OFDM Transmission with Non-binary LDPC Coding in Wireless Networks

High-quality information exchange between upper layers of the communication network (e.g. TCP, IP layers) requires reliable connection of communicating devices on the physical layer. Any non-corrected errors at this level force the upper layers to perform proper action to recover transmitted information. It reduces data throughput and increases delay to unacceptable level for some services. Among physical media, wireless one is the most hostile environment, due to its unpredictable behavior. In that case, OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) modulation and LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) error correction codes appear the best choice to provide high transmission quality on the physical layer. This paper presents the results of the authors' simulation of a LDPC-coded OFDM system with particular emphasis on codes over high order Galois fields (non-binary) which are not commercialized yet.