Abstract: | We present a frame synchronization algorithm for low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) coded burst transmissions, which combines a conventional pilots‐assisted frame synchronization algorithm and a code‐aided algorithm based on the mean magnitude of the soft outputs from the LDPC decoder. With moderate computational complexity, the proposed algorithm is more efficient in bandwidth than conventional pilots‐assisted algorithms. When compared with other code‐aided algorithms, the proposed algorithm offers a better trade‐off between complexity and performance. Simulation results in the case of an 8‐PSK system with (1944, 972) LDPC code show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a performance equivalent to that of the perfect frame synchronization, with a bandwidth efficiency loss of 0.06 dB due to the use of pilot symbols. |