Performance of Feedback and Switch Space Diversity 900 MHz FM Mobile Radio Systems with Rayleigh Fading

A theoretical and experimental comparison of performance has been made between two types of predetection switching space diversity mobile radio systems. This comparison was made at a frequency of 840 MHz using simulated Rayleigh fading for a vehicle speed of about 80 mi/h. The switch diversity system was a conventional receiver antenna switching technique with two simulated physically separated receiving antennas and a single transmitting antenna. The feedback diversity system used a single receiving antenna with two simulated physically separated transmitting antennas. The transmitting antennas were switched remotely from the receiver. The difference in the performance of the two systems was shown to be primarily due to time delay inherent in the remote antenna switching technique.