Abstract
This paper presents a new concept to improve Ad Hoc Routing Protocols exploiting IEEE 802.11a Link Adaptation information. The IEEE 802.11a Link Adaptation information is used to predict the link stability and link life-time. After introducing the IEEE 802.11a MAC Layer information and its transmission modes, the paper reviews some insights of the IEEE 802.11a Link Adaptation behaviour. Based on the Link Layer Information, new route maintenance Protocols ERRA (Early Route ReArrangement) and ERU (Early Route Update) are proposed to improve the active route maintenance in Ad Hoc Networks.