A Physical Layer Model for G3-PLC Networks Simulation

Abstract

This work presents a model of the G3-PLC physical (PHY) layer tailored for network simulations. It allows simulating frequency selective channels with non-stationary colored noise. Collisions with other frames are modeled taking into account the length and the power of the interfering frames. Frame errors are estimated using the effective signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio mapping (ESM) function. The proposed PHY layer has been integrated into a distributed event-based simulator developed by Microchip. The layer 2+ stack of the simulator uses the same code that actual Microchip G3-PLC devices. Validation has been accomplished by comparing its results to a test network deployed in the laboratory. The latter consists of a coordinator and one hundred meters distributed in 5 levels. Faster-than-real-time simulations and an excellent agreement between the simulated and the measured performance indicators at the application layer have been obtained.