A set of computer-based modeling tools to help understand the performance and behavior of spread spectrum networks is presented. These tools allow for numerical evaluation of important network performance measures and experimentation with network parameters. A connectivity model for a direct sequence spread spectrum packet radio network which allows the computation of network throughput and can be used to study routing techniques is discussed. This model places direct sequence spread spectrum networks on an equal footing with narrowband networks which have been modeled using the collision channel and transmission range concepts. The mathematical models and algorithms used to evaluate network performance are described, and several examples are presented to demonstrate the impact of various parameters.>