802.11 PHY rate between access point and wireless nodes

802.11 PHY rate between access point and wireless nodes

To monitor the PHY rate between an 802.11 AP and STA do the following


  1. Enable packet trace and run the simulation
    • Set a short simulation time because logging this file takes time
  2. After simulation open the packet trace In Excel
  3. Under transmitted ID column filter to the Access point
  4. Add a new column 
    • Set the value of each cell equal to PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD(Bytes)*8 /  (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME-PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME). Since the times are in microseconds, this will give you the approximate PHY Rate in Mbps. 
  5. The precise formulas would be


  • PHY_RATE (802.11a) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 20)


  • PHY_RATE (802.11b) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 192)


  • PHY_RATE (802.11g) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 20)     


  • PHY_RATE (802.11n) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 40)


  • PHY_RATE (802.11ac) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 44)
     
  • PHY_RATE (802.11ax) = PHY_LAYER_PAYLOAD * 8 / (PHY_LAYER_END_TIME - PHY_LAYER_ARRIVAL_TIME - 40)