Performance Evaluation of Multi-Level FSK Modulation Techniques in Rayleigh and Rician Fading Channels

Abstract

Reliable transmission and efficient use of the spectrum remain challenges, in modern wireless communication systems especially when multipath fading occurs. This study looks at how Multi‑Level Frequency Shift Keying (MFSK) works using 4‑FSK, 8‑FSK and 16‑FSK when signals travel through Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) Rayleigh fading and Rician fading. We built simulation models in MATLAB/Simulink to check Bit Error Rate (BER) against bit energy‑to‑noise ratio (Eb/N0) and Signal‑to‑Noise Ratio (SNR). The study also goes over radio‑propagation loss models and key features of fading channels. The simulation shows that BER drops when Eb/N0 and SNR rise for every MFSK scheme studied. It also shows that Rician fading usually gives BER than Rayleigh fading because Rician fading has a Line‑of‑Sight (LOS) component. Even though higher‑order MFSK can send symbols in each signal it also needs bandwidth.