Antenna pattern diversity test with a 250 kbits/s radio modem at 900 MHz

The use of antenna pattern diversity to reduce errors substantially at low speeds is considered. A scheme is presented which introduces very few errors due to switching transients. The prototype antenna arrangement is bulky and not applicable for commercial equipment. However, new ceramic materials with dielectric constants on the order of 100-200 will reduce the horizontal dimensions by a factor of 10-15. If losses are low enough this offers the possibility of using diversity in low-power mobile telephony, i.e. handheld units