Effects of Finite Coefficient Word Length on Channel Estimator Performance

In this paper we investigate the impact of finite coefficient word length on channel estimator performance. A theoretical analysis of the increase in channel estimation error due to quantization of estimator coefficients is performed, and by using simulation results, the behavior of this error in different fading environments and for different filter orders is studied. Comparing the simulated results with a theoretical model we have shown that there is a relatively good agreement between results based on the theoretical model and the simulated results. We have shown that there is a closer match between theoretical and simulated results when the input signal is less correlated. Our model is restricted to a flat-fading channel with varying Doppler, and linear FIR estimators.