Optimum codes for FFH/BFSK receivers with self-normalization combining and hard decision decoding in fading channels

The application of forward error correction coding to a fast frequency-hopped binary frequency-shift keying (FFH/BFSK) noncoherent receiver with self-normalization combining and noise jamming is discussed in this paper. The performance of the receiver is examined both when data are encoded using Reed-Solomon codes and concatenated Reed-Solomon and convolutional codes, all with hard decision decoding. The effect of the transmission channel is considered, and results are derived for a Rayleigh fading channel and for Ricean fading channels with several ratios of direct-to-diffuse signal power. Only frequency-nonselective, slowly fading channels are considered. The combination of diversity and forward error correction coding is found to improve the performance of the receiver in the presence of jamming, and optimum codes for each coding scheme are discussed.