Turbo decoder SNR estimation with RAKE reception

The joint performance of a turbo decoder and RAKE receiver using the MAP algorithm depends on the accuracy of the channel reliability factor. In a high data rate/low processing gain environment, inherent interference that results from non-idealities of the RAKE receiver complicate the estimation of the channel reliability factor. The combined performance of a turbo decoder and RAKE receiver is analyzed in a time dispersive and time-varying channel with distinct multipath components. Approaches are examined for estimating the channel reliability factor using the limited information that is known by the RAKE receiver. The sensitivity of performance to SNR mismatches is computed. The impact of the processing gain and the number of multipath components on BER performance is analyzed along with the effect of the channel time coherence. By accounting for the non-ideal RAKE interference effects, improvements in the channel reliability factor calculation result in BER performance improvements on the order of 0.5-2 dB.