Bit Error Rate Vs Symbol Error Rate

Dr. Michael Erlihson Bit Error Rate (BER) is defined as the rate at which errors occur in a transmission system. BER is the ratio of error-bits received to the total bits sent. Symbol Error Rate (SER) is defined as a number erroneously decoder information symbols (=constellation points) divided by total number of transmitted symbols. In this short note we discuss the relationship between BER and SER. learly this relationship depends on what modulation was used for the transmission. !or the B"S#-modulated si$nal the BER is evidently e%ual to the SER. !or &"S# and &'( modulations the situation is more complicated. )enote by R the number of bits formin$ one constellation point (* for &"S#+ , for -.&'( and . for .,&'). /he SER value in this case may vary from R0BER (one erroneous bit in each transmitted symbol) to BER (R erroneous bits in each transmitted symbol). 's the BER and SER performance analysis are usually performed for hi$h S1R ran$e (=low BERs)+ a common assumption made here is that the event of havin$ two or more erroneous bits in one symbols is very unli2ely. 3ence for low BERs the correspondin$ SER is $iven by R0BER. /hus the performances of various transmission4reception schemes can be studied throu$h analysis of their BER and SER curves.