This paper describes a microprocessor-based modem developed for use in a packet switching network over satellite channels. This digital modem can process both BPSK and QPSK packets with near optimum error rate performance over channels with marginal signal energy-to-noise density ratio. Of principal concern is the development of the discrete time algorithms which form the basis of the microinstruction program. The processing of a packet can be decomposed into two basic stages: (1) the detection of the packet preamble and the rapid estimation of signal parameters (symbol timing and carrier frequency offset) for the specific packet, and (2) the demodulation of the data portion of the packet including the tracking of both symbol timing and carrier offset phase, phase ambiguity resolution and data symbol estimation. The paper concludes with details on the performance of the modem under operational conditions and a brief discussion of implementation of the processor.

Upper and lower bounds on error probability for systematic convolutional codes are obtained. These bounds show that the probability of error for a systematic convolutional code is larger than the probability of error for a nonsystematic convolutional code of the same encoder-shift-register length. Two different interpretations of these results are given.