Evaluating non-binary error correcting codes on bursty channels with a partitioned Markov model

In the paper it is shown how by applying a partitioned Markov model to an error sequence obtained from field measurements, in this case a frequency hopped VHF channel, binary (BCH) and non-binary (Reed-Solomon) error correcting codes can be evaluated. Interleaving of the binary and non-binary error correcting codes can also be investigated, using the partitioned Markov model. In the paper it is also shown that when evaluating non-binary error correcting codes with a partitioned Markov model, the Markov model applied to the non-binary codes, must take into account the non-binary nature of the error correction code