Experimental study of a symbol timing synchronisation algorithm implemented in the frequency domain

The need for symbol timing synchronisation (STS) rises from the existence of a timing offset between the transmitter and the reference clock at the receiver. Therefore the role of STS is to align the time positions of each data pulse with respect to the sampling instants operating at the symbol rate. Current literature describes only conventional time domain techniques, which require one or two samples per symbol. By taking a frequency domain approach to STS the number of samples required to evaluate the timing offset (ε) can be reduced to just 2 for a K-symbol message. This approach thus generates a simpler and more efficient timing synchronisation algorithm. QAM and QPSK signals have been simulated, and the results indicate that high accuracy levels of timing offset estimation (over 90%) can be easily attained