Performance of array codes on Power Line Communications channel

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the performance of array codes and in particular generalised array codes (GAC) and row and column array codes (RAC) as coding schemes in the power line communications (PLC) environment. We apply different code rates and modulation techniques and we examine how these codes perform in the hostile channel of power lines in terms of BER (bit error rate) versus E <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">b</sub> / N <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> (signal to noise power). In addition, we propose a variation concerning the construction of GAC codes. As a result we get a code which has the same code rate with the original GAC code; however it is derived from an altered construction. QPSK and 8PSK modulation schemes are being used for the system's realisation. Furthermore, we compare the codes' performance with convolutional codes. For the power line channel, we exploit Zimmermann's model, while Middleton's class A noise model is used to represent the channel's noise. For reasons of completeness, we examine the effect of the noise model's parameters on the channel's performance, by using different values for them. Finally, the transmission technique of OFDM is also taken under consideration, meaning that data is transmitted in terms of blocks simultaneously.