BER Performance Comparison of Linear Equalizers in Communication systems

In mobile communications systems, data transmission at high bit rates is essential for many services such as video, high quality audio and mobile integrated service digital network. When the data is transmitted at high bit rates, over mobile radio channels, the channel impulse response can extend over many symbolperiods, which lead to Inter-symbol interference (ISI). Inter-symbol Interference always causes an issue for signal recovery in wireless communication. This can be combated with application of an equalizer. Equalization compensates for Inter-symbol interference created by multipath signal prorogation withintime dispersive channels. In this paper we investigate the bit error rate performance characteristics of two types of equalizers namely ZF, MMSE for BPSK system. Multi-tap ISI channel is considered. For the simulation the Matlab/Simulink is chosen as investigation tool. Simulation results show that as the tap length increases in ZF the BER decreases. It’s also inferred that the MMSE equalizer out performs ZF equalizer in terms of BER performance characteristics.