BER Performance Comparison of OFDM Systems with QPSK and 16QAM Modulation Schemes

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems represent a fundamental wireless communication technology capable of operating under various modulation schemes. This comparative analysis program evaluates system performance by measuring Bit Error Rate (BER) metrics for both QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) and 16QAM (16-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) configurations. The MATLAB implementation includes key algorithmic components: OFDM symbol generation through IFFT/FFT operations, cyclic prefix insertion for multipath mitigation, and constellation mapping/demapping routines for both modulation schemes. The BER calculation methodology employs Monte Carlo simulations with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel modeling and includes signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) sweeping capabilities for comprehensive performance characterization. This resource provides practical value for wireless communication enthusiasts and researchers by enabling quantitative performance analysis, modulation scheme comparison, and deeper understanding of OFDM system behavior under different transmission conditions. The code structure facilitates easy parameter modification for extended research applications and includes visualization functions for BER versus SNR performance curves.