Exact BER Analysis of Threshold-Based Amplify-and-Forward Relaying over Rayleigh Fading Channels

Abstract

We study threshold-based relaying in an amplify-and-forward (AF) cooperative diversity network. For the network, the relay helps the communication from the source to the destination only if the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the link from the source to the relay is greater than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value; otherwise, the relay remains silent. We derive the exact bit-error rate (BER) of the threshold-based relaying for M-pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and M-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The obtained BER expression can help the design of the threshold-based relaying in determining the system parameters such as the transmission power, the amplifying coefficient at the relay, and the pre-determined threshold value.