Capacity measurements for a 16×16 element BLAST array over a conducting ground plane

The paper presents channel transfer function measurements using a 16×16 "Bell Laboratories layered space-time" (BLAST) antenna array and a wideband measurement system. The capacity of a BLAST system is computed using the H matrix, comprised of the complex transfer functions between each transmitter and receiver element. Measurements were made over a metallic ground plane to allow comparison with an analytical calculation of the H matrix. Using this comparison, it was determined how accurately the H matrix can be measured using a wideband system and hence how accurately the capacity of the BLAST system can be predicted. It was found that the predicted capacities, based on measurements using the 16×16 system, were within 5% of the theoretical calculations.