Model-based channel estimation for OFDM signals in Rayleigh fading

Abstract

This paper proposes a robust pilot-assisted channel estimation method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals in Rayleigh fading. Our estimation method is based on nonlinear regression channel models. Unlike the linear minimum mean-squared error (LMMSE) channel estimate, the method proposed does not have to know or estimate channel statistics like the channel correlation matrix and the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per bit. Numerical results indicate that the performance of the proposed channel estimator is very close to the theoretical bit error propagation lower bound that is obtained by a receiver with perfect channel response information.