Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA

Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA

Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA

Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA: The four multiple-access techniques that are used to increase efficiency in sharing the radio spectrum.

These are as under:

  1. FDMA, in which users share the spectrum by dividing it into different frequency channels.
  2. TDMA, in which users time-share the spectrum.
  3. CDMA, in which all users use the same spectrum simultaneously, but the number of users is limited by their multiple-access interference. (iv)
  4. SDMA, in which users share the spectrum in angular direction with the use of smart antennas.

The basic Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA is based on the modulation technique which is used for the modulation of the signals.

Comparison of FDAM TDMA CDMA and SDMA in Table form

Parameters of comparisonFDMATDMACDMASDMA
ModulationRelies on band-width efficient modulationRelies on band-width efficient modulationSimple modulationTransparent
Forward error correctionIncreases power efficiency at expense of bandwidth efficiencyIncreases power efficiency at expense of bandwidth efficiencyCan be implemented without affecting bandwidth efficiencyTransparent
Source codingImproves efficiencyImproves efficiencyImproves efficiency voice activation advantageTransparent
DiversityRequires multiple transmitters or receiversRequires multiple transmitters or receivers can be frequency hoppedIncludes frequency diversity when implemented with a RAKE receiverSimple antenna reduces space diversity orthogonal coding improves diversity with multiple transmit antenna
User terminal complexitySimpleMedium complexityMore complexRequires smart antennas
HandoverHardHardSoftPotentially soft
System complexityLarge number of simple componentsReduced number of channel unitsLarge number of complex interacting componentsAdditional complexity related to antennas
Multiple-access interferenceLimited by system planningLimited by system planningDynamic power controlLimited by resolution of antennas
FadingFlat-fading no diversity simple to track May need frequency selective may need equalizerfrequency selective diversity via RACK receiverReduced multi-path
Bandwidth efficiencyHard limits based on modulation and channel spacingHard limits based on modulation and channel spacingSoft limitsDepends on antenna resolution
SynchronizationLow resolutionMid-resolution High resolutionRequires terminal location
FlexibilityFixed data rateData rate variable in discrete stepsCan provide a variety of data rates without affecting signal in spaceTransparent
Voice and data integrationPossible, but may require revisions to systemStraightforward using multiple slotsMulti-code transmission, which may decrease efficiency of mobile terminal Transparent
EvolutionBandwidth to fit applicationRequires medium initial bandwidthRequires large initial bandwidthFlexible, can be added as needed does not affect mobile

Although one approach may have a significant technical advantage over another, there may be other factors. Such as economic considerations, that prevent the use of the basic strategy of interest. For example, in a single-user system, the use of CDMA would be difficult to justify, since it requires a very large amount of bandwidth.

In the above table, various properties of the multiple-access techniques have been compared; and some clarification of this comparison with the following comments:

Modulation

TDMA and FDMA depend on the choice of a modulation scheme to maximize spectral efficiency. To achieve a higher throughput in the same bandwidth, we must use higher order modulation schemes. With CDMA, the simple method of BPSK modulation is required, although on for practical symmetry considerations, QPSK is often used. In fact, the choice of modulation strategy and the use of SDMA are independent.

Forward Error-Correction (FEC) Coding

All multiple-access techniques are affected by the distortions offered by the wireless channel. With FDMA and TDMA, the redundancy introduced by FEC coding requires a higher transmission rate, and thus a greater bandwidth, if the same basic throughput is to be maintained. This is the classic tade-off between bandswidth and power efficiency. With CDMA, FEC coding can be added without increasing the system bandwidth or harming the processing gain. The inclusion of FEC is transparent to SDMA. If transmit diversity is implemented, then there can be increased bandwidth with SDMA.

Source Coding

The use of source coding improves the bandwidth efficiency of all multiple-access techniques. However, CDMA is in a position to take greater advantage of voice activation than are other techniques, since its bandwidth efficiency is determined by average interference.

Diversity

To obtain diversity with FDMA, we require either multiple transmitter or multiple receivers, both, which is an added hardware expense. The same is applied to TDMA, except when it is used as part of a TDMA/FDMA hybrid. In that case, frequency-hopped TDMA can provide some  diversity advantage. The large bandwidth of CDMA naturally provides some frequency diversity, and this can be used advantageously with a RAKE receiver. The implementation cost of a RAKE receiver is less than the dual-receiver cost of an FDMA system with frequency diversity.

User Terminal Complexity

With the progression from FDMA through TDMA to CDMA comes an evolution of terminal complexity. SDMA systems introduce a different and additional form of complexity – one related to the antennas – that is not present in any of the other systems.

Handover

With their single-receiver terminals, both FDMA and TDMA are somewhat handicapped when they must switch between base stations at a cell boundary. With CDMA, since the same frequencies are used in adjacent cells, it is easier to implement a “dual receiver” and provide a soft handover capability.

System Complexity

With an FDMA system, users can operate quite independently. With TDMA, the level of cooperation among users must increase to share slots. With CDMA, the system must delegate spreading codes, power control information, and synchronization information.

Multiple-Access Interference (MAI)

Because FDMA and TDMA tend to be limited by worst-case interference, interference is often limited in the system planning stage by the fixed assignment of frequency groups to specific cells. With CDMA, the same bandwidth is used everywhere, and performance is limited by average interference levels. However, CDMA relies heavily on accurate power control to eliminate the near-far problem.

Fading-Channel Sensitivity

FDMA systems are typically narrowband and therefore suffer from flat fading. If the fading is not severe, then simple channel estimation and forward error correction can often compensate for its effects. TDMA systems are typically medium-bandwidth solutions. Because of this, they observe some frequency selectivity. This requires the implementation of an equalizer. In fact, the implementation of a robust tracking equalizer in wireless channels is of utmost importance. Because of their large bandwidth, CDMA systems face frequency-selective channels, but take advantage of this natural diversity with a RAKE receiver.

Bandwidth efficiency

For single-cell systems, FDMA and TDMA systems are generally more bandwidth efficient than CDMA systems, because they do not have to cope with multiple-access interference (MAI). However, once their frequency plan is made and the modulation selected, the maximum throughput is fixed. CDMA holds an advantage because it can reuse frequencies everywhere, while FDMA and TDMA have much lower frequency reuse rates because they are limited by peak interference levels. CDMA can often add a user at the expense of a small degradation of e3tisting users.

Synchronization

Wireless systems using FDMA, TDMA, and CDMA show a progression in synchronization resolution and a corresponding progression in complexity. The main concern of FDMA is symbol timing. In fact, TDMA terminals must contend with both symbol timing and slot timing, and CDMA terminals must contend with chip timing.

Flexibility

FDMA is the least flexible of the techniques. Once the service is designed, any change requires a redesign. With TDMA, higher data rates can be provided by assigning more slots per user, usually with very little change to the hardware. With CDMA, deferent data rates can be provided by trading off the spreading rate (processing gain), making it very flexible. However of these techniques are transparent to SDMA.

Voice and Data Integration

The comments regarding flexibility also apply to the integration of voice and data over the same terminal. With TDMA, it is possible as well to make use of periods of voice inactivity to transmit data, thus making the system more efficient. CDMA can easily integrate voice and data, but usually it leads to multicode transmissions, which may reduce the efficiency of the user-terminal power amplifier.

Evolution

Evolving from a small system to a large system is the easiest with the FDMA approach. We can easily start with a single-user system and remain relatively efficient at each step. With TDMA, start-up efficiency is related to the transmission rate; the system can evolve easily through the addition of more TDMA channels using an FDMA overlay. With CDMA, therein is a large start-up cost, because a large bandwidth to serve perhaps only a few initial user terminals is needed.

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