Performance analysis of Space shift keying with generalized selection combining receive diversity

This paper provides an insightful discussion on the performance analysis of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) space modulation scheme. A mathematical expression for the average bit error probability of Space shift keying (SSK) with generalized selection combining (GSC) diversity scheme is presented. SSK modulation scheme uses antenna index for relaying information rather than symbol modulation. Due to the nature of the SSK transmission scheme, it is difficult to distinguish a transmitted pulse from two correlated branches at each receive antenna, if the correlation between the transmitted RF pulses from two different transmit-antennas is more. Under this circumstances, its bit error rate performance is severely degraded even though SNR is high. In general, SSK receiver employs maximal ratio combining (MRC) diversity scheme. The MRC diversity scheme is the optimal combining scheme which maximizes the SNR at the combiner output. However, MRC requires high signal processing complexity and more number of RF chains at the receiver end, which in turn, it consumes more power. It also needs the knowledge of the channel fading amplitude and phase for constructive combining. Analytical and simulation results show that the difference in the performance of SSK with MRC and GSC is insignificant.