I. INTRODUCTION
A unique attribute of ad hoc wireless networks that is different from traditional cellular architecture is their ability to operate without the aid of any established infrastructure. Thus routing becomes a critical issue in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) due to their dynamic network topology and scarcity in the network resources (bandwidth and battery life). Although routing design is greatly impacted by the fading mechanisms inherent in wireless channel, existing routing protocols (see [1]–[2] and references therein) typically consider only the path loss effects as far as propagation impairments is concerned while ignoring the deleterious effects of channel fading.