A multipath fading channel model applied to fast UMTS link simulation with channel estimation

In this paper, a fast link simulation method with channel estimation is presented. The conditions of uncorrelated channel paths and large spreading factor are assumed. The Rayleigh channel model used is based on a first order Markov chain, valid for all fading speeds. The implementation of this model is simple. The results presented in this paper show a good fit between the performances obtained with the traditional simulator and the fast one, for Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) frequency division duplex (FDD) uplink at 12.2 kbps for Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) channels. The high computing time gain that has been measured opens a wide range of perspectives for the method proposed in this paper.