On the Performance of an LTE SFBC System in Frequency-Selective Channels in the Presence of Channel Estimation Errors

The uncoded performance of an Alamouti space-frequency block code operating in a frequency-selective channel is studied in the presence of channel estimation errors. The Alamouti Maximum Likelihood (ML) symbol detector with linear combining is considered at the receiver. Imperfect channel estimates are provided by a realistic Wiener interpolator. The impact of channel estimation errors and correlation mismatch on the uncoded performance of the system is evaluated as a function of key system parameters, such as the anticipated power delay profile at the channel estimator, the actual, i.e. true, power delay profile, the pilot spacing and the Wiener filter length. The role of partial knowledge of the channel statistics is investigated as well.