Digital computer simulation of satellite quadrature data communication systems

This paper describes a Monte-Carlo simulation developed to predict the bit error rate (BER) for digital satellite communication links using quadrature signaling (QPSK or QAM). Primary emphasis is placed on modeling considerations. The model contains two nonlinear amplifiers and thermal noise, phase noise, and bit timing jitter. Provision is made to either insert arbitrary transfer functions or to specify the filtering through only a few parameters. Two types of equalizers are included, a 'preset' and an adaptive type. Estimation of the BER is performed by error-counting or by the use of extreme-value statistical theory.