ABSTRACT
Mobile ad-hoc networks are multi hop wireless networks comprising of a collection of wireless mobile nodes configured to communicate among each other without the aid of an existing infrastructure. They are free to move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily. The network's wireless topology may change rapidly or unpredictably. As a result, the link becomes unreliable leading to poor communication.This research work presents the prediction of link reliability in a wireless Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) with path loss effect. The link reliability was investigated using the Weibull distribution function due to its flexibility, simplicity and reliability and was simulated using the developed MATLAB 2007Rb Graphic User Interface (GUI). The free space and two ray ground path loss models were used to study the path loss effects on the link reliability. The results obtained were validated by comparing the performance of the model with existing results. It was noticed that the developed model performed better by 7% for coverage area, 2% for range, 0.3% for number of mobile nodes at the point where attenuation factors were at maximum point. This proves the authenticity of the developed model. The network reliability was 98.70% when the bandwidth was 3000 MHz and propagation parameters were �´ = 1.0 and γ = 1.0 respectively. In the case of link reliability and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), 99.99% of link reliability was attained which occurred when the SINR was 0.9 and propagation parameters were �´ = 1.0 and γ = 1.0 respectively. The effect of SINR and bandwidth on the link reliability and the development of a user dependent Matlab GUI for the link reliability prediction are significant contributions of this research.