Hidden node problem

shaking (IEEE 802.11 RTS/CTS) is implemented in con-

junction with the Carrier sense multiple access with colli-
sion avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme. The same problem
exists in a MANET.

A B C The hidden node problem can be observed easily in

widespread (>50m radius) WLAN setups with many
nodes that use directional antennas and have high up-
load. This is why IEEE 802.11 is suited for bridging
the last mile for broadband access only to a very lim-
ited extent. Newer standards such as WiMAX assign time
slots to individual stations, thus preventing multiple nodes
from sending simultaneously and ensuring fairness even
in over-subscription scenarios.
IEEE 802.11 uses 802.11 RTS/CTS acknowledgment
and handshake packets to partly overcome the hidden
node problem. RTS/CTS is not a complete solution and
Station A can communicate with Station B. Station C can also may decrease throughput even further, but adaptive ac-
communicate with Station B. However, Stations A and C cannot knowledgments from the base station can help too.
communicate with each other since they cannot sense each other
The comparison with hidden stations shows that
on the network, because they are out of range of each other.
RTS/CTS packages in each trac class are protable
In wireless networking, the hidden node problem or (even with short audio frames, [2]
which cause a high
hidden terminal problem occurs when a node is visi- overhead on RTS/CTS frames).
ble from a wireless access point (AP), but not from other In the experimental environment following trac classes
nodes communicating with that AP.[1] This leads to dif- are included: data (not time critical), data (time critical),
culties in media access control sublayer. video, audio. Examples for notations: (0|0|0|2) means 2
audio stations; (1|1|2|0) means 1 data station (not time
critical), 1 data station (time critical), 2 video stations.
1 Background
Hidden nodes in a wireless network are nodes that are out
of range of other nodes or a collection of nodes. Take
a physical star topology with an access point with many
nodes surrounding it in a circular fashion: Each node is
within communication range of the AP, but the nodes
cannot communicate with each other, as they do not have
a physical connection to each other. In a wireless net-
work, it is likely that the node at the far edge of the access Benchmarks: Net Throughput with/without RTS/CTS (Pommer,
p.179)
points range, which is known as A, can see the access
point, but it is unlikely that the same node can see a node
on the opposite end of the access points range, C. These The other methods that can be employed to solve hidden
nodes are known as hidden. The problem is when nodes node problem are :
A and C start to send packets simultaneously to the ac-
cess point B. Because the nodes A and C are out of range Increase Transmitting Power From the Nodes
of each other and so cannot detect a collision while trans-
mitting, Carrier sense multiple access with collision de- Use omnidirectional antennas
tection (CSMA/CD) does not work, and collisions occur, Remove obstacles
which then corrupt the data received by the access point.
To overcome the hidden node problem, RTS/CTS hand- Move the node

1
2 5 EXTERNAL LINKS

Use protocol enhancement software it is found that the hidden node problem is the result of a
user moving his computer to an area that is hidden from
Use antenna diversity the other wireless nodes, it may be necessary to have that
user move again. The alternative to forcing users to move
is extending the wireless LAN to add proper coverage to
2 Solutions the hidden area, perhaps using additional access points.

2.1 Increasing Transmitting Power From 2.5 Protocol enhancement software

the Nodes
There are several software implementations of additional
Increasing the transmission power of the nodes can solve protocols that essentially implement a polling or token
the hidden node problem by allowing the cell around passing strategy. Then, a master (typically the access
each node to increase in size, encompassing all of the point) dynamically polls clients for data. Clients are not
other nodes. This conguration enables the non-hidden allowed to send data without the masters invitation. This
nodes to detect, or hear, the hidden node. If the non- eliminates the hidden node problem at the cost of in-
hidden nodes can hear the hidden node, the hidden node creased latency and less maximum throughput.
is no longer hidden. Because wireless LANs use the
CSMA/CA protocol, nodes will wait their turn before
communicating with the access point. 3 See also
This solution only works if one increases the transmis-
sion power on nodes that are hidden. In the typical case Wireless LAN
of a WiFi network, increasing transmission power on the
access point only will not solve the problem because typi- Exposed node problem
cally the hidden nodes are the clients (e.g. laptops, mobile
Point Coordination Function
devices), not the access point itself, and the clients will
still not be able to hear each other. Increasing transmis- Hybrid Coordination Function
sion power on the access point is actually likely to make
the problem worse, because it will put new clients in range
of the access point and thus add new nodes to the network
that are hidden from other clients.
4 References
[1] Buehrer, R. Michael (2006). Code Division Multiple Ac-
cess (CDMA) (1st ed.). [San Rafael, Calif.]: Morgan &
2.2 Omnidirectional antennas
Claypool Publishers. pp. 1619. ISBN 1598290401.
Since nodes using directional antennas are nearly invisi- [2] Pommer, Hermann: Roaming zwischen Wireless Local
ble to nodes that are not positioned in the direction the Area Networks. VDM Verlag, Saarbrcken 2008, ISBN
antenna is aimed at, directional antennas should be used 978-3-8364-8708-5.
only for very small networks (e.g., dedicated point-to-
point connections). Use omnidirectional antennas for
widespread networks consisting of more than two nodes. 5 External links
Wireless Central Coordinated Protocol (WiCCP), a
2.3 Removing obstacles
software solution of the hidden node problem
Increasing the power on mobile nodes may not work if, Frottle, a client/server software solution
for example, the reason one node is hidden is that there is
a concrete or steel wall preventing communication with Benchmarks comparing pure CSMA/CA with
other nodes. It is doubtful that one would be able to re- RTS/CTS and Polling
move such an obstacle, but removal of the obstacle is an-
NetEqualizer, a throttling system addressing the
other method of remedy for the hidden node problem.
hidden node problem
Keep these types of obstacles in mind when performing
a site survey.

2.4 Moving the node

Another method of solving the hidden node problem is
moving the nodes so that they can all hear each other. If
 3

6 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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