The Performance Evaluation of an OFDM-Based iNET Transceiver

Abstract

The nXCVR-2000G transceiver is an 802.11a OFDM-based system undergoing performance studies that uses both simulation and laboratory tests. The multi-path channel model used in the simulation experiments is based on a telemetry multi-path channel model described in the iNET Telemetry Experimental Standard document. To date, the results using the simulation have been confirmed by outdoor laboratory tests. They show that multi-path has less impact on the OFDM performance when the channel spread is within a limit of 800ns; the same specified guard interval (GI) used by 802.11a. For example, with a channel spread of 144ns (τ1) and a reflection coefficient of -0.26dB (Γ1), the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) is on the order of 2.5%. As the channel spread expands beyond the standard GI 800ns, the demodulated signal degrades. The performance penalty depends upon the channel spread factor and the total Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR).