Performance Analysis of a Convolutional Encoder using Digital Modulation Technique

The challenges in 5G is to provide a tradeoff between Bit Error Rate (BER) and high data rate. Forward Error Correction is one of the prominent techniques to correct both random and burst errors. A Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is the device used in the area of radio communication system where the key parts of its functionality are performed by means of software. Such a design makes SDR to be used in ubiquitous network environments because of its flexibility and programmability. NI USRP 2954R provides an integrated hardware and software solution, operates at a frequency of 10MHz to 6GHz, and is used for rapidly prototyping high-performance wireless communication systems such as 5G technology. The software simulator of the SDR transceiver is designed using NI LabVIEW which is a graphical programming language developed by National instruments. In this paper, the performance of convolution encoder is simulated in NI LabVIEW and analysed for various modulation schemes such as Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). The parameters of the convolution encoder such as constraint length and code rate are varied in BPSK modulation and corresponding variations in BER are analysed. From the result it is concluded that transmission with convolution coding provides better result than uncoded transmission and it is also concluded that BER decreases with increase in constraint length (3, 5, 6, 7) and it is observed that for lower code rate BER is better.