Figure 9 shows the stable throughput of the string multi-hop network with RTS/CTS as a function of the number of hops.
The stable throughput becomes approximately constant when the number of hops is equal to or greater than seven.
Based on assumption (4), the analysis is valid for a string topology with a sufficient number of hops.
The simulation results are in good agreement with the analytical result for the case in which the number of hops is equal to or greater than nine.
Based on these discussions, the present analysis is valid for N ≥ 10.