Optimized WiMAX System over Fading Channels Using FEC Codes

Abstract

The Wireless Interoperability Microwave Access (WiMAX) system in this paper makes use of various forward error correction codes to improve and hence optimize the performance of the system. Two diverse fading channels have been used to study the response of the WiMAX system based on Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding and M-ary Phase Shift Keying (M-PSK) modulation. Since WiMAX is used for both Line Of Sight (LOS) and Non Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) communication so, Rayleigh and Rician channels have been used, out of which one has LOS component, and other has no LOS component. The performance of WiMAX system has been studied by analyzing the graphs between Bit Error Rate (BER) and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) for all the different cases. It is observed that out of all coding techniques reed Solomon (RS) encoding techniques performs better at lower order modulation schemes by providing the BER of 10-3 at lower values of SNR in comparison to all other FEC encoding techniques. But, at higher order modulation level turbo encoding scheme outperform all other FEC schemes. Also, out of channels rician channel has a better response because of one strong line of sight constituent in comparison to Rayleigh fading channel. Further, modified FEC encoding schemes can be incorporated to enhance the BER performance of the WiMAX system.