Space-diversity issues in the context of a B-ISDN-oriented indoor radio environment

A first assessment of the applicability and the tradeoffs involved in a switched (antenna) diversity approach is presented here as seen in the context of a future indoor wireless network operating in the mm-wavelength radio spectrum targeted to provide radio access to asynchronous transfer mode local area networks (ATM LAN´s) and broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN). Measurements conducted at 21.6 GHz are used to examine the gain variation of switched-diversity alternatives in terms of cumulative distribution functions. The performance of a two-branch post-detection code diversity combining scheme under Rayleigh fading conditions is also included for purposes of comparison. The results of our work here confirm the hypothesis that the choice of the employed antenna diversity technique in combination with the selected micro-cellular architecture have significant effects on both the throughput and the measured performance of future radio links