Convolutional decoder performances on VHF and troposcatter channels

Convolutional codes are quite powerful, easily implemented error correcting codes. Decoders for these codes can be probabilistic or deterministic. The primary decoders investigated were the Massey diffuse decoder (fixed, deterministic), the adaptive Gallager decoder (adaptive, deterministic) and the Viterbi decoder (Probabilistic). A limited number of simulations of these decoders were conducted using troposcatter and VHF channel error data. Comparative results and conclusions are discussed.