On the performance of decode-and-forward relay networks using imperfect MRC receiver

In this letter, the performance analysis of a selection decode-and-forward cooperative system with imperfect MRC weight, named imperfect MRC receiver, is derived over independent but non-identical Rayleigh fading channels. We compare the outage probability and the average symbol error rate of the perfect MRC, the imperfect MRC and the perfect selection combining (SC). From the performance results we provide the criterion in choosing the imperfect MRC, perfect MRC, or SC depending on the degree of the difference of the noise level between cooperative links.