SNR Estimation for M-ARY Non-Coherent Frequency Shift Keying Systems

This paper considers how to estimate the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a communication system employing orthogonal non-coherent M-ARY frequency shift keying (NCMFSK), in white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and over both symbol-by-symbol fading channels and block fading channels. The proposed algorithm finds its application in a variety of applications including a cooperative transmission system, which is the main motivation behind this study. The maximum likelihood estimator and one using data statistics have been derived and simulated for various scenarios including data-aided, non-data aided and joint estimation using both the data and pilot sequences. We also derive the Cramer-Rao bound for the estimators in the case of Rayleigh fading channels. The results show that for a particular region of interest (e.g. high SNR or low SNR) and depending upon the availability of pilot sequence, a particular SNR estimation scheme is suitable.