Refinements to the theory of error rates for narrow-band digital FM

The bit-error-rate performance of narrowband digital FM with limiter-discriminator detection is considered for the cases of integrate and dump postdetection filtering with partial-bit integration, and sample-and-hold bit detection at the discriminator output. Error rate curves are presented for Gaussian, six-element Butterworth, and two-stage synchronously tuned IF filters. The calculations illustrate just how much more E_b/N₀ is required as the partial-bit integration time goes from 100% down to the limiting case of sample and hold. The results show that it is important to have a well-designed IF filter especially if the entire bit time is not available for detection