5G PBCH and MIB Explained with MATLAB Example

📡 The Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) and the Master Information Block (MIB) are the first steps a device uses to connect to a 5G NR network. In this tutorial, we explain the theory behind PBCH and MIB, and then walk through a MATLAB-based implementation to show how they are detected and decoded in practice.

We start by breaking down the role of PBCH in carrying the MIB and how Demodulation Reference Signals (DMRS) support channel estimation. The MIB contents are then explained in detail, including:
✅ System Frame Number (SFN)
✅ Subcarrier spacing for common channels (PDCCH and PDSCH)
✅ SSB frequency offset (kSSB)
✅ DMRS Type A position
✅ CORESET and PDCCH Config SIB1
✅ Cell barring and intra-frequency reselection parameters

On the MATLAB side, we:
✅ Equalize PBCH using DMRS and perform channel estimation
✅ Decode the PBCH transport block to recover the MIB bits
✅ Parse and display the MIB in a human-readable format
✅ Visualize the QPSK constellation diagram after equalization
✅ Test the receiver under multipath fading, Doppler shift, and AWGN noise

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 – Introduction
0:29 – PBCH & Cell Search
0:49 – PBCH DMRS Placement
1:55 – Master Information Block (MIB)
2:58 – MATLAB: PBCH Channel Equalization
6:01 – MATLAB: PBCH & MIB Decoding
11:57 – MATLAB: Channel Impairments (Multipath, Doppler & Noise)

🎥 Watch previous episodes in the 5G waveform series:
👉 Episode 1: 5G NR Downlink OFDM Waveform Explained with MATLAB simulation -    • 5G NR Downlink OFDM Waveform Explained wit...  
👉 Episode 2: 5G SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) with MATLAB simulation -    • 5G SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) with...  
👉 Episode 3: Complete 5G Cell Search Receiver in MATLAB (PSS, SSS, CFO) -    • Complete 5G Cell Search Receiver in MATLAB...  

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💻 Get the MATLAB Code Here: https://github.com/marwyp/WaveformAca...

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