Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Using Energy-Based Detection for Low SNR Regime over Rayleigh Fading Channel

The increase in number of wireless user has resulted in spectrum shortage. Cognitive radio network solves this issue of spectrum scarcity in current communication networks by intelligently detecting the licensed spectrum use or vacancy by the primary user so that secondary users can use the vacant licensed spectrum of primary user. Spectrum detection or sensing is an essential stage in the cognitive radio cycle since it is the one that determines how well the cognitive radio network performs. There are various techniques for spectrum detection or sensing, however, energy-based detection is the easiest and most commonly used method. The non-cooperative spectrum sensing faces certain issues such as hidden node/terminal and shadowing which can be resolved by cooperative or collaborative spectrum sensing. We have investigated the performance analysis for cooperative or collaborative spectrum sensing using energy-based detection over Rayleigh fading channel in very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels (0 dB to −25 dB).