Abstract: | Using a recently developed moment generating function‐based approach for the performance evaluation of digital communications over fading channels, we present a unified approach for the exact performance analysis of binary direct‐sequence code division multiple access (DS‐CDMA) systems operating over generalized frequency‐selective fading channels. The results are applicable to single carrier systems employing RAKE reception as well as to multicarrier DS‐CDMA systems with frequency diversity. Aside from simplifying previous results both analytically and computationally, the proposed approach also gives a solution for many situations which heretofore defied a simple form. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |