Coding and Modulation For A Hostile Channel

Coding and Modulation for a Hostile Channel Seminar Report ‘03
INTRODUCTION
The use of electric medium as a potential medium has been
suggested over the past generations. Actually for some decades power
wires have been used for low speed data communication. However
power line has largely been unpredictable as practical high speed
communication channel.
Power lines form a potentially convenient and inexpensive
communication medium for control signaling and data transmission, as
houses and industrial buildings are coupled to the power grid, with
power outlets available in virtually all rooms where a communication
terminal is to be used, and with a simple standard interface in the form
of a wall socket plug. But they present a difficult challenge, because
reliable high-speed communication is sought over a medium designed
for electrical energy delivery rather than for data transmission, and
because strongly competitive wireless solutions are available. There are
two main applications for power line communication (PLC): the
existing line in a building can be used as a local area network backbone,
or integrated into a wide area network. This paper briefly summarize
what is known about channel modeling for PLC and describe some of
the solutions advocated for transmission.

Dept. of ECE -1- MESCE Kuttippuram
PROPERTIES
PLC channels suffer from a number of technical problems they
are
•Frequency varying and time varying attenuation of the medium
•Dependence of the channel on the connected load.
•Suffer from reflection caused by the impendence mismatches.
•High interference due to noisy load
• Electromagnetic compatibility issues, that limit the accurate
transmitted power
Impulse 50/60 Hz
noise power wave
From transmitter
To receiver
Time varying
system
Colored Narrowband
background noise
noise
Block diagram of PLC Channel.

The total signal attenuation consists of mainly two parts:
Coupling losses – Depend on the design and can be made as small as
possible.
Line losses – very high and ranges from 40 dB/km to 100 dB/km. This
large attenuation produces very low SNR at receiver.

CHANNEL MODELING
PLC channels are considered as a multi path environment with
frequency selective attenuation. Most widely known model for the
transfer function H(f) of the PLC channel is multi path model proposed
by Philips Zimmermann and Dostert which takes the following term
for H(f) in the frequency range from 500KHz to 20 MHz.

N
H ( f ) = ∑ gi e −( a0 + a1 f k ) d i e − j 2π fτ i
i =1
Here N is the number of relevant propagation paths, a 0 and a1
are link attenuation parameters; K is a exponent (with typical value
from 0.5 to 1), gi is the weighting factor for path i, di its length and τ i
is the delay. Clearly longer the path itself the more attenuation each
path experience. Therefore the number N tends to be small for out door
channel. If the indoor PLC is considered the multi path model is still
valid, the main difference being that N is no much larger than in out
door case.

The above parameters must be determined through
measurements. It is essentially focuses the phenomenonological aspects
of the channel; not explaining the physics of the signal over power
cables.
So another modeling was proposed, which is known as bottom
up model. This approach is based on the multi conductor transmission
line there in (MTL). It reveals that frequency response of the PLC has
highly predicable features. It also proves the property that PLC is
isotropic (same transfer function from both sides).

MODULATION SCHEMES
Selection of modulation schemes must account for three major
factors, they are:
• Presence of low signal to noise ratio (SNR) by noise and
impedance mismatches.
• Time varying & frequency varying nature of channel.
• Electromagnetic compatibility that limit the transmitted power.
The different modulation schemes possible for PLC channel are
given below.
SINGLE CARRIER MODULATION
It is an attractive proposition from the complexity point of view.
However it need,
• Powerful detection and realization techniques because PLC
introduces strong intersymbol interference.
• When equalization network used it enhances the noise, it is main
disadvantage.
• It also needs high frequency which increases the signal attenuation.

• High intersymbol interference.
• Multi accessing is not possible.
SPREAD SPECTRUM MODULATION
Primary advantage is its ability to reject interference, whether it
is unintentional or intentional. Definition may be stated in two words:
1. Spread spectrum is a means of transmission in which the data
sequence occupies a bandwidth in excess of minimum bandwidth
necessary to sent it.
2. It is accomplished before the transmission through the use of a
code that is independent of the data sequence. The same code is used at
receiver to dispread it.
All standard modulation technique (PCM, FM, etc.) do satisfy
part 1 of the definition but they are not spread spectrum techniques
because they do not satisfy part 2 of the definition.

Idealized model of baseband spread-spectrum system.

(a) Transmitter. (b) Channel. (c) Receiver.
One method of widening the bandwidth of information bearing
(data) sequence involves the use of modulation. In the above diagram
let b(t) be the binary data sequence and c(t) denote pseudo noise (PN)
sequence. Value of b(t) and c(t) are ±1. The desired modulation is
achieved by applying the data signal b(t) and PN signal c(t) to a
product modulator (Multiplier) as in diagram. We know from the

Fourier transform theory that multiplication of 2 signals produces a
signal in whose spectrum equals the convolution of the spectra of the
two component signals. Thus if the message b(t) is narrowband and PN
signal c(t) is wideband, the product (modulated) signal m(t) will have a
spectrum that is nearly the same as the wide band PN signal. In other
words in context of our present application, the PN sequence perform
the role of a spreading code.
To recover the original signal the received signal r(t) is applied to a
demodulator that consists of a multiplier followed by an integrator &
decision device.
ie; z (t) = c(t) r (t)
= c (t) [c (t) b(t) + i (t)]
= c (t)² b (t) + c(t) b(t)
= b (t) + c (t) b (t). (because c(t) = ±1 )
b(t) can be extracted by using a base band (low pass) filter with a
bandwidth just large enough to accommodate the recovery of data
signal b(t), most of the power in the spurious component is filtered out.
However spread spectrum requiring low SNR has comparatively bad
modulation efficiency. Also multiplexing is not easy.

Illustrating the waveforms in the transmitter
MULTI CARRIER MODULATION
Multiplexing is a signal processing operation where by a
number of independent signal can be combined into a composite signal
suitable for transmission over common channel.
To transmit a lot of signal over the same channel signal must be
kept apart so that they do not interfere with each other and thus they can
be separated at receiving end. This is accomplished by separating
signals in frequency or in time. The different techniques collectively

known as multi carrier modulation techniques. To overcome the
hostile PLC environment OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing) was proposed. OFDM splits available bandwidth into
small frequency bands called sub carriers. Unusable sub carriers may be
then masked out and best modulation and coding techniques can be
applied to usable sub carriers.
OFDM can adapt to bandwidth/data rates according to channel
conditions. The main properties of OFDM from perspective of utility
are:
• Very stable & reliable approach.
• High modulation efficiency (5bits/Hz).
• High SNR required.
• Minimum Inter Symbol interference effects.
However it needs insertion of a cyclic prefix (CP) which
depends on the channel memory which is quite a long in PLC channels.
CP acts as a guard level. It reduce inter carrier interference, and is
removed at receiver.

OFDM Transceiver

CODING
Reliable data communication over hostile channel requires
forward error correction (FEC) coding, inter leaving, automatic repeat
request (ARQ). ARQ- it requires a feedback channel for requesting
message transmission. The encoded bits are applied to modulator for
transmission and received signals are demodulated and decoded. It also
includes transmit and receive controllers that exchange information via
feedback channels.
Discrete channel
Source
Transmit Modulator ,
Encoder channel , Decoder Receiver
controller
demodulator controller
Destination
Feedback
channel
Block diagram of ARQ system

The simplest ARQ system employs in a start and stop strategy
which proceeds as follows:
1. A block of data is encoded into a code word for transmission
over the communication channel
2. Transmitter stops and waits until it receives acknowledgment of
the correct reception of the code word or a request for retransmission.
Clearly this strategy requires only error detection (rather than
both correction and detection) in the receiver. Virtually error free
transmission can be attained by proper choice of the code for error
detection.
Interleaving – Inter leaver scrambles encoded data stream in a
deterministic manner. Specifically successive bits are separated as
widely as possible. In the receiver deinterleaver is used to perform
reverse operation. Error burst, that occur after inter leaving are spread
out in data sequence to be decoded thereby spanning many code words

Output data
Input data
Burst error Deinter-

Encoder Interleaver Decoder
channel leaver
Interleaving method for burst error channel

OFDM can be fruitfully combined with coding by using bit inter
leaved coded modulation. It allows flexibility (eg: choice of code can
be made independent of modulation scheme) and is specially used for
fading channel.
Encoder Bit Modulator IDFT

interleaver
DFT Remove PLC Channel Add cyclic

cyclic prefix prefix
Equalizer Compute Bit Decoder

bit metric deinterleaver
Block diagram of OFDM with BICM

CONCLUSION
Electric power lines are presently being considered for high bit
rate data services, because they offer convenient and inexpensive
communication medium for data transmission. Since the power line
channel is used in the frequency range it was not originally designed
for, designing a simple modem for reliable transmission on the hostile
channel is a challenging task. We have reviewed some of the main
solution that have been proposed to solve this problem.
With the recent development in the modulation and coding
schemes PLC home networkings has overcome almost all hurdles in its
way and have become the strongest contender technology in the home
networking with added advantages over its competitors such as ease of
installation, cheaper cost and high data rates. These advances in the
PLC home networking appliances has made the ‘smart home’ a reality

REFERENCES
• IEEE communication magazine April 2003, May 2003

• Communication systems- Simon Haykin.
• www.cdmatech.com
• www.google.com

ABSTRACT
Designing a system able to cope with a hostile channel is a
typical challenge for data communication Engineers. High- data- rate
communication over power lines is an exemplar case: while power lines
are potentially convenient and in expensive “no new wire” medium for
data transmission their features make it very difficult to design a simple
modem. This paper illustrates main features of hostile channel, and
some of the solution advocated for modem design.

CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• CHANNEL MODELING
• MODULATION SCHEMES
• CODING
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I extend my sincere thanks to Prof. P.V.Abdul Hameed, Head of

the Department for providing me with the guidance and facilities for
the Seminar.
I express my sincere gratitude to Seminar coordinator

Mr. Manoj K, Staff in charge, for his cooperation and guidance for
preparing and presenting this seminar.
I also extend my sincere thanks to all other faculty members of

Electronics and Communication Department and my friends for their
support and encouragement.
Roy Varghese. E

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Coding and Modulation for a Hostile Channel Seminar Report ‘03

The use of electric medium as a potential medium has been

power line has largely been unpredictable as practical high speed

Power lines form a potentially convenient and inexpensive

communication medium for control signaling and data transmission, as

power outlets available in virtually all rooms where a communication

terminal is to be used, and with a simple standard interface in the form

of a wall socket plug. But they present a difficult challenge, because

reliable high-speed communication is sought over a medium designed

because strongly competitive wireless solutions are available. There are

two main applications for power line communication (PLC): the

existing line in a building can be used as a local area network backbone,

or integrated into a wide area network. This paper briefly summarize

the solutions advocated for transmission.

PLC channels suffer from a number of technical problems they

•Frequency varying and time varying attenuation of the medium

•Dependence of the channel on the connected load.

•Suffer from reflection caused by the impendence mismatches.

•High interference due to noisy load

• Electromagnetic compatibility issues, that limit the accurate

Block diagram of PLC Channel.

Dept. of ECE -2- MESCE Kuttippuram

The total signal attenuation consists of mainly two parts:

Coupling losses – Depend on the design and can be made as small as

large attenuation produces very low SNR at receiver.

Dept. of ECE -3- MESCE Kuttippuram

PLC channels are considered as a multi path environment with

frequency selective attenuation. Most widely known model for the

by Philips Zimmermann and Dostert which takes the following term

for H(f) in the frequency range from 500KHz to 20 MHz.

Here N is the number of relevant propagation paths, a 0 and a1

are link attenuation parameters; K is a exponent (with typical value

Dept. of ECE -4- MESCE Kuttippuram

The above parameters must be determined through

measurements. It is essentially focuses the phenomenonological aspects

So another modeling was proposed, which is known as bottom

up model. This approach is based on the multi conductor transmission

highly predicable features. It also proves the property that PLC is

isotropic (same transfer function from both sides).

Dept. of ECE -5- MESCE Kuttippuram

Selection of modulation schemes must account for three major

factors, they are:

• Presence of low signal to noise ratio (SNR) by noise and

• Time varying & frequency varying nature of channel.

• Electromagnetic compatibility that limit the transmitted power.

The different modulation schemes possible for PLC channel are

SINGLE CARRIER MODULATION

It is an attractive proposition from the complexity point of view.

• Powerful detection and realization techniques because PLC

introduces strong intersymbol interference.

• When equalization network used it enhances the noise, it is main

• It also needs high frequency which increases the signal attenuation.

• High intersymbol interference.

• Multi accessing is not possible.

SPREAD SPECTRUM MODULATION

Primary advantage is its ability to reject interference, whether it

is unintentional or intentional. Definition may be stated in two words:

1. Spread spectrum is a means of transmission in which the data

sequence occupies a bandwidth in excess of minimum bandwidth

necessary to sent it.

2. It is accomplished before the transmission through the use of a

receiver to dispread it.