BER optimization of pilot symbol assisted MRC PSK for slow fading channels

The number of pilot symbols used in phase shift keying operating in flat and slow block Rayleigh and Ricean fading channels is optimized to yield minimum bit error rate. A closed-form expression gives the optimum number of pilot symbols in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio and the data frame length for Rayleigh fading channels. A simple general engineering "rule of thumb" is given for determining the best number of pilot symbols that minimizes the bit error rate.