A simple bit error probability analysis for square QAM in rayleigh fading with channel estimation

A new approach is presented for analyzing the bit error probability (BEP) of square, multilevel, quadrature amplitude modulation over a nonselective Rayleigh fading channel, with imperfect channel estimation employing pilot-symbol-assisted-modulation. It is much simpler and more powerful than those in the literature, and the average BEP is obtained by calculating the BEP for each individual bit. The results are given in simple, exact, closed-form expressions that do not require any numerical integration. These expressions show explicitly the behavior of the BEP as a function of various system parameters. Three channel estimation schemes are investigated. It is shown that existing channel estimation schemes using sinc interpolation and Gaussian interpolation can be improved.