Performance of direct-sequence spread-spectrum RAKE receivers with random spreading sequences

In this paper, we derive error probability expressions for binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and quaternary phase-shift keying (QPSK) spread direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) systems employing random spreading sequences with RAKE receivers. The derived expressions accurately take into account the effect of interpath interference which usually has been neglected in previous analyses. Selection, equal gain, and maximal ratio techniques are considered for diversity combining. Two possible finger assignment strategies, one based on the instantaneous amplitudes and another based on the average powers of the multipath components, are considered for the assignment of multipath components to the available demodulating fingers in the RAKE receiver. Also, various simple, and in many cases, closed-form approximations for the error probabilities are derived and their accuracies are assessed.