A new joint algorithm of symbol timing recovery and sampling clock adjustment for OFDM systems

This paper discusses the effects of time synchronization errors on OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) digital communications. Time synchronization consists of symbol timing recovery and sampling clock adjustment. In general, symbol timing recovery is carried out before sampling clock adjustment. The main problem with time synchronization errors is that the sample rob/stuff phenomenon due to sampling clock frequency offset leads to adding the symbol timing offset. Thus a more efficient synchronization algorithm is required. This paper introduces a new joint algorithm between symbol timing recovery and sampling clock adjustment using the difference of phase changes between the pilot carriers. The performance of the proposed algorithm is carried out under AWGN and multipath fading channel.