Performance comparison of linear equalization systems for wireless communications under Rayleigh channel

It is well known that multipath wireless channels generate Intersymbol Interference (ISI) and have a negative impact on the performance of wireless and digital communication systems. In this research we implement two types of linear equalizers, Zero-Forcing and Wiener, using Lab VIEW and the NI USRPs. The Zero-Forcing equalizer uses the inverse frequency response of the channel to retrieve the original signal, while the Wiener equalizer finds the minimum mean square error between the desired digital signal and the estimated one, in order to establish the optimum filter. These equalizers will be tested through an emulated Rayleigh channel, with different noise levels and digital modulation schemes, in order to analyze their performance response to ISI. The experiments undertaken in this work are supported by different elements of the Physical Layer Exploration Lab Using the NI USRP [1].