Guidelines for Channel Code Design in Quasi-Static Fading Channels

In this paper, we provide guidelines for the design of good binary error correcting codes in quasi-static fading channels, using established design rules in AWGN channels as a starting point. The proposed analysis is based on the Gaussian assumption of demodulator log-likelihood ratios. This assumption allows to decouple the influence of the convergence threshold, slope in the BER waterfall region and error-floor of the channel code, so that these parameters can be analyzed separately. Our analysis evidences that, contrary to what happens in AWGN channels, the design of good low rate codes in quasi-static fading channels is much simpler than those of standard rates (.3 to .8 ).