Diversity

 Multipath propagation

 Diversity principle

 Space diversity

 Polarization diversity

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Multi Path Propagation

 signals especially in cities consists of the direct wave and a lot of reflections

 the reflections differ in amplitude, phase and polarization

 summarized signal level varies a lot within short distances

Rx1

Rx2

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Principle

 unsymmetrical situation of downlink and uplink :

uplink (mobile) : limited power, small antenna
downlink (BTS) : high power, high antenna gain

 Consequence : Diversity
 the diversity concept bases on the idea to have two independent signals
available at the base station (two Rx antennas)
 considering both signals results in avoiding nulls and improving the average signal
level (diversity gain)

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Principle

 Example for Combining

Diversity with two antennas Combined Signal

20
20
10
10

Signal level [dB]

0
Signal Level [dB]

0 Rx 2 1
-10
-10 1 Rx 1
-20
-20
-30
-30
-40
-40
Time
Time

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Principle

Selection
SelectionCombining
Combining Maximal
MaximalRatio
RatioCombining
Combining

Amplitude
+ Phase
Logic
α

 Switching between the two  Both signals are permanently

signals and selecting the added with equalized amplitudes
better one and phase regarding
 reachable diversity gain : maximum signal/noise ratio
3 - 4 dB  reachable diversity gain :
6 - 7 dB 5

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Principle

8
8
[dB]
7
Gain[dB]

7
6
6
Maximal
MaximalRatio
RatioCombining
DiversityGain

5 Combining
5
4
Diversity

4
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
1 3
1 3 5 7
5 7 9 11
9 11 13

00
13 15

0.2
15 17 19

0.4
0.2
Signal Difference [dB]

0.6
Signal Difference [dB] 17 19 21

0.4
0.8

0.6
21 23

0.8
11
23 25
25 Cross-
Cross-
Correlation
Correlation

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Space Diversity

 space diversity uses two vertical polarized Rx

antennas (Rxa and Rxb) with a horizontal
spacing of 12-15 

 Omni base station

- 3 omni antennas
- Tx antenna on a higher level
> to achieve an ideal omni pattern
3m
> to reach the required isolation
3m
between Rx and Tx (>30 dB)

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Space Diversity

 Sector base station

- 3 directional antennas per
sector
- all antennas at the same
level due to better isolation
compared to omnis

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / Space Diversity

 good diversity performance,

but big spacing required Without Duplexer
 expensive support structures
 duplexers reduces the number
of antennas but not the applied
spacing
 raising problems to receive
permissions from the land
lords to install antenna
systems

With Duplexer

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / H/V Polarization Diversity

 polarization diversity uses two antennas Without Duplexer

of orthogonal polarization
 horizontal and vertical radiating
elements are combined in a common
radome
 interlocked dipoles, same size of a
single antenna

Disadvantages :
 good diversity performance only in cities
 horizontal polarization cannot be used
for Tx

With Duplexer

10

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / X Polarization Diversity

 instead of horizontal and vertical Without Duplexer

polarization the dipoles are slanted
+/- 45°
 identical situation for both
terminations
 equivalent diversity results
compared to space diversity either in
cities or in rural areas
 both terminations are suitable for Rx
and Tx

 Xpol is the technology for future

systems !!
With Duplexer
11

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03
Diversity / X Polarization Diversity

 instead of 9 resp. 6 antennas per base

station, only 3 Xpol antennas are
required
 extremely reduced size
 due to exellent isolation (> 30 dB for any
possible port combination), mounting on
a single pole mast with minimum spacing
 specific 3-panel brackets available

12

©Kathrein/Scholz 03/03