Utilization of low-redundancy convolutional codes

This paper suggests guidelines for the utilization of low-redundancy convolutional codes with emphasis on providing a quick look capability (no decoding) and a moderate amount of coding gain. The performance and implementation complexity of threshold, Viterbi, and sequential decoding when used with low-redundancy, systematic, convolutional codes is discussed. An extensive list of optimum, short constraint length codes is found for use with Viterbi decoding, and several good, long constraint length codes are found for use with sequential decoding.