A Novel Efficient Cluster-Based MLSE Equalizer for Satellite Communication Channels with <inline-formula><graphic file="1687-6180-2006-034343-i1.gif"/></inline-formula>-QAM Signaling

• Main Authors: Dalakas Vassilis, Theodoridis Sergios, Kopsinis Yannis, Kofidis Eleftherios
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2006-01-01
• Series: EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ASP/2006/34343

<p/> <p>In satellites, nonlinear amplifiers used near saturation severely distort the transmitted signal and cause difficulties in its reception. Nevertheless, the nonlinearities introduced by memoryless bandpass amplifiers preserve the symmetries of the <inline-formula><graphic file="1687-6180-2006-034343-i2.gif"/></inline-formula>-ary quadrature amplitude modulation ( <inline-formula><graphic file="1687-6180-2006-034343-i3.gif"/></inline-formula>-QAM) constellation. In this paper, a cluster-based sequence equalizer (CBSE) that takes advantage of these symmetries is presented. The proposed equalizer exhibits enhanced performance compared to other techniques, including the conventional linear transversal equalizer, Volterra equalizers, and RBF network equalizers. Moreover, this gain in performance is obtained at a substantially lower computational cost.</p>