Performance Evaluation of a WiMAX Network Using Smart Antennas Through System in the Loop OPNET Simulations

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is one of the newest technologies developed for broadband wireless networks, which offers high data rate and high flexibility for the radio resource management. Adding smart antenna support and developing new scheduling algorithms will make WiMAX an attractive solution for the next generation wireless networks. In this paper, a basic simulation testbed for performance evaluation of a WiMAX network using smart antenna is proposed. It is based on OPNET simulation tool and uses System-in-the-Loop function to interconnect the simulated system with a real network, for a better functional and performance evaluation. The simulation results showed that the higher antenna gain on the beam direction and the narrow beam will result in a reduced level of interference and a higher throughput in the WiMAX network.