Block data communication system for fading time dispersive channels

For reliable digital communication over fading channels such as mobile radio and HF channels, block data communication system has been proposed. The system is a synchronous serial data transmission system and employs transmission of alternating blocks of data and training symbols. In contrast to the recursive symbol-by-symbol detection approach, each data block is here detected as a unit. The scheme requires the estimate of the channel impulse response and assumes that it remains unchanged during the transmission of a block of data symbols. This paper presents an optimum linear and a decision directed detector for the block transmission system. The detection of a block of data symbols is here carried out iteratively through a sequence of similar operations using a simple piece of equipment. The same equipment that is used for signal detection is used for channel estimation. The noise performance of the two detectors is compared with that of the conventional linear transversal equalizer.