The generation and use of bit error rate surface plots

The application of bit error rate (BER) surface plots to the coherent phase demodulation of several signal types is described. The techniques used to generate the data required for the BER surface plots are considered, and the computing implications and techniques used to minimize the computing effort are discussed, including a potential problem and the technique used to overcome it. BER surfaces for several modulation schemes are presented and compared with conventional presentation of the same information. Some alternative display formats are discussed.