Combining Pilot-Symbol-Aided Techniques for Fading Estimation and Diversity Reception in Multipath Fading Channels

A novel pilot-symbol-aided (PSA) fading estimation technique that combines the estimates from a conventional PSA technique and a bandwidth-efficient PSA technique to achieve better performances is proposed for digital signals in multipath fading channels. The conventional technique has better performances at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), while the bandwidth-efficient technique is superior at high SNRs. Monte Carlo computer simulation has been used to assess the effects of the proposed combining technique on the bit-error-rate (BER) performances of 16-ary quadrature-amplitude-modulation (16QAM), with and without two-branch diversity reception, in a flat Rayleigh fading channel. Results have shown that the combining technique has the advantages of both of the conventional technique and the bandwidth-efficient technique and is more preferred for use with diversity reception. Man-Hung Ng received a BSc degree in Computer Studies from City University of Hong Kong in 1991. He worked as a computer programmer in Hong Kong from 1991 to 1995. In 1996, he obtained a MSc degree in Communication and Radio Engineering from King's College London. He joined the University of Hong Kong as a research assistant in 1997, and completed a PhD degree in mobile communications in 2001. He joined Lucent Technologies N.S. UK in 2001 and is now a principal standards engineer. Sing-Wai Cheung received the BSc degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Middlesex University, U.K. in 1982 and the PhD degree from Loughborough University of Technology, U.K. in 1986. From 1986–1988, he was a post-doctorate research assistant in the Communications Research Group of King's College, London University. During 1988–1990, he was with the Radio and Satellite Communications Division in British Telecom Research Laboratories (now British Telecom Laboratories). He joined the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong in 1990 and is now an Associate Professor. He contributes regularly courses on mobile and satellite communications systems. His current research interests include modulation, coding, fading compensation and diversity and MIMO for mobile and satellite communications systems.