FEEDBACK DECODERS FOR NAVAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Feedback decoding is a simple technique for obtaining a significant improvement in performance on a wide range of binary channels. Code interleaving for burst error correction is particularly simple to implement with feedback decoding. A flexible feedback decoder built by LINKABIT Corporation was tested on a simulated shipboard satellite communication channel. The channel was characterized as being additive Gaussian with a superimposed 5% duty factor periodic burst during which the channel error rate is close to .5. The precise radar induced error burst locations are assumed unknown to the decoder. The simple feedback decoder, operated with the error bursts,provided performance equivalent to t at of an uncoded system operating against additive Gaussian noise alone.