Effects of imperfect channel estimation in three-node cooperative wireless network

In this paper, we analyze the effect of the imperfect channel estimation on the equalization performance in three-node cooperative wireless networks. Specifically, we consider a distributed time-reversal space-time block coded single-carrier (D-TR-STBC-SC) system over frequency-selective fading channels with amplify-and-forward (AF) half-duplex relaying. Through the comprehensive analysis of mean-square-error (MSE), it is shown that, unlike the point-to-point communications, the imperfection of the channel knowledge leads to the unstable performance of channel equalization under the condition of high quality reception from relay-to-destination link. The analytical results show the main reason for such phenomenon. The validity of the theoretical analysis is demonstrated through the computer simulations.