Lab 1: Simulation of Digital Communication Systems

TNE064 Digital Communication Electronics

1. Performance of modulation schemes in AWGN and Rayleigh

channel
Implement a simple discrete communication system without the pulse shaping and passband
conversion as shown in Figure 1, to analyze the bit-error rate (BER) performance of different
modulation schemes in an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) communication channel. For
𝑘
example, 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑒 𝑗2𝜋𝑀 , 𝑘 = 0,1, … , 𝑀 − 1 for a M-ary PSK modulation scheme. For the AWGN
channel, choose noise 𝑣[𝑛] = 𝑣𝑅 [𝑛] + 𝑗𝑣𝐼 [𝑛] where 𝑣𝑅 [𝑛] and 𝑣𝐼 [𝑛] are normal random variables
1 1
with distribution 𝑣𝑅 [𝑛] ∼ 𝑁 (0, 2) and 𝑣𝐼 [𝑛] ∼ 𝑁 (0, 2). The received signal can is given by as 𝑟[𝑛] =
√𝑆𝑁𝑅 𝑥[𝑛] + 𝑣[𝑛] where SNR is the signal to noise ratio.

Figure 1: Discrete abstract communication system with AWGN channel

Tasks:
1.1 Simulate BPSK modulation and plot BER performance as a function of the SNR. Include the
theoretical BER for AWGN channel in the plot.
1.2 Simulate 8-PSK modulation and plot BER performance as a function of the SNR. Include the
theoretical BER for AWGN channel in the plot.
1.3 Simulate 16-QAM modulation and plot BER performance as a function of the SNR. Include the
theoretical BER for AWGN channel in the plot.
1.4 Simulate a Rayleigh fading wireless communication channel with BPSK as shown in Figure 2
and plot BER performance as a function of the SNR. Include the theoretical BER for AWGN
channel in the plot. The received signal can is given by as 𝑟[𝑛] = √𝑆𝑁𝑅 ℎ 𝑥[𝑛] + 𝑣[𝑛] where
the channel gain ℎ = ℎ𝑅 + 𝑗ℎ𝐼 where ℎ𝑅 and ℎ𝐼 are normal random variables with distribution
1 1
ℎ𝑅 ∼ 𝑁 (0, 2) and ℎ𝐼 ∼ 𝑁 (0, 2). The detector divides the signal by channel gain ℎ to remove
the channel effect.

1
 Figure 2: Discrete abstract communication system in Rayleigh fading channel

2. Simulation of QPSK communication system in AWGN channel

using Simulink
Consider the block diagram of a QPSK communication system with AWGN channel as shown in Figure
3. In this task we will simulate the communication system in Simulink as shown in Figure 4 (Simulink
file qpsk_comm.mdl is available on Lisam). The system is implemented from the Simulink blocks from
Communication Systems Toolbox and Signal Processing Toolbox. Specifically, the Sine Wave, Spectrum
Analyzer, and Time Scope blocks are from SP Toolbox.)

Figure 3: Block diagram of a QPSK communication system with AWGN channel

2
Figure 4: Simulink model of the QPSK communication system (qpsk_comm.mdl file available on Lisam)

The different subsystems in the Simulink model are described below.

Transmitter

• Data Generation: Random Integer Generator block is used as source of random data.
o Parameters: Set size = 4 for QPSK, Sample time = 1 us (bandwidth = 1MHz), number
of samples per frame of data = 100.
• QPSK Modulator: Modulates the bits into QPSK symbols.
o Parameters: Input type = integer (since the source generates integer), constellation
ordering = Gray, Phase offset = pi/4.
• Raised Cosine Transmit Filter: Uses a (root) raised cosine pulse for modulation.
o Parameters: rolloff factor of 0.2, filter length = 8, number of output samples per
symbol = 8 (upsamples the QPSK symbols by eight).
• Local oscillator: Generates sinusoidal signal or complex exponential of a given frequency.
o Parameters: Frequency = 2.5 MHz (carrier 𝑓𝑐 in our case), output complexity =
complex (to generate complex exponential), sample time = 1/8 us (8 MHz), samples
per frame = 800.

3
AWGN Channel Block: Adds white Gaussian noise to the signal according to the specified SNR in
Eb/No mode or SNR mode. It specifies two bits per symbol since QPSK modulation format is used.
Signal power is scaled by 1/(2*8) watts because the original signal power at the modulator is 1 watt
followed by upsampling of signal by 8 in the root-raised cosine filter, which reduces the power by
that factor. In frequency upconversion, only the real part of the signal is considered, which reduces
the power by by a factor of 2.

Receiver:

• Raised Cosine Receive Filter: Uses a (root) raised cosine pulse filter.
o Parameters: rolloff factor of 0.2, filter span = 8, number of input samples per symbol
= 8 (since transmitter upsamples the QPSK symbols by eight), decimation factor = 8
(to reduce the data to one sample per symbol).
• QPSK demodulator: Includes detection of QPSK symbols.
o Parameters: Output type = integer (since the source generates integer), constellation
ordering = Gray, Phase offset = pi/4.
• Local oscillator: Generates sinusoidal signal or complex exponential of a given frequency.
o Parameters: Frequency = 2.5 MHz (carrier 𝑓𝑐 in our case), output complexity =
complex (to generate complex exponential), sample time = 1/8 us (8 MHz), samples
per frame = 800.

Additional blocks for analysis:

• Constellation Diagram block in Comm sinks in model library: Plots the transmit constellation
and received data constellation.
• Spectrum Analyzer: Inspect the spectrum of passband and baseband signals.
• Error rate calculation block from Comm sinks: Computes the bit error rate. Use receive delay
= 16.

Tasks:

2.1. Simulate the Simulink model and observe the constellation diagram and the spectrum of
passband and baseband signals.
𝐸
2.2. Change 𝑏 (𝑑𝐵) in AWGN channel to 0 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB, and 20 dB and observe the receive
𝑁0
constellation in each case.
2.3. Change the phase offset in QPSK modulator and demodulator blocks to 0. Simulate and
observe the new transmit and receive constellation.
2.4. Change the carrier frequency from 2.5 MHz to 8 MHz and modify the remaining dependent
parameters appropriately. Observe the spectrum.

3. Simulation of 16-QAM communication system with AWGN

channel using Simulink

Use the Simulink model from Task 2 and replace the appropriate blocks to simulate a communication
system using 16-QAM. Perform the Tasks 2A to 2D for the 16-QAM system.