An efficient new ARQ strategy for vector symbol decoding with performance in power line communications

A new ARQ strategy is proposed for nonbinary convolutional codes with Vector symbol decoder (VSD). With one code word for each frame, VSD-ARQ is more efficient than the selective repeat (SR-ARQ) in terms of retransmission data length. VSD can report when it cannot decode and where the erroneous symbols start. For the (63,51) RS inner-(3,2,2) convolutional outer code and 51-symbol code word, VSD-ARQ saves up to 72.03 % of the retransmission data compared to SR-ARQ for NB-PLC and up to 73.01% for BB-PLC at SNR 26 dB. Shorter code words have a better probability of decoding failure without ARQ. However, with VSD-ARQ, they save less than the longer code words and have a lower code rate. VSD-ARQ uses less buffer than SR-ARQ.