A data-aided timing offset estimator for OFDM synchronization

Abstract

Due to the bandwidth efficiency and high robustness in delay dispersive multipath fading channel, the OFDM system is most widely adopted by different digital communication systems, as their main modulation technique. The major problem in the OFDM system is its sensitivity to the channel conditions, hence leads to synchronization errors. The main problems are ISI and ICI, due to delay dispersion of multipath fading channel and Doppler shift during the transmission. So synchronization algorithms required to compensate the effect of channel variation. In this paper a robust and simple synchronization algorithm is presented, which mainly focuses on timing offset estimation for OFDM synchronization. The starting point of the received data is detected by reception of one training symbol. It is observed that the proposed algorithm is more robust than conventional Schmidl and Cox algorithm and Rathkanthiwar and Gandhi (RG) algorithm, despite being computationally simpler.