Determination of Error Probabilities for Convolutional Codes

New upper and lower bounds and approximations on the sequence. event, first event, and bit error probabilities of convolutional codes are presented. Each of these probabilities are precisely defined and the relationship between them described. Some of the new bounds and approximations are found to be very close to computer simulations at very high error ratios. For a simple two slate rate 1/2 convolutional code on a binary symmetric channel, the first coefficient was found precisely for the probability of event error.