A modified PN code tracking loop - Its performance analysis and comparative evaluation

A modified PN code tracking loop (MCTL) has been reported by Yost and Boyd (1980). The MCTL makes it possible to reduce the hardware complexity of a noncoherent delay lock loop in multiple data rate applications. The MCTL utilizes the on-time or data channel as the reference. This concept eliminates the need for the traditional loop's sum channel (early signal plus late signal) and, hence, the hardware associated with that channel. This saving may be substantial if the channel were to be optimized for a number of different data rates. With the elimination of an entire IF channel, the MCTL complexity is nearly equivalent to the dithering loop for PN code tracking considered by Hartmann (1974). However, the MCTL does not suffer the loss in tracking performance (with respect to the traditional loop) that the dithering loop experiences.