Bit error rate performance of iterative decoding in a perpendicular magnetic recording channel

The BER performance of iterative decoding systems and PRML systems in a perpendicular magnetic recording channel is experimentally investigated. A performance evaluation system consisting of a spinstand, a recording waveform generator, a digital storage oscilloscope and a personal computer was used. PR1ML, PR2ML, EPR3ML, E/sup 2/PR3ML and ME/sup 2/PR4ML systems are discussed as a PRML channel. The 8/9 and 16/17 iterative decoding systems consists of the encoder, with RSC encoder serially concatenated with preceded PR channels and the iterative decoder with APP modules using Max-log-MAP algorithm. The results show that EPR3ML and E/sup 2/PR3ML provide good BER performance in a perpendicular magnetic recording channel and that the iterative decoding system is also an efficient way to improve the BER performance in the channel.