Pilot aided timing synchronization for SC-FDE and OFDM: a comparison

Abstract

This paper deals with the pilot aided synchronization techniques for single carrier systems with frequency domain equalization (SC/FDE). This techniques are also useable for OFDM. Normally the following parameters have to be synchronized for a mobile communication system: carrier frequency and phase, clock frequency and phase and the position within a transmitted frame. In mobile communication systems, where multipath propagation occurs, a channel estimation and equalization is additionally necessary. In SC/FDE systems a very efficient, low complexity equalizer is implemented, that furthermore synchronizes the clock and carrier phase automatically. That is an important advantage of SC/FDE versus OFDM. The most critical point in burst communication systems is the frame detection and timing synchronization. This paper compares different techniques for timing synchronization and carrier frequency offset estimation.