Simulation of Error Sources in Digital Channels
01 January 1988
The general approach to error source simulation is discussed. It is shown that the Stochastic Sequential Machine (SSM) model is general enough to describe error source statistics in digital communication channels. Many error source models described in technical journals belong to the SSM family. The SSM model is capable of describing both the correlation between error in a channel (bursts or errors) and the correlation between errors in different channels (cross-talk). We consider physical causes of error burstiness in satellite channels. We show that the SSM model is due to differential encoding, scrambling, forward error correction, intersymbol interference, non-linear signal distortion, adjacent channel interference, modem defects, etc. We analyze the performance of some block and convolutional codes and in particular convolutional self-orthogonal codes, with and without soft decision, in satellite communications. The results of simulation are compared with the experimental data for the actual channels.