The aim of this work is to study data transmission over a microwave digital mobile radio channel at 900 MHz, where the channel is subjected to multipath fading. Besides the fading, the other impairments assumed here are additive noise, co-channel interference and adjacent channel interference. Two modulation techniques are investigated in this work, namely Quadrature-Amplitude-Modulation (QAM) and Quadrature-Phase-Shift- Keying (QPSK). The channel is characterised digitally, assuming multipath Rayleigh fading in the presence of noise. The detection process studied here are near-maximum likelihood schemes: non-linear equalisation methods are also considered in detail. The thesis is also concerned with carrier synchronisation and channel estimation under conditions of Rayleigh fading. Since the carrier syncn,honisation is a most important requirement in mobile radio, a Digital Phase Locked Loop (DPLL) technique has been designed and investigated in the form of a feedback digital synchronisation system. Two types of channel estimation technique, namely feedforward and feedback estimators, are also investigated in this work. The feedback estimator is modified by the addition of a digital control system, in order to reduce its delay, and to cope with rapidly fading signals. Successful carrier synchronisation is demonstrated by the use of space diversity. The study was completed using models of the component parts of the system, and by the use of extensive computer simulations to analyse the system under various operating conditions.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da investigação da utilização da Técnica de Sondagem em Frequência na estimação de dispersividade Espaço-Temporal do Canal Rádio Móvel. Modifcações na técnica clássica de varredura em frequência foram implementadas: um conjunto de antenas denominado array foi construído e calibrado e um algoritmo de pós-processamento do sinal medido foi testado. Foi realizada uma campanha de medidas em três ambientes diferentes para averiguar a aplicabilidade do conjunto. Foram obtidos bons resultados, demonstrando a efciência da metodologia de medidas aplicada. / [en] This work presents the results of an investigation of the use of the Frequency Sounding technique in Mobile Radio Channel`s Space-Time Dispersion characterization. Hence, some changes in the classical Frequency Sounding Technique were employed: a set of antennas was built and calibrated and an algorithm for signal pos processing was tested. A measurement campaign was carried out on three different environments to test the applicability of the set as a whole. Very good results showed the efficiency of the measurements methodology applied.

<p>Prediction of the rapidly fading envelope of a mobile radio channel enables a number of capacity improving techniques like fast resource allocation and fast link adaptation. This thesis deals with linear prediction of the complex impulse response of a channel and unbiased quadratic prediction of the power. The design and performance of these predictors depend heavily on the correlation properties of the channel. Models for a channelwhere the multipath is caused by clusters of scatterers are studied. The correlation for the contribution from a cluster can be approximated as a damped complex sinusoid. A suitable model for the dynamics of the channel is an ARMA-process. This motivates the use of linear predictors.</p><p>A limiting factor in the prediction are the estimation errors on the observed channels. This estimation error, caused by measurement noise and time variation, is analyzed for a block based least squares algorithm which operates on a Jakes channel model. Efficient noise reduction on the estimated channel impulse responses can be obtained with Wienersmoothers that are based on simple models for the dynamics of the channel combined with estimates of the variance of the estimation error.</p><p>Power prediction that is based on the squared magnitude of linear prediction of the taps will be biased. Hence, a bias compensated power predictor is proposed and the optimal prediction coefficients are derived for the Rayleigh fading channel. The corresponding probability density functions for the predicted power are also derived. A performance evaluation of the prediction algorithm is carried out on measured broadband mobile radio channels. The performance is highly dependent on the variance of the estimation error and the dynamics of the individual taps.</p>

Prediction of the rapidly fading envelope of a mobile radio channel enables a number of capacity improving techniques like fast resource allocation and fast link adaptation. This thesis deals with linear prediction of the complex impulse response of a channel and unbiased quadratic prediction of the power. The design and performance of these predictors depend heavily on the correlation properties of the channel. Models for a channelwhere the multipath is caused by clusters of scatterers are studied. The correlation for the contribution from a cluster can be approximated as a damped complex sinusoid. A suitable model for the dynamics of the channel is an ARMA-process. This motivates the use of linear predictors. A limiting factor in the prediction are the estimation errors on the observed channels. This estimation error, caused by measurement noise and time variation, is analyzed for a block based least squares algorithm which operates on a Jakes channel model. Efficient noise reduction on the estimated channel impulse responses can be obtained with Wienersmoothers that are based on simple models for the dynamics of the channel combined with estimates of the variance of the estimation error. Power prediction that is based on the squared magnitude of linear prediction of the taps will be biased. Hence, a bias compensated power predictor is proposed and the optimal prediction coefficients are derived for the Rayleigh fading channel. The corresponding probability density functions for the predicted power are also derived. A performance evaluation of the prediction algorithm is carried out on measured broadband mobile radio channels. The performance is highly dependent on the variance of the estimation error and the dynamics of the individual taps.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma sondagem em frequencia do canal indoor de faixa larga em 1,8GHz, onde foram testados alguns ambientes na tentativa de simular a mobilidade de um usuário. A técnica de sondagem é baseada na técnica clássica de varredura em frequencia, onde foi implementado um link óptico ao invés de cabos coaxiais, para permitir um maior range de medidas. A completa análise de dispersão temporal em pequena e larga escala foi extraída de medidas da resposta impulsiva, como retardo médio, espalhamento rms de retardos, banda de coerência e suas variações com a mobilidade. Do conjunto de análises efetuadas dois resultados obtiveram destaque: perfis de potência de retardo com a distância , resultando em uma boa representação dos principais espalhadores do ambiente; e a validação de um limitante teórico da relação entre a banda de coerência e o espalhamento rms de retardos, recentemente proposto por outro autor. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma sondagem em frequencia do canal indoor de faixa larga em 1,8GHz, onde foram testados alguns ambientes na tentativa de simular a mobilidade de um usuário. A técnica de sondagem é baseada na técnica clássica de varredura em frequencia, onde foi implementado um link óptico ao invés de cabos coaxiais, para permitir um maior range de medidas. A completa análise de dispersão temporal em pequena e larga escala foi extraída de medidas da resposta impulsiva, como retardo médio, espalhamento rms de retardos, banda de coerência e suas variações com a mobilidade. Do conjunto de análises efetuadas dois resultados obtiveram destaque: perfis de potência de retardo com a distância , resultando em uma boa representação dos principais espalhadores do ambiente; e a validação de um limitante teórico da relação entre a banda de coerência e o espalhamento rms de retardos, recentemente proposto por outro autor. / [en] The results of a 1.8 GHz indoor wide-band channel souding survey at some typical environments, trying to account for pedestrian subscriber mobility, are presented. The sounding technique has been based on the classical frequency domain one, with an optic link instead of coaxial cables provinding an extended path range. Complete small and large- scale time dispersionanalysis have been derived from the impulse responses measured, like mean delay, rms delay spread, coherence bandwidth and its variations with mobility. From the whole analysis carried out, two main results are worth remarking: the power delay profile variation with distance providing a pictorial representation of the main scattering mechanisms of the environment; and the validation of a lower bound relation between the coherence bandwidth and rms delay spread recently proposed by another author.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The radio channel places fundamental limitations on the performance of mobile ad hoc wireless networks. In the mobile radio environment, fading due to multipath delay spread impairs received signals. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a radio channel model and examine the effect of various parameters on channel behavior that is representative of environments in which mobile ad hoc wireless networks operate. The various physical phenomena considered are outdoor environments, fading and multipath propagation, type of terrains, and mobility (Doppler shift). A channel model based on a Tapped Delay Line (TDL) structure was developed and implemented in the MATLAB programming language, and the performance of the time-varying channel was studied by plotting the signal constellations. The simulation results indicate that the number of taps required in the TDL is 8 or less and the carrier frequency did not influence the performance significantly. The Jakes Doppler spectrum should be used in urban environments with high mobility; the Gaussian Doppler spectrum is the choice for low mobility urban environments and for the hilly terrain under both low and high mobility. / Civilian, Singapore Ministry of Defense

[pt] As características do canal rádio móvel são essenciais ao desenvolvimento de equipamentos e sistemas modernos de telecomunicações sem fio. Para os ambientes nos quais o sistemas operarão, o conhecimento dos principais parâmetros do canal em banda larga é obtido através do uso do conjunto formado por um equipamento transmissor e outro equipamento receptor com suas respectivas antenas. A este conjunto transmissor e receptor atribui-se o nome de sonda. Existem diversas tecnologias sobre as quais as sondas são projetadas e construídas. Em particular mencionam-se as técnicas STDCC (swept time-delay cross-correlation), o Filtro Casado e o OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing). Esta tese compara, por simulação, o desempenho de sondas que utilizam estas três técnicas. São propostas alterações nos métodos Filtro Casado e OFDM, de forma que estes proporcionem resultados mais precisos. Além disto, são estudadas imperfeições em dispositivos comuns a todas elas e comparadas sua influência sobre a qualidade das estimações, de forma isolada e combinada. Para o amplificador de potência é considerado o seu principal fator de degradação: suas não linearidades. Para o oscilador local existente no receptor é analisada a contribuição do ruído de fase. O ruído térmico, sempre presente à entrada do receptor em qualquer situação, é variado em uma extensa faixa de valores e o seu efeito sobre a precisão de cada método é analisado. Os resultados obtidos são apresentados na forma de tabelas e gráficos representando, diretamente, o resultado da comparação com o canal de referência ou por meio dos indicadores erro RMS e desvio padrão. / [en] The mobile radio channel characterization is essential to the development of modern wireless telecommunication equipment and systems. The main wideband channel parameters of the environments where these systems will operate are collected by the use of a set comprising a transmitter, a receiver and an aerial system. This set is named sounder. There are many techniques used to project and implement these sounders, such as STDCC (Swept Time-Delay Cross-Correlation), Matched Filter and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing). This thesis compares, by means of computer simulations, the performance of these three techniques. Some changes are proposed on the Matched Filter and OFDM methods to reach more precise results. Moreover, imperfections in common devices used by all sounders are studied, both independently and jointly, and the impact over the precision of channel estimations is analyzed. The main degradation factor of power amplifiers, which are the nonlinearities, was also considered, as well as the contribution of the phase noise in the receiver local oscillator. The effect of the thermal noise, always present on the receiver input, was also considered, over a large range of values. The results are presented by diagrams and tables showing results of comparisons with a reference channel or by mean of RMS errors and standard deviations.