Evaluation of MIMO arrays using antenna patterns, reverberation chamber, and channel measurements

We have compared different methods of evaluating arrays for MIMO systems. We calculated the MIMO capacity of a compact antenna array for mobile or WLAN applications at 1766 MHz and compared it to a large reference array of 4 monopoles. Three different methods were used: evaluation using radiation patterns and a channel model, measurements in a reverberation chamber, and simultaneous measurement of radio channel data using the two arrays. We conclude that the main difference in the to arrays is the 1.3 dB lower efficiency of the compact array.