Configuring Clear Channel Assessment Thresholds to Prevent Wi-Fi Throughput Collapse
Configure CCA thresholds 6 dB above adjacent cell beacon power while enforcing transmit power control to prevent co-channel frame deferral and packet collapse.
Receiver Dynamic Range
Meaning
Signal processing capabilities describe the span between the weakest detectable signal and the strongest signal that does not cause distortion. A wide receiver dynamic range is necessary for devices that operate in environments with both close and distant transmitters. It ensures that a nearby high power radio does not blind the receiver to weaker signals.
Compression Linearity
Performance at the high end of the scale is limited by the point where the amplifiers start to saturate. If the receiver dynamic range is too narrow, strong signals will create harmonics that interfere with the desired data. Automatic gain control circuits adjust the sensitivity in real time to handle these fluctuations.
Urban Deployment Challenge
Cities are full of competing wireless signals that vary wildly in strength. Within a smart city sensor network, receiver dynamic range determines if a gateway can talk to a device across the street while another device is transmitting from a mile away. Proper filtering and high quality components are needed to manage this variety.
Component Selection
Designers compare the third order intercept point of different radio chips to gauge their performance. A better receiver dynamic range usually comes at the cost of higher power consumption. The choice of hardware depends on whether the device is a mains powered base station or a battery operated portable sensor.