A unified presentation, broad coverage, single-volume convenienceThis timesaving reference provides a unified approach to the performance analysis of digital communication systems over generalized fading channels. Employing alternative forms of such classical mathematical functions as the Gaussian Q-function, the Marcum Q-function, and the incomplete Gamma function, the book expresses communication system error probability performance in terms of the moment generation function (MGF) of the fading process. This MGF-based approach provides the unifying backbone of the book.Digital Communication over Fading Channels discusses in detail coherent, differentially coherent, and noncoherent communication systems as well as a large variety of fading channel models typical of communication links found in the real world. Coverage also includes single- and multichannel reception and, in the case of the latter, a large variety of diversity types. For each combination of communication type, channel fading model, and diversity type, the average bit error rate and/or symbol error rate is expressed in an easy-to-evaluate form. Special features include: Important results previously scattered over many publications-now in a single volume Simplified results heretofore available only in complex forms Extremely broad coverage of topics Explores practical applications, including the problem of optimum combining in the presence of co-channel interference