Performance analysis of non-coherent multicarrier frequency-hopping code division multiple-access systems: uncoded and coded schemes

The multiuser performance of a multicarrier frequency-hopping (MC-FH) CDMA system employing non-coherent detection is evaluated. We derive the bit error rate, of the system for both uncoded and coded systems in AWGN and slowly frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels, based on a Gaussian distribution assumption for the decision variable. We use a practical low-rate convolutional error correcting code, which does not require any extra bandwidth beyond what is needed by the uncoded scheme. Our numerical results indicate that the coded scheme significantly outperforms the uncoded scheme in both AWGN and fading channels. Furthermore, it is observed that the performance enhancement due to an increase of diversity order is more significant for a coded scheme.