Maximum likelihood detection of differentially encoded PSK signals transmitted over Rayleigh frequency-flat fading channels

The problem of maximum likelihood (ML) detection of differentially encoded M-PSK signals on Rayleigh fading channels is investigated. It is shown that the solution to this problem can be easily related to previous results [Vitetta and Taylor, 1994] and leads to the implementation of a receiver structure based on a Viterbi Algorithm. The error rate performance of this receiver is evaluated by means of computer simulations for both coded and uncoded systems.