Antenna Diversity Combining and Finite-Tap Decision Feedback Equalization for High-Speed Data Transmission

The next-generation wireless communication systems are expected to support high speed data transmission. However, associated with high transmission rates is the problem of multipath inter-symbol interference (ISI) due to frequency-selective fading. Decision feedback equalization (DFE) and antenna diversity combining are two practical techniques for combating multipath ISI. In this paper, we investigate the performance of diversity combining together with DFE under various numbers of antenna branches and equalization taps in a quasi-stationary frequency-selective fading environment with AWGN and co-channel interference (CCI) by means of simulations. We consider joint optimization combining and power selection diversity combining. We simulate the combiner using QPSK modulation with up to 4 antenna branches. Our results show that using antenna diversity and DFE with joint optimization combining provides performance improvement with lower computational complexity compared to that of using ..