Direct-sequence Spread-Spectrum Modulation for Utility Packet Transmission in Underwater Acoustic Communication Networks

This thesis investigates the feasibility and performance of using Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) modulation for utility-packet transmission in Seaweb underwater wireless acoustic communications networks. Seaweb networks require robust channel-tolerant utility packets having a low probability of detection (LPD) and allowing for multi-user access. MATLAB code simulated the DSSS transmitter and receiver structures and a modeled channel impulse response represented the underwater environment. The specific modulation scheme implemented is direct-sequence, differentially encoded binary phase-shift keying (DS-DBPSK) with quadrature spreading. Performance is examined using Monte Carlo simulation. Bit error rates and packet error rates for various signal-to-noise ratios and channel conditions are presented and the use of a RAKE receiver, forward error-correction coding and symbol interleaving are examined for improving system performance.