The performance of multi-element antenna systems in frequency selective fading environments

Novel structures combining antenna diversity and equalisers are proposed. These new models are compared with existing models such as decision feedback equaliser (DEF) and maximum ratio combiner (MRC). From the results, it was found that models with two feedback filters do not necessary perform better than models with one feedback filter. The results also indicated that the model which has two feedforward filters in parallel with a MRC sub-system and followed by a feedback filter, has the best performance among the list of models. At a 15 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the BER of the proposed model with the parallel structure has 27.6 times lower BER than the omni-directional antenna system and 8.2 times lower BER than a MRC