Performance Evaluation of SC-FDMA in Fading Channels with PAPR, QAM, and RSSI Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Wireless communication systems have evolved significantly, driven by diverse modulation techniques tailored to specific channel conditions, profoundly impacting overall performance. Achieving flawless data transmission with minimal errors hinges on employing modulation algorithms attuned to the communication channel's characteristics. Thus, power efficiency, bandwidth utilization, and error rate are crucial metrics for assessing modulation methods. M-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (M-QAM) is a key player in wireless communication, especially in challenging fading channel conditions. This study extensively examines the Bit-Error-Rate (BER) performance of various M-QAM schemes across different channel scenarios, including AWGN, Rayleigh, Rician, and Nakagami-m fading channels. The Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is analyzed to evaluate signal strength and system performance. Moreover, the study delves into Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), an innovative uplink communication method within LTE. SC-FDMA stands out for its exceptional spectral efficiency, low bit error rate, and reduced peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) compared to conventional OFDM. Through MATLAB simulations, the research assesses PAPR performance for SC-FDMA and OFDMA, exploring Distributed FDMA (DFDMA), Localized FDMA (LFDMA), and Interleaved FDMA (IFDMA) subcarrier assignment approaches. The findings indicate that IFDMA exhibits lower PAPR in SC-FDMA, while LFDMA outperforms IFDMA in Symbol Error Rate (SER) performance.