Error probability for MC-CDMA in Nakagami-m fading channels using equal gain combining

In this paper, a new practical method for determining the bit-error rate (BER) of equal gain combining (EGC) receivers for multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) systems is presented. This new method is based on an alternative Gaussian approximation (AGA) and it applies to the system with multiple active users in frequency selective Nakagami-m fading channels. This new procedure takes advantage of an alternate integral representation of the conditional BER along with characteristic functions. The AGA method has the advantage of simplicity in expression and computational efficiency. The accuracy of the proposed approach is demonstrated with computer simulations in a fading channel.