Symbol error rate analysis and power allocation for decode and forward relaying with channel estimation error

In this paper we study the statistical properties of the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the dual-hop relaying link in a cooperative wireless communication system in the presence of channel estimation errors for Decode and Forward (DF) relaying protocol. Then for assessment of the system performance the Symbol Error Rate (SER) is considered. Two approaches are introduced for SER calculation from which the second one results in a closed form solution. Finally the second approach is used to find an optimum power allocation scheme for transmission of pilot and data symbols at the source and the relay terminals that results in minimizing the SER and considerable amount of power saving. Also Monte Carlo simulation is used to confirm the accuracy of the derived expressions.