Accurate bit-error-rate estimation for OFDM based telecommunication systems schemes in the presence of nonlinear distortions

This paper proposes a quasi analytical method for estimating the Bit-Error-Rate (BER) of Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation schemes suffering from nonlinear distortions somewhere in the transmission path. The presented method splits the different transmitted signals into different classes according to their crest factor. Signals with a high crest factor will in general suffer more from nonlinear distortion than signals with a low crest factor. Dividing the signals according to their crest factor makes it possible to use whatever appropriate BER estimation method. The classes of signals that suffer from a large BER can, for example, be simulated more efficiently using a Monte-Carlo simulation, while low BER estimation can be done more efficiently using a quasi analytical method. Hence, the overall method requires only a relative small number of experiments. The method is verified on both simulations and measurements