Burst frame synchronization in low SNR

For burst communications in low SNR circumstance, we present a soft-decision frame synchronization algorithm based on pseudo-noise sequence. This algorithm can establish synchronization rapidly, with low SNR threshold and flexible configuration for parameters. The probability computing formulas of missing detection and false detection, expressed by the length of frame header and the decision threshold, are obtained. Also, it presents the method of selecting the length of frame header and the decision threshold under the given performance condition. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that the SNR threshold for soft decision is 1 dB, which is 7 dB lower than that for hard decision, when false detection rate is less than 10^-4 and missing detection rate is less than 0.01.