American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology,  and Sciences  (ASRJETS) 
ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 

© Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers  

http://asrjetsjournal.org/ 
 

Bit Error Rate (BER) Comparison of AWGN Channels 

for Different Type’s Digital Modulation Using MATLAB 

Simulink 

Md. Golam Sadeque* 

Lecturer, Dept. of EEE, PUST, Bangladesh 

Email: golamsadeq@gmail.com 

 

Abstract 

The MATLAB software with relevant Toolboxes for developing Simulink model is used for the simulation of 

system. In this paper, three basic types of digital modulation techniques are discussed then the bit error rate 

performance characteristics of receiver are evaluated by using MATLAB Simulink model for FSK, PSK and 

QAM modulation techniques. There are various kinds of channel used in wireless communication. In this paper, 

the AWGN channel is used between transmitter and receiver. This paper focuses on the characterization and the 

design of analog signal waveforms that carry digital information and compares their performance on an AWGN 

channel. 

Keywords: AWGN channel; BER; FSK; PSK; QAM. 

1. Introduction 

In the recent times for fast growing wireless technologies, the performance of the transmitting and receiving 

systems is very important. A tremendous technological development during the previous two decades has 

provided a potential growth in the field of digital communication and lot of latest applications and technologies 

are coming up everyday due to valid reason [8]. Digital modulation schemes contribute to the evolution of 

mobile communications by increasing the capacity, speed as well as the quality of the wireless network [8]. 

Digital modulation schemes provide more information carrying capacity, better quality communication, data 

security and RF spectrum sharing to accommodate more services [14]. So we have to analyze the parameters, 

component, and structures of the channels [6]. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

* Corresponding author.  

E-mail address: golamsadeq@gmail.com. 

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

The bit-error rate is the main performance parameter of a digital communication system [12].The performance 

of channel can be evaluated from bit error rate (BER) versus signal to noise ratio (SNR) curve. Noise means 

unwanted energy. Noise may interfere the signal at any point in communication system which will affect when 

signal is weak [13]. In the study of communication systems the classical (ideal) additive white Gaussian noise 

(AWGN) channel, with statistically independent Gaussian noise samples corrupting data samples free of inter-

symbol interference (ISI), is the usual starting point for understanding basic performance relationships [1]. The 

primary source of performance degradation is thermal noise generated in the receiver [1]. The thermal noise 

usually has a flat power spectral density over the signal band and a zero-mean Gaussian voltage probability 

density function (pdf) [1]. 

2. AWGN Channel  

Channel is the most important issue for any kind of communication system. Communication channel 

performance depends on noise. Additive white Gaussian Noise comes from many natural sources such as 

vibration of atoms in conductor, shot noise, radiation from earth and other warm object and from celestial 

sources such as the Sun. There are various kinds of communication channel. AWGN channel is the simplest 

model of a channel and is well suited for wired communication. This channel is linear and time-invariant (LTI). 

AWGN channel adds white Gaussian noise to the signal when signal passes through it. This channel’s amplitude 

frequency response is flat and phase response is linear for all frequencies [5].The modulated signals pass 

through it without any amplitude loss and phase distortion. So in such case, fading does not exist but the only 

distortion that exists is introduced by the AWGN. The received signal is simplified to 

𝑟(𝑡) = 𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑛(𝑡) … … . . (1) 

Where, n (t) represents the noise, has Gaussian distribution with 0 mean and variance as the Noise power and 

𝑥(𝑡) represent transmitted signal. 

3. Bit Error Rate 

In a digital transmission, BER is the number of bits with errors divided by the total number of bits that have 

been transmitted, received or processed over a given time period. That is  

𝐵𝐸𝑅 =
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡

 

Bit error rate is a key parameter that is used in assessing the systems performance that transmits digital data 

from one location to another. When data is transmitted over a data link, there is a possibility of errors being 

introduced into the system [10]. As a result, it is necessary to assess the performance of the system, and BER 

provides an ideal way in which this can be achieved. BER assesses performance of a system including the 

transmitter, receiver and the medium between the two. 

 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celestial_source&action=edit&redlink=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celestial_source&action=edit&redlink=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/bit.html


American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

4. Digital modulation 

There are three basic types of modulation methods for transmission of digital signal. The methods are based on 

three attributes of a sinusoidal signal, amplitude, frequency and phase. The corresponding digital modulation 

methods are: amplitude shift keying (ASK), frequency shift keying (FSK) and phase shift keying (PSK). 

4.1. Amplitude shift keying (ASK) 

Amplitude shift keying (ASK) is the simple form of digital modulation. Digital input is unipolar NRZ signal. In 

ASK carrier amplitude is multiplied by high amplitude for binary “1” or by low amplitude for a binary “0”. 

However, when the low amplitude is 0 for binary “0” then the ASK is called On-Off keying or OOK which 

shown in Figure 1. In OOK the amplitude modulated carrier signal can be written as  

𝑣(𝑡) = 𝐴 sin(2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝑡) … … … … (2) 

Where, 𝑓𝑐 is the carrier frequency and A is the data bit variable. The value of A can be “1” or “0” depending on 

the state of the digital input signal. 

 

 

Figure 1: Amplitude shift keying (ASK) 

4.2. Frequency shift keying (FSK) 

In frequency shift keying (FSK), the frequency of the carrier is shifted between two discrete values, one 

representing binary “1” and representing binary “0” but the carrier amplitude does not changes. The simple form 

of FSK is BFSK. The instantaneous vale of the FSK signal is given by 

𝑣(𝑡) = 𝐴 sin(2𝜋𝑓1𝑡) + �̅� sin(2𝜋𝑓2𝑡) … … (3) 

Where, 𝑓1 and 𝑓2 are the frequencies corresponding to binary “1” and “0” respectively and𝑓1 > 𝑓2. From above 

equation, it is clear that the FSK signal can be considered to be comprising of two ASK signal with carrier 

frequencies 𝑓1 and 𝑓2. 

 

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

 

 

Figure 2: FSK with continuous and discontinuous phase 

4.3. Phase shift keying (PSK) 

In Phase shift keying (PSK), the phase of the carrier is modulated to represent the binary values. The carrier 

phase change between 0 and 𝜋 by the bipolar digital signal. Binary states “1” and “0” are represented by the 

positive and negative polarity of the digital signal. The simplest form of PSK is BPSK is shown in Figure 2. The 

instantaneous value of the digital signal can be written as 

𝑣(𝑡) = 𝐴 sin(2𝜋𝑓𝑐𝑡) … … … (4) 

Where, 𝐴 = ±1; 𝐴 = 1 for binary state “1” and 𝐴 = −1 for binary state “0”. 

 

 

Figure 3: Phase shift keying (PSK) 

5. Performance Analysis using MATLAB Simulink 

MATLAB simulation model consists of transmitter, channel and receiver. The AWGN channel is used between 

transmitter and receiver. At the transmitter end data is generated by Bernoulli data generator. Bernoulli data 

generator generates data with probability a zero 0.5 and sample time one second. The bit error rate (BER) of 

different types of digital modulation can be calculated through Monte Carlo simulations using MATLAB 

Simulink file. 

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

 

 

Figure 4: Simulink Model for BPSK 

 

Figure 5: Bit Error Rate Performance for BPSK 

  
Figure 6: Simulink Model for DBPSK 

BPSK

BPSKModulatorBaseband

BPSK

BPSKDemodulatorBaseband

[A]

Goto
[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation
Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
BPSK

[A]

Goto

[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation
Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

DBPSK

DBPSKDemodulatorBaseband

DBPSK

DBPSKModulatorBaseband

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

 
Figure 7: Bit Error Rate Performance for DBPSK 

 
Figure 8: Simulink Model for QPSK 

 

 
Figure 9: Bit Error Rate Performance for QPSK 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
DBPSK

[A]

Goto

[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation

9.999e-05

1

1e+04

Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

QPSK

QPSKDemodulatorBaseband

QPSK

QPSKModulatorBaseband

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
QPSK

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

 

 

Figure 10: Simulink Model for M-ary PSK 

 

Figure 11: Bit Error Rate Performance for M-ary PSK 

 
Figure 12: Simulink Model for M-ary DPSK 

[A]

Goto

[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation

9.999e-05

1

1e+04

Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

16-PSK

M-PSKDemodulatorBaseband

16-PSK

M-PSKModulatorBaseband

0 5 10 15 20 25
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
8-PSK
16-PSK

[A]

Goto

[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation

0.0005999

6

1e+04

Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Random

Integer

Random IntegerGenerator

8-DPSK

M-DPSKDemodulatorBaseband

8-DPSK

M-DPSKModulatorBaseband

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

 
Figure 13: Bit Error Rate Performance for M-ary DPSK 

 
Figure 14: Simulink Model for M-ary FSK 

 

 
Figure 15: Bit Error Rate Performance for M-ary FSK 

0 5 10 15 20 25
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
8-DPSK
16-DPSK

[A]

Goto
[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation

0

0

1e+04

Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

16-FSK

M-FSKDemodulatorBaseband

16-FSK

M-FSKModulatorBaseband

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
BFSK
4-FSK
8-FSK
16-FSK

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

  
Figure 16: Simulink Model for QAM 

 
Figure 17: Bit Error Rate Performance for 16-QAM 

 

Table 1: Bit Error Rate for 100000 bits transmission. 

𝐸𝑏
𝑁0�  BPSK DBPSK QPSK 16-QAM 

1 0.05663 0.14090 0.24230 0.13680 

2 0.03834 0.10130 0.19630 0.09231 

3 0.02345 0.06752 0.15030 0.05654 

4 0.01279 0.04123 0.10940 0.03045 

5 0.00626 0.02156 0.07373 0.01439 

6 0.00236 0.00914 0.04519 0.00564 

7 0.00072 0.00341 0.02433 0.00183 

8 0.00024 0.00096 0.01149 0.00057 

 

[A]

Goto

[A]

From

  Error Rate
  Calculation

Tx

Rx

Error RateCalculation
Display

AWGN

AWGNChannel

ber

Signal ToWorkspace

Rectangular
16-QAM

Rectangular QAMDemodulatorBaseband

Rectangula
16-QAM

Rectangular QAMModulatorBaseband

Bernoulli

Binary

Bernoulli BinaryGenerator

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10

-4

10
-3

10
-2

10
-1

10
0

Eb/N0 (dB)

B
E

R

 

 
16-QAM

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

6. Result and Discussion 

Bit Error rate  Curve for BPSK, DBPSK, QPSK, M-PSK, M-DPSK, M-FSK and QAM modulation using 

Simulink file  is shown in Figures 5, 7, 9, 11,13, 15 and 17. For M- ary PSK it is seen from Figure 11 that if the 

value of M increases for 8 to 16 the value of bit error rate also increases. As a result the performance of the 

system decreased. We can say the 8-ary PSK is better than 16-ary PSK. From Figure 13 it is seen that 8-DPSK 

has better performance than 16-DPSK. It is also clear from Figure 15 that BFSK has better performance than 

other higher order FSK. Comparing Figures 11, 13 and 15 it can be said that for M-ary modulation, if the value 

of M increases the performance of the system will be degrade.  Form table -1 we see that BPSK Modulation has 

better performance than DBPSK, QPSK and 16-QAM 

7. Conclusion 

In this paper; three basic types of modulation was discussed. A number of modulation schemes such as BPSK, 

QPSK, BFSK, DBPSK, M-PSK, M-FSK and QAM have been consider for MATLAB simulation purposes. 

Their BER have been evaluated using MATLAB Monte Carlo simulation tool for additive white Gaussian noise 

channel. We have concluded from the above figures depending on bit error rate that BPSK is the most effective 

modulation schemes in a practical communication system. 

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[1] R. F. PAWULA, “On Mary DPSK Transmission Over Terrestrial and Satellite Channels”, IEEE 

transactions on communications, vol. Com-32, no. 7, july 1984 

[2] Bernard Sklar, “Raleigh fading channel in mobile communication system part I: characterization”, IEEE 

Communications Magazine Volume 35 issue 7 1997. 

[3] Fuqin Xiong, “Digital Modulation Techniques”, Second Edition, Artech House, 2006. 

[4] Anurag Sharma and Anita Garhwal, “Performance analysis of physical layer of wimax system using 

Simulink” Anurag Sharma, et al International Journal of Computer and Electronics Research, Volume 2, 

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[5] Navjot Kaur and Lavish Kansal, “Performance Comparison of MIMO Systems over AWGN and Rician 

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[10] Vinay Panwar and Sanjeet Kumar. “Bit Error Rate (BER) Analysis of Rayleigh Fading Channels in 

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American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2015) Volume 13, No  1, pp 61-71 

 

Mobile Communication”, International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER) Vol.2, Issue.3, 

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[11] T. S. Rappaport. “Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice”, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice 

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[12] H. J. Richter, A. Y. Dobin, O. Heinonen, K. Z. Gao, R. Veerdonk, R. T. Lynch, J. Xue, D. Weller, P. 

Asselin, M. F.  Erden, and R. M. Brockie, "Recording on bit-patterned media at densities of 1 

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[13] B. Livshitz, A. Inomata, H. N. Bertram, and V. Lomakin, "Analysis of recording in bit patterned media 

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