Maximum likelihood estimation of the K factor in Ricean fading channels

Estimation of the K factor in a Ricean fading channel is studied. Unlike most previous estimators which employ exclusively samples of the fading envelope, new maximum likelihood estimators that use samples of both the fading envelope and the fading phase, or samples of the fading phase only, are derived and examined. Simulation results show that these estimators have good performances when operating in a Ricean fading channel, and in some cases outperform envelope-sample-based estimators.