Slow frequency-hopping multicarrier DS-CDMA for transmission over Nakagami multipath fading channels

A novel multiple access scheme based on slow frequency hopping multicarrier direct-sequence code division multiple access (SFH/MC DS-CDMA) is proposed and investigated, which can be rendered compatible with the existing second-generation narrowband CDMA and third-generation wideband CDMA systems. The frequency hopping patterns are controlled by a set of constant-weight codes. Consequently, multirate communications can be implemented by selecting the corresponding sets of constant-weight codes having the required weights controlling the SFH patterns invoked. Two FH schemes, namely random and uniform FH, are considered and their advantages as well as disadvantages are investigated. We assume that the system operates in a multipath fading environment and a RAKE receiver structure with maximum ratio combining (MRC) is used for demodulation. The system’s performance is evaluated over the range of multipath Nakagami fading channels, under the assumption that the receiver has an explicit knowledge of the associated frequency-hopping (FH) patterns invoked. Furthermore, the performance of the SFH/MC DS-CDMA system is compared to that of the conventional single-carrier (SC) DS-CDMA system and that of the conventional MC DS-CDMA system, under the assumptions of constant system bandwidth and of constant transmitted signal power.