Error probabilities for the block-fading Gaussian channel

A simple model is examined for a slow-fading channel operated under both average input power and decoding delay constraints. In this model, applicable in particular to frequency-hopping and slowly time-varying communication channels, the fading level is assumed constant over intervals of K symbols. The exponential behavior of the average message error probability, as well as outage probabilities, are investigated. The capacity vs. cut-off rate issue is addressed, and the relative efficacy of various diversity methods and interleaving schemes is discussed.