The method of «blind» carrier frequency estimation of radio signals with linear digital modulation

Carrier frequency estimation in the conditions of a priori uncertainty of signal modulation and parameters is prerequisite for realization of frequency synchronization circuits in software-defined radio. To implement this operation the method of «blind» carrier frequency estimation of radio signals with amplitude, phase and quadrature-amplitude shift keying, which does not require prior information about modulation type, signal and communication channel parameters, is proposed in the article. The basis of method is calculation of constellation symbols cross-correlation and clock synchronization by Gardner method. As opposed to known approaches proposed method does not require two-dimensional objective function calculation which can reduce the number of computing operations. This is achieved by implementation of previous clock synchronization and reducing the two-dimensional objective function in one-dimensional. Verification of developed method is carried out by statistical modeling using more than 20 types of phase constellations. The practical significance of received results consists in reduction of carrier frequency estimation time and simplification of practical implementation at the expense of employment of approved clock synchronization circuits.