In this work, we analyze and evaluate the maximum
achievable throughput of split-channel MAC schemes that are
based on the RTS/CTS (Ready-To-Send/Clear-To-Send) dialogue
and that rely on pure ALOHA or on p-persistent Carrier Sensing
Multiple Access (CSMA) contention resolution techniques. Our
results show that, when radio propagation delays are negligible
and when the pure ALOHA mechanism is used, then for a
network with relatively large number of nodes, the maximum
achievable throughput of the split-channel MAC schemes is lower
than that of the corresponding single-channel MAC schemes.
When the split-channel MAC schemes employ the p-persistent
CSMA mechanism, then they out-perform the corresponding
single-channel schemes when the maximum end-to-end propagation
delays are at least 25% of the transmission time of the
control packets on the single shared channel
