Fading Margin Analysis for Asynchronous CDMA Systems

In this paper, a detailed theoretical analysis of fading margin in an asynchronous code division multiple access (A-CDMA) system is discussed. Rayleigh and Rician frequency-selective slowly fading channels are considered. Probability distribution and density functions of the probability of error are derived for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. The fluctuations in the channel capacity are proved to be directly proportional to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) variations. Fading margin is calculated for both Rayleigh and Rician fading channels as a function of the probability of error specification and the probability of unsatisfactory operation.