An Experimental Study of Ground-Based Equipment Real Time Data Transfer Possibility by Using Cellular Networks

Abstract

-An expanding mobile cellular network data transfer service offers cheaper wireless solutions for various data transfer needs. This paper presents an experimental testing of data transfer performance in 3G and 4G modes. The purpose of testing was to check the possibility of real-time and critical data transfer over the mobile cellular networks. The testing was performed in Riga in July and August 2016 using the most popular mobile service operators in Latvia: Tele2-LV, BITE-LV and LMT. The testing confirmed that the overload of Riga's 4G networks causes serious service deterioration or even interruption. Riga's 3G networks are more stable. However, 3G network service quality depends on a cell load. Lightly loaded 3G network meets real-time data transfer requirements of 100 ms one-way delay of the small packet traffic.

Deterioration Causes Evaluation of Third Generation Cellular LTE Services for Moving Unmanned Terrestrial and Aerial Systems

“…A. Testbed Network and ground server selection: LMT cellular network operator has the least loaded cellular network in Latvia [12]. The LMT cellular network operators' cellular data transfer service is used to reduce (or even exclude) data transfer quality deterioration due to cellular network overload.…”

“…The LMT cellular network operators' cellular data transfer service is used to reduce (or even exclude) data transfer quality deterioration due to cellular network overload. The testing results in [12] show that the google free DNS server (IP: 8.8.8.8) is more trusted than the server hosted at RTU building (IP: 213.175.90.193). The use of google free DNS server helps avoid limitations that can be caused by the ground wired network segment service quality.…”

“…Regardless of the LTE technology benefits, sometimes LTE service performance is decreased due to the overload, while conventional 3G HSPA+ networks provide comparable, or even better performance because typically they are less loaded [11], [12]. The LTE cells are more loaded because modern UE automatically selects LTE cell in case it is available; 3G cell is selected if LTE service fails or if there are no LTE service at all.…”