A decision theoretic approach to symbol synchronization over a frequency nonselective fading channel

A decision theoretic approach to the problem of symbol synchronization over a frequency nonselective fading channel is presented and analyzed. A synchronizer is presented that has a simple structure, is independent of other sections of the receiver, does not depend on carrier phase synchronization, and is particularly suited to channels for which the channel decorrelation time is on the order of a symbol duration. The performance of this synchronizer is investigated both theoretically and via Monte Carlo simulation.