Analysis of DMT-FDMA as a multiple access scheme for broadband indoor power-line communications

This paper analyzes the performance, of a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) scheme for indoor broadband power-line communications based on discrete multitone (DMT) modulation. Bit-rate loss due to multiple access interference (MAI) is assessed for a synchronous and an asynchronous scheme. Improvements obtained by means of pulse-shaping at the transmitter and windowing at the receiver in the presence of symbol and frequency asynchrony are given. Performance is evaluated for carrier assignment strategies based on individual carrier allocation and on the assignation of groups of tones. The analysis is carried out with the help of a novel analytical procedure that allows separate calculation of the distortion terms (intersymbol and intercarrier interference and MAI) of a DMT system operating over a linear time-invariant (LTI) channel