Bit-Error Bounds for Trellis-Coded MPSK in Mixed Fading Channels

Bit-error probability (BEP) bounds of trellis-coded MPSK systems over two classes of mixed fading channels are studied. These two classes of channels have been proposed as candidate models for mobile satellite communications. The first class consists of slow and frequency-nonselective fading channels whose output field strengths follow a probability law characterized by a convex combination of Rician and Rayleigh/lognormal distributions. For the other class of fading channels, the received signal amplitude has a convex combination of Rician and Rician/lognormal distributions. We analyze performance bounds for trellis codes that belong to the class of either geometrically uniform codes (GUC’s) or quasi-regular codes (QRC’s). Receivers with either ideal channel state information (CSI) or no CSI at all are considered. We examine asymptotic behaviors of these codes and identify key design parameters. Numerical results are provided to illustrate and compare the BEP performances of various codes and to validate the usefulness of the asymptotic analysis.