On the ASER performance of RF energy harvesting multiple relay networks

Abstract

We present the average symbol error rate (ASER) of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) for radio frequency energy harvesting assisted dual-hop multiple amplify-and-forward (AF) relay network. In this relaying network, partial relay selection scheme is employed to select best relay among multiple relays, while selection combining is considered at destination to combine the signals coming from the direct path and the relaying path. In particular, we derive the exact ASER expressions of rectangular QAM (RQAM), hexagonal QAM and cross QAM schemes for the considered systems over independent and non-identically distributed Nakagami-m fading channels using cumulative distribution function method. Moreover, the asymptotic ASER expression of RQAM is determined to examine the system’s diversity order. Further, to verify the correctness of derived expressions, numerically evaluated results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Furthermore, the effects of fading parameter, number of relay, time switching ratio, and large scale fading are studied on the ASER performance.