TCM ARQ scheme over a nonstationary channel

This paper analyzes the throughput performance of a TCM ARQ scheme which employs sequence combining and Viterbi decoding. Analytical results are provided for the following two instances: (1) decoding with perfect channel state information (CSI) and, (2) decoding without CSI. It is shown, by means of analysis as well as computer simulations, that the TCM ARQ scheme is capable of providing high throughput over the nonstationary channel, and that the CSI helps to improve throughput for low to medium average signal-to-noise ratios.