We study optimal constant-rate coding schemes for a block-fading channel wi
th strict transmission delay constraint, under the assumption that both the
transmitter and the receiver have perfect channel-state information. We sh
ow that the information outage probability is minimized by concatenating a
standard "Gaussian" code with an optimal power controller, which allocates
the transmitted power dynamically to the transmitted symbols. We solve the
minimum outage probability problem under different constraints on the trans
mitted power and we derive the corresponding power-allocation strategies. I
n addition, we propose an algorithm that approaches the optimal power alloc
ation when the fading statistics are not known. Numerical examples for diff
erent fading channels are provided, and some applications discussed. In par
ticular, we show that minimum outage probability and delay-limited capacity
are closely related quantities, and we find a closed-form expression for t
he delay-limited capacity of the Rayleigh block-fading channel with transmi
ssion over two independent blocks. We also discuss repetition diversity and
its relation with direct-sequence or multicarrier spread-spectrum transmis
sion. The optimal power-allocation strategy in this case corresponds to sel
ection diversity at the transmitter. From the single-user point of view con
sidered in this paper, there exists an optimal repetition diversity order (
or spreading factor) that minimizes the information outage probability for
given rate, power, and fading statistics.