Software Simulation and Performance Analysis for Turbo Encoding/Decoding Chip Components for Magnetic Recording Channels

Abstract

This work argues that low cost chip components implementations of turbo codes still reach near the absolute maximum capacity of the magnetic recording channel. The turbo encoder/decoder presented is simulated in software and its performances are analyzed against other encoding and recording solutions, such as PRML channels and MTR-RLL codes. Simulation results confirmed the significant performance gains (BER versus SNR) introduced by turbo codes and proved that the hardware implementations of the turbo encoder/decoder components allow greater recording densities.