ASSERT: A Wireless Networking Testbed

As wireless networks become a critical part of home, business and industrial infrastructure, researchers will meet these demands by providing new networking technologies. However, these technologies must be tested before they can be released for mainstream use. We identify the key design considerations for a wireless networking testbed as a) accuracy b) controllability c) mobility d) repeatability e) cost effectiveness f) data collection g) resource sharing h) multi-nodal capability i) scalability. In this paper we portray how we have used coaxial cables and our custom hardware of RF switches and programmable attenuators to create Advanced wireleSS Environment Research Testbed (assert), addressing the above requirements. assert supports various types of wireless devices, providing researchers in academia and industry with the necessary experimentation tools to validate their designed protocols and devices.