TCP performance in a hybrid satellite network by using ACM and ARQ

The TCP efficiency degradation in high delaybandwidth product and error-prone channels is a well-known problem. To reduce this degradation, we utilized a hybrid wireless network architecture, where a geostationary bent-pipe satellite channel is used for forward high bit-rate transmissions, while the return link is realized through a terrestrial 3G segment. The performance of four of the most popular TCP versions are tested and compared via simulations in terms of goodput. Our aim is choosing which version performs better by using an Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) technique, both alone and together with an Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) scheme of the Selective Repeat (SR) type. ARQ is used with and without transmit and receive timeouts. The obtained results show that such a hybrid architecture is advantageous for TCP transmissions in terms of average goodput, and that ACM is effective only if used together with ARQ schemes.