Wireless‑Links: Signal Simulation Tool

Octave‑based signal propagation simulator and visualizer for urban environments, developed as an open‑source teaching aid for the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Ioannina (course ΜΥΕ048).

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📋 Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Features
3. Screenshots
4. Technologies
5. Installation
6. Usage
7. Implementation
8. Documentation & Report
9. Contributing
10. License & Contact

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Overview

This project converts and optimizes MATLAB laboratory code into GNU Octave scripts, creating a free‑and‑open‑source tool for simulating and visualizing wireless signal propagation in city‑like obstacle environments. It empowers future students to experiment with link performance, obstacle effects, and parameter tuning without MATLAB licenses.

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Features

• MATLAB → Octave porting: All lab exercises originally in MATLAB are reworked in Octave to ensure open‑source accessibility.
• Signal propagation simulation: Model line‑of‑sight, multipath, and obstacle attenuation in urban scenarios.
• Interactive visualization: Generate 2D plots of signal strength over a grid of receiver locations, highlighting dead zones and coverage areas.
• Parameter configuration: Easily adjust transmitter power, frequency, obstacle material properties, and grid resolution via script variables.
• Extensible framework: Modular code structure allows the department or students to add new propagation models or GUI front‑ends.

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Screenshots

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Technologies

Component	Technology
Language	GNU Octave 10.x (free MATLAB alternative)
Plotting	Octave built‑in plotting (gnuplot backend)
Scripting	Octave .m scripts, modular functions
Documentation	ODT & PDF report via LibreOffice/OpenOffice

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Installation

1. Install GNU Octave (latest stable release 10.1.0) from the official site or your OS package manager.
2. Clone the repo:

   git clone https://github.com/johnprif/Wireless-Links.git
   cd Wireless-Links

3. Ensure dependencies: No extra toolboxes needed—pure Octave core functions.

Usage

From within the project folder, launch Octave and run the main script:

octave:1> run('new_Lab_2_Ooctave/main_simulation.m');

• Modify parameters (transmitter power, frequency, obstacle map) at the top of main_simulation.m.

• View generated plots in the Octave GUI or export via print -dpng.

• Compare results against MATLAB originals in old_Lab_2_MATLAB/.

Implementation

+----------------------+      +----------------------+      +----------------------+
| main_simulation.m    | -->  | propagation_models.m | -->  | visualization_utils.m|
+----------------------+      +----------------------+      +----------------------+
         |                            |                                |
         v                            v                                v
  parameter_config.m        path_loss_models.m                  plot_heatmap.m

• Modular design: Separate scripts for configuration, propagation math, and plotting, enabling easy extension.
• Conversion approach: Converted MATLAB built‑in functions to Octave equivalents, optimized loops for performance.

Documentation & Report

Detailed methodology, algorithmic choices, and results analysis are provided in:

• new_Lab_2_Ocate_report.pdf (full report)
• new_Lab_2_Ocate_report.odt (editable source)

Refer to these for theoretical background and validation plots.

Contributing

This tool is open‑source for future students and faculty development. To contribute:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a branch: git checkout -b feature/your_feature.
3. Commit changes and push.
4. Submit a Pull Request.

Feedback and extensions (new models, GUIs) are encouraged by the department.

License & Contact

MIT License © 2020 University of Ioannina contributors. See LICENSE file for details.

For questions or collaboration, contact:

• Joanis Prifti (author) — giannispriftis37@gmail.com
• Filippo Priftis (co‑author) — filpri6@gmail.com

Developed as an educational resource for Wireless Links (ΜΥΕ048) labs at University of Ioannina.