Improved data predistortion and trellis coded modulation for the bandlimited nonlinear satellite link

In this paper, we consider optimizing the performance of 3 bits/symbol information rate trellis-coded modulation (TCM) over the bandlimited nonlinear satellite link. Since a bandlimited nonlinear amplifier produces significant distortions, an effective predistortion technique should be combined with TCM. Moreover, the optimal constellation for the predistorted nonlinear channel is different from that of linear average power constrained channel, since the predistorted nonlinear channel is basically a peak power constrained channel. We optimize the constellation and code of (12,4)-PSK TCM for the predistorted nonlinear channel, and compare its performance with 16-PSK and 16-QAM TCM. Simulation results shows that predistorted (12,4)-PSK TCM is 0.6 dB better than predistorted 16 QAM TCM and it is superior to the conventional nonlinearity compensated 16-QAM TCM (at the receiver) by more than 1 dB (at 2/spl times/10/sup -4/ BER).