Closed-form results for the BER of maximal ratio combining with channel estimation errors in Ricean fading channels

Closed-form expressions for computing the average bit error rate (BER) for a class of modulation schemes in Ricean flat fading channels with maximal-ratio combing (MRC) diversity and channel estimation errors are derived. The results are applicable to channel estimators that are jointly Gaussian with the channel gain. The BER performance of pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) is studied. The effects of estimation error on the diversity system are examined as well as the influences of varying the Ricean factor, K, and changing the numbers of diversity branches, L.