Performance analysis of a fast recursive least squares channel equalizer for MIMO-OFDM systems

Wireless communication technologies have evolved by leaps and bounds in modern times. The ease of communication at the user end and the growth of feature rich mobile systems over the years has added to the ever increasing demand of higher data rates in a communication system. MIMO-OFDM systems have been a breakthrough in achieving appreciable data rates while keeping the issues faced in communication systems at bay. Channel Equalization in MIMO-OFDM systems is an area that has been extensively researched upon with the passage of time, to boost the data rates for high speed communication. In this article, performance analysis of a Fast Recursive Least Squares (FRLS) based adaptive channel equalizer for MIMO-OFDM systems employed in signal transmission using Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation was done and compared with the much popular Zero-forcing equalizer (ZF) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) equalizer. A qualitative analysis of the robustness of channel equalizers in a MIMO-OFDM systems with two transmit and two receiving antennae, was carried out. Simulations over a wide range of SNRs was done and Bit Error Rate (BER) was determined.