Multiuser performance comparisons of fast frequency hopping and multicarrier slow frequency hopping systems: uncoded and coded schemes

We evaluate and compare the multiuser performance of fast frequency-hopping (FFH) and multicarrier slow frequency-hopping (MC-FH) systems employing noncoherent detection for both uncoded and coded schemes in AWGN and slowly frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels, based on a Gaussian distribution assumption for the decision variable. Our numerical results indicate that with noncoherent detection, both systems show the same performance. However, the MC-FH system can be easily implemented using an FFT algorithm. Furthermore, with a slow hopping rate and high number of carriers, coherent detection for the MC-FH system is feasible. Our results indicate that, for this system (MC-FH), coherent detection substantially outperforms noncoherent detection for both uncoded and coded schemes.