A MATLAB Simulink Study on the Performance of QAM Modulation Scheme in AWGN, Rayleigh, and Rician Fading Channels: BER Analysis

Abstract

Wireless communication is the fastest-growing segment in the communication industry, with mobile communication being the most widely used. However, it faces several technical challenges, such as Fading, Shadowing, Interference, and Propagation path loss. Meeting the higher demand for capacity with high-quality service is crucial. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a technique that converts wideband signals into narrowband signals for transmission, making it a suitable option for high bandwidth data transmission. The transmission of these narrowband signals is executed with an orthogonal carrier. This paper focuses on building a QAM model using MATLAB to simulate Bit Error Rate (BER) performance for real data communication under different communication channels, including AWGN and fading channels (Rayleigh and Rician). The aim is to investigate the reduction of noise and bit error rate in communication channels. The simulation model built for this research work demonstrates that QAM scheme performs better in AWGN channels than Rayleigh or Rician fading channels.