Precise bit error rate of TH-PPM UWB systems in the presence of multiple access interference

A time-hopping sequence is used in ultra-wideband wireless systems to eliminate catastrophic collisions in multiaccess communication environments. A new analytical method based on a characteristic function technique is proposed for precisely calculating the bit error probability of time-hopping pulse position modulation ultra-wideband systems with multiple access interference. The analytical expression is verified by simulation and used to assess the accuracy of the Gaussian approximation. The Gaussian approximation is shown to be inaccurate for predicting bit error rates for medium and large signal-to-noise ratio values.