Evaluation of OFDM Channel Sounding Techniques with Three Modulation Sequences

Abstract This paper presents an evaluation of multicarrier channel sounding techniques using different random and pseudo-random sequences to modulate the OFDM sounding signal. The Random (Rand), Pseudo-Noise (PN) and Zadoff-Chu (ZC) were tested, both in laboratory simulations and in field measurements. For the laboratory simulations Matlab routines were used to generate OFDM signals modulated with each of the three sounding signals, that were then convoluted with a synthesized transfer function of a test channel with six multipath components and added Gaussian noise and Doppler fading. The resulting signals are then correlated with a copy of the original signal to provide the multipath power delay profiles. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) and the relationship between peak power and mean power (PAPR) were used as metrics for the comparison between the test transfer function and the simulation detected multipath delay profiles, showing slight advantages of the ZC sequence. The three sequences were then used in field measurements to characterize an urban channel at 700 MHz. In the field measurements, the ZC sequence showed the lowest detection threshold, allowing for the detection of a larger number of multipath components.