Joint time and frequency estimation in TDMA burst receivers using the generalized semicoherent statistic

This paper develops joint parameter estimates of time and frequency offsets using the generalized semicoherent statistic with application to TDMA burst receivers. Joint operation enables shorter preambles and reduces hardware complexity. Excellent performance is achieved at low SNR with estimation intervals as low as 32 symbols. Comparisons of the frequency estimate are made with the widely used least squares estimate of the frequency which suffers a significant thresholding at mid and low levels of SNR. The frequency estimate from the semicoherent approach does not suffer from this problem. Consequently, the semicoherent approach can be used in high gain coding applications, e.g., in support of frame relay and ATM