Coarse timing recovery in burst mode OFDM

In burst mode orthogonal frequency division multiplex communication, the correct point in time to begin collecting samples for Fourier processing must be identified. It is estimated with precision timing estimators whose computational efficiency can often be improved if the algorithm is seeded with a good initial estimate obtained from a coarse timing estimator. This paper provides the analysis of a low complexity edge detection algorithm that serves as a coarse estimator of the beginning of the Fourier processing window. The algorithm requires zero overhead and very little computation effort. The probability density function of the detection variable is shown theoretically to be approximately Gamma distributed. This is substantiated with simulation results.