A novel joint synchronization algorithm for OFDM systems based on single training symbol

Abstract The Park’s method suffers from symbol timing ambiguity and small acquisition range for carrier frequency offset, and cannot estimate sampling frequency offset. To solve these problems, a new training symbol including virtual carriers is designed, and the corresponding joint synchronization algorithm for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems is proposed. In the proposed method, symbol synchronization and fractional frequency offset estimation are accomplished by utilizing the good correlation properties of the training symbol, and then integral frequency offset estimation is obtained by the position offset of virtual carriers. Based on symbol synchronization, sampling clock synchronization is accomplished by comparing the number of samples accounted from the receiver and that of the transmitter in L frames. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm gives a more accurate estimation of symbol timing and sampling frequency offset and provides a wider acquisition range for carrier frequency offset, compared with Park’s algorithm.