Dual diversity versus simple block coding for correlated frequency-selective fading channels

We investigate the effects of correlation on the performance of diversity systems in wide-band wireless radio environments. Specifically, the average bit error rate (BER) performance of M-ary differential phase shift keying (MDPSK) on correlated frequency-selective slow Rayleigh fading channel is analyzed. A two-branch diversity receiver with postdetection equal gain combining is considered. Nyquist pulse shaping is used and differential detection is employed at the receiver. The effects of cochannel interference on the system performance are assessed using a Gaussian interference model. To further enhance the system performance, the effects of combined diversity and forward error correction (FEC) coding on the average BER are investigated. Results using short cyclic block codes with perfect bit interleaving are obtained. The effects of the root mean square (RMS) delay spread, the amount of correlation, and the level of modulation, M, on the average BER are investigated in detail for both coded and uncoded systems. The results show that dual branch diversity combining with a correlation coefficient of 0.5 outperforms (in terms of BER) short block codes with perfect bit interleaving, and that combined diversity and coding strategies are effective in combatting the effects of frequency-selective fading