Method of effecting channel estimation for a fading channel when transmitting symbol sequences

A method for effecting channel estimation for a fading channel when transmitting a signal comprising symbol sequences, wherein each of the symbol sequences has at least one synchronizing sequence and one data sequence, said method comprising the steps of:

• sampling said signal at a series of sampling time points to obtain a series of signal samples;
• generating a channel estimate having plural coefficients, based on knowledge of said synchronizing sequence, for said fading channel at each sampling time point;
• estimating values of symbols in a symbol sequence of said signal based on said signal samples and said channel estimate;
• adapting said channel estimate according to an adaptation algorithm, based on knowledge of said channel estimate as applied to signal samples corresponding to said data sequence;
• calculating mean energy values of said channel estimate by forming a time mean value over multiple sampling time points of energy represented by each of the coefficients of the channel estimate;
• selecting at least the largest of the mean energy values;
• and
• influencing the adaptation algorithm in dependence on the selected mean energy values, such that adaptation of the channel estimate is controlled with the aid of the selected mean energy values enabling a correct estimation to be made of symbols in a remaining part of the symbol sequence subsequent to fading during the symbol sequence.