Closed-form expression of bit error rate in dual-hop dual-branch mixed relaying cooperative networks with best-path selection over Rayleigh fading channels

In this paper, a new cooperative-diversity network with simple dual hop virtual diversity with mixed decode-and-forward and amplify-and-forward with best path selection is proposed. A closed-form expression for the average bit error rate of the communication system, assuming phase shift keying modulation scheme over independent non-identical Rayleigh fading channels, is derived. The results show that the proposed model outperforms the regular cooperative network models with a sub-optimal allocation for the relay relative distance.