE system Toolbox, WLAN System Toolbox and others, as MATLAB does not have a committed “Wireless Network Simulation” module per second. For simulating wireless networks in MATLAB and their characteristics, the main modules and toolkit are discussed here:

1. Communication Toolbox

• Features: Innovative techniques, end-to-end simulation, validation of communication systems and apps for evaluation are offered by this communication toolbox. For simulating the physical layer of wireless networks, it is very crucial and incorporates visualization tools, channel coding, signal processing and modulation.
• Applicable Areas: Based on a diverse channel environment, communication toolboxes are applicable in signal processing techniques, developing and simulating personalized wireless communication systems, coding algorithms and estimating the performance of modulation policies.

2. WLAN System Toolbox

• Features: Depending on the IEEE 802.11 principles, WLAN system toolbox provides tasks and apps for patterns, simulation, and evaluation and examination of WLAN communication systems. Considering WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) signals, this toolkit assists performance assessment, waveform generation and link-level simulation.
• Applicable Areas: On the basis of different layouts and channel circumstances, these toolboxes simulate and estimate the function of WLAN systems and modeling and examining WLAN communication mechanisms.

3. LTE System Toolbox

• Features: LTE System toolbox is specifically tailored for the purpose of simulating, evaluating and investigating LTE and LTE-Advanced wireless communication systems and principles. For channel modeling, waveform generation and link-level simulation, it offers regular compliant functions.
• Applicable Areas: It is widely deployed for simulating end-to-end LTE systems, modeling and examining LTE communication protocols and analyzing the function of LTE networks.

4. 5G Toolbox

• Features: For the process of simulation, analysis and examination of 5G communication systems, a 5G toolbox is very essential. It creates channel systems which are peculiar to 5G NR (New Radio) principles and encompasses functionalities for link-level simulation and waveform generation.
• Applicable Areas: Among several deployment events, generate and analyze 5G communication systems, estimating the performance of 5G networks and simulating 5G NR waveforms and channels.

5. RF Toolbox and RF Blockset

• Features (RF Toolbox): Regarding RF (Radio Frequency) components, it offers services for developing, modeling, evaluating and visualizing networks.
• Features (RF Blockset): To simulate RF and mixed-signal systems, RF Blockset provides a Simulink block library.
• Applicable Areas: By means of creating and analyzing RF systems, RF Toolbox as well as RF Blockset is efficiently deployed. For performance and capability, it simulates RF transceivers and enhances RF networks.

6. Simulink

• Features: Reflecting on the simulation process and Model-Based Design of multi-domain dynamic and real-time systems, Simulink creates a graphical framework. In addition to that, Simulation assists in consistent examination and real-time systems, system-level architecture and autonomous code generation.
• Applicable Areas: For an extensive mathematical investigation, it is beneficially used for model and simulates wireless communication systems, synthesizing with MATLAB and formulating control algorithms.

Deploying These Modules for Wireless Network Simulation

Encompassing the perspectives from physical layer signal processing to system-level protocol simulation, integration of these modules enables extensive simulation of wireless networks in MATLAB. For instance, you can deploy simulink for visualizing and evaluating system-level communication or deploy a communication toolbox to design the protocol layer or for simulating standard-compliant networks, make use of WLAN or LTE systems.

Which one is most suitable for WSN simulation, ns2 or Matlab?

For your WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) simulation, you may have a doubt in choosing an appropriate tool between Ns-2 and MATLAB tools. In order to clarify your queries, here we provide a comparison on both NS-2 and MATLAB with its merits as well as demerits:

NS-2

Advantages:

• Specifically Designed for Network Simulations: For simulating different types of networks which involve WSNs (Wireless Sensor Networks), NS-2 is particularly designed. In furtherance of network analysis, it provides a broad variety of models and protocols.
• Open Source and Free: NS-2 is approachable for everyone, as it is an open-source for academic and research works.
• Extensive Protocol Support: To simulate any network condition approximately, NS-2 offers a huge library of networking protocols to deploy.
• Community and Documentation: Considerable community of users are engaged in NS-2 simulation that implies accessible conferences, large quantities of resources and external sources.

Dis-advantages:

• Steep Learning Curve: Specifically those who are not accustomed with Tcl scripting language, NS-2 is very challenging for users to learn the progress.
• Out-dated User Interface: As compared to MATLAB, the visualization tools and user interface are not enhanced or perceptive.
• Limited Support for Non-Networking Tasks: NS-2 is not sufficiently portable for simulations, even though it is magnificent for network standards and behaviors.

MATLAB

Advantages:

• Versatility: Across network simulation which involves signal processing, data analysis and furthermore, MATLAB is widely deployed which is multipurpose mathematical and engineering software.
• Ease of Use: Particularly those who are used to programming code, MATLAB language and framework are tailored to learn and utilize easily.
• Advanced Visualization and Analysis Tools: In the process of data visualization and analysis, MATLAB is very capable and for these work, it contributes expansive built-in functions.
• Integration with Simulink: For simulating sophisticated systems, MATLAB provides a graphical interface and for model-based design and simulation, MATLAB can be synthesized with Simulink.

Dis-advantages:

• Cost: MATLAB is licensed software that is not accessible for everyone, as compared to NS-2. To help students and professionals or staff members, some educational institutions offer licenses to deploy.
• Less Specific to Networking: There is a necessity of enhanced efforts in MATLAB for executing networking protocols and events from scratch in contrast to NS-2, although it is effectively employed in WSN simulations.

Conclusion

• Consider if you require a particular tool tailored for network simulations and mainly emphasizes on behavior analysis, select NS-2 simulation. When you have an interest to learn Tcl scripting or handling a project which includes network conditions and where you are convenient with, this NS-2 simulation is highly beneficial
• Beside network simulation, examine whether you require specific visualization efficiency and modernized data analysis or if your project includes signal processing and sophisticated mathematical modeling, you can select MATLAB. If you are already familiar with MATLAB or if you are seeking a user-friendly programming framework, MATLAB is more beneficial and suitable.