BER analysis of selection diversity receivers over generalized-K fading environments

We evaluate the error performance of a selection diversity (SD) receiver over generalized-K fading channels. The bit-error rate (BER) expression is obtained directly from the cumulative distribution function (CDF), and thus eliminating the need for differentiating the CDF of the combiner output as in the analysis technique used hitherto. Using this approach, we are able to conveniently analyze the error performance of a SD receiver with arbitrary diversity order operating over generalized-K fading environments, which was earlier considered as quite complicated. A unified BER expression for different binary modulation schemes is derived. Error performance of different modulation schemes in compound fading channels is discussed along with numerical results, and analytical results are corroborated with the simulation results.