Closed-Form Error Analysis of Dual-Hop Relaying Systems over Nakagami-m Fading Channels

In this paper we investigate the end-to-end performance of dual-hop relaying systems over non identical-Nakagami-m fading channels. Our analysis considers channel state information (CSI-) assisted relays that just amplify and retransmit the information signal also known as "non-regenerative" relays. New closed-form expressions for the average bit error probability (ABEP) are derived. The proposed expressions apply to general operating scenarios with distinct Nakagami-m fading parameters and average signal to noise ratios (SNRs) between the hops. When the fading parameter is an odd multiple of one half, the ABEP is expressed in terms of hypergeometric functions. When m takes any real non integer value, the obtained results involve the fourth Appell\´s hypergeometric function. For an arbitrary fading parameter, an analysis of such a scheme is performed using the well known moment-based approach.