Using MFM as a Channel Generator

Introduction

While MFM comes with higher-level objects like the device, link, and network_mfm objects, it can also be used in a pretty low-level sense as a channel generator.

In this guide, we outline how to use MFM’s channel objects to easily realize channels, which can be particularly useful in simulations.

Creating the Channel

Suppose we wish to create a channel for simulation.

c = channel.create(type)

where type is the string identifier for the channel we wish to create.

Setting up the Channel

Once created, we need to perform an initial setup of the channel before beginning to use it.

Let us begin by setting the carrier frequency to fc Hz and the propagation velocity to vel m/s.

c.set_carrier_frequency(fc)
c.set_propagation_velocity(vel)

Then, suppose we have $N_{\mathrm{t}}$ transmit antennas and $N_{\mathrm{r}}$ receive antennas. Then we can create two arrays via

atx = array(Nt)
arx = array(Nr)

Note that in cases where the actual array geometry is immaterial, creating uniform linear arrays can be used without loss of generality.

Then, to set the arrays of c, we can use

c.set_transmit_array(atx)
c.set_receive_array(arx)

Any remaining setup can be executed before proceeding.

Generating Channels

Now that the channel c has been created, we can use it to generate channel realizations.

To create a single channel realization, we can execute

H = c.realization()

where H is a $N_{\mathrm{r}} \times N_{\mathrm{t}}$ channel matrix.

Executing this in a for-loop exemplifies the conveience of MFM’s channel objects. Generating a channel realization is a single line.

...
atx = array(Nt);
arx = array(Nr);
...
c = channel.create(type);
c.set_carrier_frequency(fc);
c.set_propagation_velocity(vel);
c.set_transmit_array(atx);
c.set_receive_array(arx);
...
for i = 1:N
    ...
    H = c.realization();
    ...
end