OFDM-16QAM Bit Error Rate Performance Analysis

In this section, we conduct a comprehensive performance analysis of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems employing 16-QAM modulation, focusing on bit error rate (BER) characteristics. The investigation covers key performance-impacting factors including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), carrier frequency offset (CFO), and phase noise effects. From an implementation perspective, we discuss critical MATLAB functions such as qammod() for symbol mapping and ofdmmod() for multi-carrier modulation, along with AWGN channel modeling using awgn() function. The analysis includes detailed mathematical models for BER evaluation, explaining equations governing constellation decision boundaries and error probability calculations. We examine practical implementation considerations like cyclic prefix insertion for mitigating inter-symbol interference and pilot symbol insertion for channel estimation. Through systematic simulation approaches using step-by-step OFDM transmitter-receiver chain implementation, we demonstrate performance optimization techniques for different application scenarios, providing insights into parameter tuning and system configuration trade-offs.