UWB-SIMO channel capacity in an underground mine

This paper presents an evaluation of the ultra-wideband (UWB) channel capacity in an underground mine. A measurement setup was established to measure the channel frequency response both in LOS and NLOS. The measurements were performed at level -70 m in an experimental gold mine. The SISO (single input single output) channel capacity was first determined, followed by the SIMO (single input multiple output) capacity with receiving antennas. The measurements results reveal that the channel capacity can support high data rates. Also, it decreases with the distance between transmitter and receiver. The result shows also that increase of the capacity of a SIMO channel is not linear with the number of receiving antennas.