The evaluation of cyclostationarity-based spectrum sensing in multipath fading channel

Cognitive radio is based on dynamic spectrum sharing in order to increase spectrum efficiency. In this approach, which is opposite of the current spectrum allocation, a secondary user (unlicensed) shares a frequency band with designated primary users (licensed) without causing interference or performance degradation to the primary users. Cognitive radio needs reliable spectrum sensing techniques to detect the vacant licensed spectrum and utilize them. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of cyclostationary-based spectrum sensing algorithms in comparison with energy detector in multipath fading channel and noise uncertainty. These algorithms were developed in context of WRAN 802.22; the first cognitive radio standard, for TV-PAL and wireless microphone as the primary users. The results show a superior performance of the proposed algorithms in multipath fading channel.