Performance comparison of frequency flopping and direct sequence spread spectrum systems in the 2.4 GHz range

The FHSS and DSSS technologies are described as well as different types of spread coding. DSSS systems can provide higher access data rates (up to 11Mbit/s) than FHSS systems (up to 3Mbit/s). More FHSS systems can operate simultaneously in the same area than DSSS systems. DSSS systems have higher interference susceptibility tolerance levels. However, if there is a strong broadband interferer in the operational spectrum, FHSS systems will suffer less due to frequency hopping. Assuming equal transmit powers, DSSS systems have lower power spectral density due to wider operating spectrum. Monte Carlo analysis results show that DSSS systems are more likely to cause interference than FHSS systems. The worst case interference levels are higher when the interferer is FHSS system. It was shown that this case has a very low probability of occurring.