Module:5

Diversity Techniques
 Diversity techniques
• The signal transmitted over a wireless communication link is susceptible to
fading (severe fluctuations in signal level), co-channel interference,
dispersion effects in time and frequency, path loss effect, etc.

• Multiple Input Multiple Output systems (MIMO) improve the spectral

efficiency and offers high quality links when compared to traditional Single
Input Single Output (SISO) systems.
 Techniques for improving performance
• Spatial Multiplexing techniques , example – BLAST yields increased data rates in
wireless communication links. Fading can be mitigated by employing receiver and
transmit diversity (Alamouti Scheme) , there by improving the reliability of the
transmission link.

• Improved coverage can be effected by employing coherent combining techniques

– which gives array gain and increases the signal to noise ratio of the system.

• The goals of a wireless communication system are conflicting, and a clear balance
of the goals is needed for maximizing the performance of the system.
• Aiming at improving the reliability of the system, we may choose to send same
data across the different propagation (spatial) paths. This is
called spatial diversity or simply diversity.

• Aiming at improving the data rate of the system, we may choose to place different
portions of the data on different propagation paths (spatial-multiplexing).

• MIMO – implemented using diversity techniques – provides diversity gain –

Aimed at improving the reliability
● MIMO – implemented using spatial-multiplexing techniques –
provides degrees of freedom or multiplexing gain – Aimed at improving the
data rate of the system.
• In diversity techniques, same information is sent across independent fading
channels to combat fading. When multiple copies of the same data are sent
across independently fading channels, the amount of fade suffered by each
copy of the data will be different.

• This guarantees that at-least one of the copy will suffer less fading compared
to rest of the copies. Thus, the chance of properly receiving the transmitted
data increases.

• In effect, this improves the reliability of the entire system. This also reduces
the co-channel interference significantly. This technique is referred as inducing
a “spatial diversity” in the communication system.
The SISO antenna configuration will not provide any diversity as
there is no parallel link. Thus, the diversity is indicated as (0).
• Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) antenna system, two copies of the
same data are put on two different channels having independent fading
characteristics.

• Even if one of the link fails to deliver the data, the chances of proper
delivery of the data across the other link is very high.

• Thus, additional fading channels increase the reliability of the overall

transmission – this improvement in reliability translates into performance
improvement – measured as diversity gain.
In this way, more diversity paths can be created by adding multiple antennas at
transmitter or receiver or both.
• The difference between diversity and spatial multiplexing. In the transmit
diversity technique shown below, same information is sent across different
independent spatial channels by placing them on three different transmit
antennas.
• Here, the diversity gain is 3 and and multiplexing gain is 0
• In the spatial multiplexing technique, each bit of the data stream (independent
information) is multiplexed on three different spatial channels thereby
increasing the data rate.
• Here, the diversity gain is 0 and and the multiplexing gain is 3.
 Differences between MIMO and Diversity
• Purpose:
• MIMO: The primary objective of MIMO is to enhance data rates and
spectral efficiency. It achieves this by transmitting multiple independent
data streams simultaneously over the same frequency channel using
multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver sides.

• Diversity: The main goal of diversity is to bolster the reliability of the

wireless link. It focuses on mitigating the adverse effects of fading and
multipath propagation, which can degrade or interrupt the signal.
 Differences between MIMO and Diversity

Technique:

• MIMO: MIMO leverages spatial multiplexing, where multiple data

streams are transmitted over different spatial paths created by multiple
antennas.

• Diversity: Diversity involves transmitting or receiving the same data

signal over multiple independent paths or channels, which could be
distinguished by time, frequency, or space (via multiple antennas).
• Antenna Configuration:
• MIMO: Requires multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver,
typically more than one at each end, to support the parallel transmission of
multiple data streams.
• Diversity: Can be implemented with multiple antennas either at the
transmitter (transmit diversity), the receiver (receive diversity), or both,
without requiring a specific number of antennas to match between transmitter
and receiver.

• Data Throughput:
• MIMO: Significantly increases data throughput by using spatial multiplexing
to transmit multiple data streams simultaneously over the same bandwidth.

• Diversity: Although diversity techniques do not directly enhance data

throughput, they significantly improve the reliability and robustness of the
wireless link by reducing the effects of fading and multipath propagation.
• Signal Processing:
• MIMO: Involves complex signal processing tasks, including spatial
multiplexing, precoding, and spatial demapping, to effectively separate and
decode the individual data streams at the receiver.
• Diversity: Utilizes relatively simpler signal processing techniques, such as
combining received signals from different paths or antennas through
maximum ratio combining (MRC) or selection combining.
• Channel Conditions:
• MIMO: Excels in rich multipath environments where the distinct signal
paths can be effectively separated and used for spatial multiplexing.
• Diversity: Is advantageous in both line-of-sight (LoS) and non-line-of-sight
(NLoS) conditions, provided the independent paths or channels exhibit
differing fading characteristics.
Complementary Use in Modern Systems:
• While distinct in their methodologies and goals, MIMO and diversity are often
employed concurrently in contemporary wireless communication systems like
LTE and Wi-Fi. This integrated approach allows for maximizing both the data
capacity through MIMO and enhancing link reliability through diversity
techniques, addressing both performance and robustness in challenging wireless
environments.
• By understanding these differences and applications, one can appreciate how
MIMO and diversity each play crucial roles in optimizing wireless
communication networks, delivering both high throughput and reliable
connections under a variety of environmental conditions.
 Types of Diversity

• Space Diversity: Replica of same signal is transmitted through different

antenna. Space should be between adjacent antenna so that channel gain will
be independent of signal path. Space diversity may give a path that avoid
shadowing and also decrease the large-scale fading. Space diversity offer
different path without an increase in transmitter power or bandwidth.
 Space Diversity Reception Methods
1.Selection diversity : The highest instantaneous SNR(Signal-Noise Ratio)
branch is connected to the demodulator. Antenna signal themselves could be
sampled and the best one sent to a single demodulation.

2.Feedback diversity : N-signals are scanned on the receiver side until one is
found to be above a predetermined threshold. Signal is received until it falls
below threshold scanning process is again initiated.
3.Maximal Ratio Combining Technique: Signal from all of the N-branches
are weighted according to the SNR’s and then summed. Signal must be co-
phased. Output SNR = Sum of the individual SNR’s.

4.Equal gain combining technique: Branch weight are all set to unity.
Signal from each antenna is co-phased. Make use of energy in all branches.
Performance is marginally inferior to MRC and superior to selection
diversity.
Time Diversity: Time diversity is obtained by re-transmitting the same
signal at separate interval of time. The re-transmission interval should be
less than the coherence time. Time Diversity also does not require any
increase in the transmission power.

Time Diversity can be realized in different ways:

➢Repetition coding

➢Automatic Repeat Request

➢Combination of interleaving and coding

Frequency Diversity:

• Frequency diversity is obtained by transmitting the same information on

more than one carrier frequency or transmitting the same signal over
different carrier frequency. In Frequency Diversity only one antenna is
needed. It requires large bandwidth and a greater number of receiver's
hence high cost.
Polarization Diversity: Polarization Diversity require two transmitter and
two receiving antennas with different polarization. The transmission wave
with two different polarization constitute two different paths. This provide
only two different diversity branches. Polarization Diversity uses half power
by dividing the power between two different polarized antennas.
Angular Diversity: It is also known as pattern diversity. This diversity allows
the identical antennas to be located at same location but with a different pattern.
These two co-located antennas with different patterns will provide a diverse path
for multipath signal. It enhances the decorrelation of signal at closely spaced
antennas.
 MRC (maximal ratio combining)

• Maximal ratio combining (MRC) is a technique used to improve the

performance of wireless communication systems by combining multiple
received signals to achieve a better quality of the received signal. This
technique is widely used in various wireless communication systems,
including cellular communication, satellite communication, and wireless
local area networks (WLANs).
MRC (maximal ratio combining)
MRC is a signal processing technique used to combine multiple received
signals with the same information to enhance the signal quality. The basic
principle behind MRC is to weight each received signal according to its
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and then combine them in a way that maximizes
the overall SNR of the combined signal.

MRC works by combining multiple copies of the same signal, each of which
is affected differently by the impairments, to improve the overall quality of
the received signal.
Basic steps involved in MRC are:
1.Reception of multiple copies of the same signal: The first step in MRC is to receive
multiple copies of the same signal. These copies can be received through multiple
antennas or multiple transmissions from the same antenna.
2.Weighting of each received signal: The second step in MRC is to weight each
received signal according to its SNR. The SNR of each received signal is estimated
based on the received signal power and the noise power in the received signal.
3.Combining of the weighted signals: The final step in MRC is to combine the
weighted signals to obtain a single signal that has the maximum overall SNR. The
combining process involves multiplying each weighted signal by a complex weight
factor and then summing up the products.
• The complex weight factors are calculated in such a way that the overall SNR of the
combined signal is maximized. The weight factors depend on the channel coefficients,
which are the complex gains of the channel for each received signal.
 Advantages of MRC
1.Improved signal quality: MRC improves the quality of the received signal by
combining multiple copies of the same signal that are affected differently by
impairments. This improves the overall SNR of the combined signal, reducing errors
and data loss.
2.Robustness to fading and interference: MRC is robust to fading and interference
because it combines multiple copies of the same signal that are affected differently by
these impairments. This reduces the impact of fading and interference on the quality
of the received signal.
3.Increased diversity: MRC increases the diversity of the received signal by
combining multiple copies of the same signal. This increases the probability of
having a good quality copy of the signal, even in the presence of impairments.
4.Increased capacity: MRC increases the capacity of wireless communication systems
by improving the quality of the received signal. This allows for higher data rates and
better performance in high traffic scenarios.
 EGC (equal gain combining)
• EGC is particularly useful in environments with fading channels, where the
strength of the received signals may vary due to multipath propagation. In such
environments, the use of multiple antennas can help to mitigate the effects of
fading and improve the overall quality of the received signal. By combining
multiple received signals, EGC can improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),
reduce the effects of fading, and improve the overall reliability of the wireless
communication system.
EGC (equal gain combining)
One of the most common implementations of EGC is based on the use of multiple
antennas in a MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) system. In a MIMO system,
the transmitter uses multiple antennas to send multiple streams of data
simultaneously. The receiver then uses multiple antennas to receive the transmitted
signals and combine them using EGC.

• The implementation of EGC in a MIMO system typically involves the use of a digital
signal processing (DSP) algorithm to combine the received signals. The DSP
algorithm takes the received signals from each antenna and applies a scaling factor to
each signal to ensure that the signals are properly normalized. The signals are then
combined using a simple averaging function, which ensures that each signal is given
equal importance.
EGC is a simple and effective technique for improving the SNR and reliability of
wireless communication systems in environments with fading channels. By
combining multiple received signals with equal weighting factors, EGC can help to
mitigate the effects of fading and improve the overall quality of the received signal.

• EGC is particularly useful in MIMO systems, where multiple antennas are used to
transmit and receive signals simultaneously. However, EGC does have some
limitations, including its assumption of uncorrelated received signals and its
potential for increased cost and complexity in wireless communication systems.
• Problems on Selection combining and MRC in the class.
• Refer the Class Notes.