Simple correlated channel model for ultrawideband multiple-input multiple-output systems

A simple correlated channel model for ultrawideband (UWB) multiple-antenna systems is proposed. The authors show that a single numerical value of the spatial correlation coefficient is sufficient to accurately model the performance of UWB spatial multiplexing systems in an indoor environment. The appropriate value of the correlation coefficient is selected by ensuring a close match between the bit error rate results achieved on the proposed correlated channel and those on the measured indoor channel. The authors also experimentally confirm that the performance substantially degrades in the presence of high values of spatial correlation for a range of spatial multiplexing receivers, and quantify the relationship between this degradation and the value of the spatial correlation coefficient. Thus, a route for the development of the existing standards for single- antenna UWB channels to the multiple-antenna regime is provided here.