Evaluation of coding and modulation schemes based on Golay complementary sequences for efficient OFDM transmission

Block codes based on Golay complementary sequences have been proposed for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission to obtain signals with flat envelopes. These codes confine the peak-to-average power ratio of multicarrier signals to a favorable value of 3 dB at the cost of a lower code rate. Additionally, the coding employs diversity which renders a performance improvement in frequency-selective fading channels. This paper contains a discussion on the capabilities and the limits of OFDM transmission techniques using such codes. Different coding and modulation schemes are compared and guidelines are provided for the choice of the appropriate transmission scheme. The Magic WAND (wireless ATM network demonstrator) system set-up is used to discuss the requirements of a practical system.