2013 IEEE Symposium on Wireless Technology and Applications (ISWTA), September 22-25, 2013, Kuching, Malaysia
Improved Pilot–based LS and MMSE Channel
Estimation using DFT for DVB-T OFDM Systems
A. M. Khan*, Varun Jeoti, M. A. Zakariya
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
*abidmk77@yahoo.com
Abstract- In this paper channel estimation techniques for
Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) based OFDM
transmission and reception are investigated. Channel estimation
based on comb type pilot arrangement is studied through
Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) algorithm. The estimation of
channel at pilot frequencies is based on Least Squares (LS) and
Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) estimators while
interpolation is done using linear and spline cubic interpolation.
Existing channel estimation usually addresses the scattered and
continual pilot arrangement for DVB-T based OFDM systems.
Pilot based channel estimator presented here differs from
previous methods in a way that it is based on comb type pilot
arrangement, which accurately estimates the MSE in the
presence of COST 207 Typical Urban Reception (TU6) channel
model. This paper shows that DFT-based algorithm can
improved the MSE of conventional LS and MMSE estimators
by removing the impact of noise outside the maximum channel
delay length.
Keywords – LS, MMSE, DFT OFDM and DVB-T.
I. INTRODUCTION
Orthogonal Frequency division Multiplexing (OFDM) has
been applied widely in wireless communication systems due
to its high data rate transmission capability with high
bandwidth efficiency and its robustness to multipath delay.
OFDM introduces Cyclic Prefix (CP), which eliminates the
Inter-Symbol-Interference (ISI) between OFDM symbols [1]
and its high data rates are available without having to pay for
extra bandwidth [2]. With these advantages, OFDM is
widely accepted in numerous wireless standards such as
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), Digital Audio
Broadcasting (DAB), Wireless Metropolitan Area Network
(WMAN) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). For
efficient design of coherent receiver, channel estimation
plays a vital role [3].
Efficient demodulation can be achieved by using dynamic
channel estimation because the radio channel is frequency
selective and time-varying for wideband mobile
communication systems. Channel estimation refers to the
estimation of transmitted signals bits using the corresponding
received signals bits [4].
Mainly there are three types of channel estimation, which
are as follows: i) Blind ii) Non-blind and iii) Semi-blind. In
blind technique, there is no need for transmitted data for
channel estimation. It saves the training overhead and also
excellent for applications where bandwidth is limited. On the
other hand it has the drawback of being extremely
computationally intensive. Non-blind channel estimation is
another approach in which some portion of known
information is transmitted to the receiver, which is then used
for channel estimation. It has better results as compared to
blind estimation.
978-1-4799-0156-2/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
Non-blind are further divided into two types: i) pilot-aided
and ii) preamble. In pilot scheme, known information is
transmitted together with data. While, in preambles known
information is transmitted over one or more OFDM symbols
with no data. Preamble based channel estimation is used for
slow fading channel, while pilot based channel estimation
gives better performance in the fast fading environment. In
semi blind, both known and unknown data is required for
channel estimation.
The estimation of channel by using comb type pilot
arrangement can be based on LS and MMSE estimators.
MMSE has been shown to perform much better than LS in
term of MSE. But MMSE is considered more complex.
Considerable attempts have been done to improve the
performance of LS and MMSE.
The interpolation of the channel for comb-type pilot
arrangement can depends on linear interpolation, second
order and spline cubic interpolation. In [5], second order
interpolation outperforms the linear interpolation. Whereas
in [6] , it has been shown that time domain interpolation has
low BER as compared to linear interpolation.
Several different MMSE estimators of time-varying
channels that exploit the scattered pilot symbols for DVB-T
application are reported previously [7-9]. Similarly for LS
estimator, most studies have only been carried out by using
scattered and continual pilot symbols for DVB-T based
OFDM systems [10,11].
The pilot based channel estimator presented here differs
from previous methods in a way that it is based on comb type
pilot arrangement, which accurately estimates the MSE in
the presence of COST 207 Typical Urban Reception (TU6)
channel model. In this paper, we present the DFT-based LS
and MMSE channel estimation for DVB-T based OFDM
systems, where MSE is improved significantly as compared
to conventional LS and MMSE estimators.
This paper is organized as follows. In Section II, overview
of pilot based OFDM system model is explained. Section III
is divided into three subsections: III.A described LS
estimator, III.B presented MMSE estimator and III.C
introduced the DFT-based algorithm. Section IV presented
comb-type pilot arrangement. Section V and Section VI
explained different interpolation techniques and
methodology respectively. Results and analysis are
discussed in Section VII. Conclusion of the work is
presented in Section VIII.
II. SYSTEM MODEL
OFDM system model block diagram in Fig. 1 begins with
“signal mapping” where binary information are mapped
according to modulation. Then serial to parallel conversion
takes place. After that, pilot sub-carriers are inserted along
with data sub-carriers, which give samples X(k).
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Then IFFT is applied on X(k) samples that transform The transmitted data samples X(k) can be calculated as
frequency domain samples X(k) into time domain x(n),which Y (k ) (8)
can be shown as X (k ) =
Hˆ ( k )
N −1 j 2 Π kn

x (n ) = IF F T { X (k )} = ∑ X ( k )e N FFT Where Hˆ ( k ) is estimated channel transfer function and Y(k)

k =0 (1) is the received signals. Finally de-mapping takes place,
where binary data are obtained at the receiver output.
III. CHANNEL ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES
This paper presents three different types of channel
estimators, which are as follows: LS, MMSE and DFT.
A. LS Estimation.
This is the simplest estimator used for channel estimation.
In this method without knowledge of channel statistics
channel estimation is done. LS based, channel transfer
function HP,LS can be shown as
Fig. 1. Typical OFDM Baseband Transceiver [12].
−1
Where NFFT represents the number of FFT points. To avoid H = X YP
P ,LS P (9)
inter-symbol interference guard band interval NG are  Y (1 ) Y P ( 2 ) Y (N P ) 
T

introduced in each OFDM symbol and samples become xg(n), =  P ..... P 

which can be expressed as  X P (1 ) X P ( 2 ) X P (N P ) 
Where XP and YP are input and output values of pilot sub-
 x ( N F F T + n ), n = − N G , − N G + 1 .., − 1 (2) carrier respectively. LS has low computational complexity as
xg (n) = 
 x ( n ), n = 0 ,1, ....., N F F T − 1 compared to other channel estimators, but its main drawback
is high MSE value.
After passing through the frequency selective multipath
channel, the received signal yg(n) becomes B. MMSE Estimation.
(3) MMSE has superior performance as compared to the LS
y g (n ) = xg (n ) ⊗ h (n ) + w (n )
because it utilized second order channel statistics, which
Where w(n) represents additive white Gaussian noise. minimizes the MSE. The error signal e can be written as
Impulse response of multi-path channel h(n) can be
e = H − Hɶ (10)
expressed as
L −1 n Where H denotes the actual channel estimation and Hɶ is raw
j 2 Πε rT
h ( n ) = ∑ hr e N FFT
δ (α − τ r ) 0 ≤ n ≤ N FFT − 1 (4) channel estimation. MSE can be written as
r =0

Where L represents the total no of channel taps, hr is the

E {e } = 2
E {H − Hɶ
2
} (11)
amplitude of rth path, εr is doppler frequency for rth-path, α is E {( H }
H
= − Hɶ )(H − Hɶ )
the index used for delay spread, and τ is delay for rth-path. r

After serial to parallel conversion, removal of guard interval Where E{ } is expected value. As the channel and AWGN
takes place from yg(n). Then FFT block de-multiplex the are not correlated, we can rewrite above equation as
multicarrier signals and frequency domain samples Y(k) are
received as Hɶ M M S E = R H Y R YY
−1
Y (12)
j 2 Π kn
1 N F F T −1 − Where RHH and RYY are the auto-covariance matrixes of H and
Y ( k ) = F F T { y ( n )} =
N FFT
∑ y ( n )e N FFT (5) Y respectively. While RHY is cross-covariance matrix between
n=0 H and Y, which can be shown as
H
RHY = E{H Y } (13)
n = 1, 2 , ... N F F T − 1
H
R HY = RHH X (14)
Suppose that there is no ISI, because channel impulse H
response length is smaller than the guard band interval. The R YY = E {YY } (15)
output of the FFT block is Y(k), which can be represented as R YY = X R H H X H
+σ 2
IN
(16) N

Y (k ) = X (k ) H (k ) + W (k ) (6) In MMSE estimation, receiver has knowledge of auto-

covariance matrix RHH and noise variance σ N2 .Therefore
n = 1, 2 , ... N F F T − 1
MMSE can be written as
Where Hɶ MMSE = R X H ( XR X H + σ 2 I ) − 1 XH
HH HH (17) N N P , LS
L −1 j 2 Π ε rT
s in ( Π ε r T )
−
j2Π τrk
Hɶ M M S E = R H H ( R H H + σ N2 ( X H X ) − 1 ) − 1 H P , L S (18)
H (k ) = ∑
r=0
hr e Π ε rT
e N FFT
, (7)
Final expression for MMSE estimator is shown in
equation (18), which requires matrix inversion that has to be
W(k) and H(k) are the Fourier transforms of w(n) and h(n) calculated each time prior to estimation [13]. Therefore
respectively. After that, the received pilot sub-carriers YP(k) MMSE is considered as a high computational complex
are obtained from Y(k) and then Hˆ ( k ) is calculated from estimator.
the information carried by HP(k).

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C. DFT-based Channel Estimation
DFT-based algorithm gives higher estimation accuracy as
compared to conventional LS and MMSE because it allows a
reduction of noise outside of the maximum channel delay (L).
Fig. 2 explains channel estimation based on DFT algorithm.

Fig. 3. Comb Type Pilot Arrangement.

V. INTERPOLATION TECHNIQUES
After estimating the channel transfer function HP(m) from
pilot tones, an efficient interpolation method is applied on
pilot sub-carriers and obtained NFFT points channel transfer
function Hˆ ( k ) . In this paper we have discussed two types of
interpolation methods, which are as follows:
Linear interpolation method shows a better performance
in term of complexity. In this method two consecutive pilots
Fig. 2. Channel Estimation based on DFT [14]. are used to estimate channel at data sub-carriers which are
located in between the pilots, as shown below:
DFT-based algorithm can be carried out in the following
steps [15]: Hˆ ( k ) = Hˆ (mN F + 1)
• Calculate HLS/HMMSE in the usual LS and MMSE manner. 1 (24)
Hˆ ( k ) = ( Hˆ P (m + 1) − Hˆ P ( m)) + Hˆ P (m)
• Convert HLS/HMMSE into time domain by using IDFT. NF
IDFT { H LS / MMSE [ k ]} = h[ n ] + z[ n ] ≜ h[ n ] (19) m = 0,1,..., NP −1
Spline Cubic interpolation method gives smooth and
n = 0,1, 2 ... N F F T − 1 better interpolation accuracy but the performance
improvement is not obviously proven. It uses higher order
• Eliminate the effect of noise in time domain. interpolation. Fig. 4 shows the higher order interpolation
(Spline Cubic).
h[n] + z[n] n = 0,1, 2...L −1
hDFT [n] =  
 0 otherwise  (20)
• Convert hDFT[n] into frequency domain by using DFT.
H D F T [ k ] = D FT {h D F T [ n ]}
(21)
IV. COMB TYPE PILOT ARRANGEMENT
Fig. 4. Spline Cubic Interpolation.
In comb type pilot arrangement, pilot symbols are inserted
into sub-carriers with same interval as shown in Fig. 3. This Spline Cubic interpolation is represented as,
type of pilot arrangement is suitable when channel conditions
change from one OFDM block to the subsequent one. If NP Hˆ ( k ) = Hˆ ( kN F + l )
are numbers of pilot signals, then X(k) can be written as: = α1 Hˆ P ( m + 1) + α 0 Hˆ P ( m ) (25)
 x (m ) l=0
X ( k ) = X ( mN F + l ) =  P (22) + N F α 1 Hˆ P' ( m + 1) − N F α 0 Hˆ P' ( m ) ,
 Data l = 1,..., N F − 1
m = 0,1,..., N P − 1
Where X(k) is the information, including pilots and data of all
sub-carriers, xP(m) is the mth pilot carrier value and NF Where Hˆ ' (m) is the first order derivative of Hˆ (m) and
P P
represents frequency interval of inserted pilots (NF =NFFT/NP).
According to the pilot positions, frequency response of 3( N F − l ) 2 2 ( N F − l )3
corresponding sub-channel is calculated in the receiver. α1 = 2
−
NF N F3 (26)
Y p (m N F ) (23)
H p (m ) = 3l 2 2l 3
X p (m N F ) α0 = 2
−
NF NF3 (27)

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 Fig. 5. Comparing MSE performance of DFT-LS estimator with Fig. 6. Comparing MSE performance of DFT-MMSE estimator
conventional LS (Linear, Spline) estimator, when M = 16 with conventional MMSE estimator, when M = 16
in 6 taps channel model. in 6 taps channel model.

VI. METHODOLOGY
It is also observed that MSE for DFT-based LS is lower
In this paper, conventional channel estimation techniques than conventional LS (Linear, Spline) and it is improved up
(LS and MMSE) are compared with DFT-based LS and to 7.4 dB at 25 dB SNR. This is because DFT-based LS can
MMSE in the presence of COST 207 Typical Urban eliminate the noise outside the maximum channel delay
Reception (TU6) channel for DBV-T applications, whose length (L).
parameters are shown in Table-I. The taps of channel follow In Figure 6, legend “MMSE” represents the minimum
the Rayleigh statistics. MSE is used as a figure of merit for mean square error, while “DFT-MMSE” denotes the DFT-
channel estimation. It is assumed that there is perfect based MMSE. When SNR is low, both the DFT method and
synchronization between transmitter and receiver, so no conventional MMSE show similar values of MSE. However,
Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) and ISI are present in OFDM when SNR is higher than 12 dB, there is an evident reduction
symbols. in the values of MSE in DFT method. It shows that MSE
In channel estimation, we extract the pilot carriers from floor of DFT-MMSE is smaller as compared to MMSE and it
the received signals, and then estimate the channel transfer is improved up to 2.2 dB at 25 dB SNR, because DFT
by using known pilots at the receiver side. After that, channel algorithm can removed the impact of noise outside the
interpolation is done between adjacent pilot frequencies and maximum channel delay length. Hence, it can be inferred
finally estimate the NFFT points channel transfer function. that DFT-based estimator is more efficient as compared to
Then MSE can be calculated by using equation (11). OFDM conventional estimators.
simulation parameters are mentioned in Table-II. In In a nutshell above investigations prove that DFT-based
simulation, we have considered 1.05*10-6 sec as a RMS channel estimation gives better MSE performance as
delay spread (τrms). compared to conventional LS and MMSE, when the
VII. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS maximum channel delay L must be known in advance.
TABLE II
Figure 5 compares the MSE performance of DFT-LS with OFDM SIMULATION PARAMETERS
conventional LS (Linear, Spline). The legend “LS-Linear”
and “LS-Spline” denote the interpolation schemes with LS No of FFT points (NFFT) 2048 (2K-Mode)
estimator, while “DFT-LS” represents the DFT-based LS. Length of Cyclic Prefix (NG) 512
Number of channel taps used for simulation are 6 when
Signal Constellation (M) is set to 16. The general behavior of Total no of Subcarriers (NOFDM) 2560
the plots show that MSE decreases as the SNR increases.
The MSE of LS-Linear is high as compared to LS-Spline at Total no of Symbol (NSYS) 100
different values of SNR, because LS-Spline uses higher Pilots Spacing (NF) 4
order interpolation as compared to LS-Linear.
TABLE I Numbers of Pilots (NP) 512
COST 207 TYPICAL URBAN RECEPTION (TU6) FOR DVB-T APPLICATION
Pilot Arrangement Comb Type
Tap Average Power Delay
Number (dB) (us) Data per OFDM Symbol 1536
0.0
1. -3.0 Signal Constellation (M) 16-QAM
2. 0.0 0.2
CE Techniques LS,MMSE and DFT
0.5
3. -2.0
Bandwidth 8 MHz
1.6
4. -6.0
Interpolation Linear and Spline Cubic
5. -8.0 2.3
Number of Channel Taps 6
5.0
6. -10.0 RMS Delay Spread (τrms ) 1.05*10-6 sec

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 VIII. CONCLUSION
This paper presents the study of DFT-based channel
estimation for DVB-T OFDM transmission and reception.
Channel estimation based on comb type pilot arrangement is
studied through DFT algorithm. The performance of the
channel estimators is measured in term of MSE in the
presence of COST 207 Typical Urban Reception (TU6)
channel for DBV-T applications. The study reveals that the
performance of conventional channel estimation techniques
(LS and MMSE) can be enhanced with incorporation of DFT
algorithm. Improved channel estimation with DFT algorithm
has been achieved by removing the impact of noise outside
the maximum channel delay length.
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