Symbol Error Rate (SER) for 16-QAM
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Given that we have went over the symbol error probability for 4-PAM and symbol error rate for 4-QAM , let us extend the understanding to find the symbol error probability for 16-QAM (16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). Consider a typical 16-QAM modulation scheme where the alphabets (Refer example 5-37 in [DIG-COMM-BARRY-LEE-MESSERSCHMITT]).
are used.
The average energy of the 16-QAM constellation is (here). The 16-QAM constellation is as shown in the figure below

Figure: 16-QAM constellation
Noise model
Assuming that the additive noise follows the Gaussian probability distribution function,
with
and
.
Computing the probability of error
Consider the symbol in the inside, for example
The conditional probability distribution function (PDF) of given
was transmitted is:
.
As can be seen from the above figure, the symbol is decoded correctly only if
falls in the area in the black hashed region i.e.
.
Using the equations from (symbol error probability of 4-PAM as reference)
.
The probability of being decoded incorrectly is,
.
Consider the symbol in the corner, for example
The conditional probability distribution function (PDF) of given
was transmitted is:
.
As can be seen from the above figure, the symbol is decoded correctly only if
falls in the area in the red hashed region i.e.
.
Using the equations from (symbol error probability of 4-QAM as reference)
.
The probability of being decoded incorrectly is,
.
Consider the symbol which is not in the corner OR not in the inside, for example
The conditional probability distribution function (PDF) of given
was transmitted is:
.
As can be seen from the above figure, the symbol is decoded correctly only if
falls in the area in the blue hashed region i.e.
.
Using the above two cases are reference,
.
The probability of being decoded incorrectly is,
.
Total probability of symbol error
Assuming that all the symbols are equally likely (4 in the middle, 4 in the corner and the rest 8), the total probability of symbol error is,
Simulation model
Simple Matlab/Octave code for generating 16QAM constellation, transmission through AWGN channel and computing the simulated symbol error rate.
Click here to download : Matlab/Octave script for simulating 16QAM symbol error rate

Figure: Symbol Error Rate curve for 16QAM modulation
Observations
1. Can observe that for low values, the theoretical results seem to be ‘pessimistic’ ‘optimistic’ compared to the simulated results. This is because for the approximated theoretical equation, the
term was ignored. However, this approximation is valid only when the
term is small, which need not be necessarily true for low
values.
Reference
[DIG-COMM-BARRY-LEE-MESSERSCHMITT] Digital Communication: Third Edition, by John R. Barry, Edward A. Lee, David G. Messerschmitt
Hope this helps.
Krishna
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hi, it’s very useful. But i want to bit error. What can i do?