Feedback Communications over Fading Channels

A communication system using noiseless feedback for Rayleigh fading channels is proposed. Pilot tone signaling is used to provide channel amplitude and phase information for the detection of antipodal signals. Channel estimates generated in the receiver are fed back to control the transmitter power and rate. Power division and rate control rules are derived, and it is shown that definite performance improvement over diversity systems is obtained. Because of the requirement of small loop propagation delays, the technique is mainly applicable to low data rate multitone modems for short range HF channels.