BER Performance Analysis of BPSK and 16-QAM Modulation Schemes

This technical analysis examines the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) and 16-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16-QAM) systems. The study employs Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel modeling to simulate real-world receiver conditions. The implementation typically involves generating random binary data streams, applying modulation techniques, adding AWGN using randn() function in MATLAB, and demodulating the received signals. For 16-QAM demodulation, the algorithm requires minimum Euclidean distance calculation to constellation points. Through detailed examination of 16-QAM modulation and demodulation mechanisms, including constellation mapping and decision boundary implementation, we gain deeper insights into digital communication principles. The BER analysis involves comparing theoretical values (using qfunc() for BPSK) against simulated results through Monte Carlo methods. These analytical findings enable more accurate performance predictions and informed decision-making in wireless communication system design.