Different decoding methods for multilevel coded modulation over Rayleigh fading channels

Based on a "capacity rule", the performance of multilevel coding (MLC) schemes with different decoding methods, which are multistage decoding (MSD) and parallel decoding on level (PDL), is investigated. The work is done for 8ASK modulation and three mapping strategies over Rayleigh fading channels are used. In each scheme BCH codes with different code lengths are used as component codes. Numerical results indicate that MSD is a sub-optimal decoding method of MLC, while PDL is most robust if block partitioning (BP) is used. For Ungerboeck partitioning (UP) and a mixed partitioning (MP) strategy, MSD is strongly recommended for the MLC system, while for the BP strategy, PDL is suggested as a simple decoding method compared with MSD.