An automated method for BER characteristics measurement

Abstract

Traditionally the bit error rate characteristics (BER) was measured for a certain number of bit-energy-to-noise ratio, Eb/No. For each point a sample of r bits is used which depends on the expected BER value. The smaller BER value the bigger the sample r. Thus, to obtain the same accuracy at each point a method of errors and trials should be used. Therefore this method extends the time of measurement and measure BER values at all points with different accuracy. This paper presents a method which allows the automated and accurate measurement of the BER characteristics at a number of points with equal accuracy at each point by using the minimum sample size r. The method is tested by measuring BER characteristics of a FFSK modem.