Improving resolution on DOA estimation in a multipath macrocell environment using eigenstructure-based methods

Direction of arrival (DOA) estimation has become a major factor in the performance of smart antenna systems. Through DOA estimation techniques, it is possible to determine the angular position of signal sources and interferers in the cell environment. Nevertheless, in a multipath fading channel, electromagnetic waves interact with the environment in a very complex way, thus significantly degrading the performance of DOA estimation algorithms. This paper provides insight into how Root MUSIC enhances resolution on DOA estimation and has better performance than spectral MUSIC in the context of a linear equispaced array in a multipath macrocell environment. This improvement and its better precision result in a higher channel capacity, given that it allows to spatially separate closely spaced sources.