Intersector correlations: a quantitative approach to switched beams' diversity performance in wireless communications

We show that intersector correlations may be used as a convenient way to analyze diversity in switched beam antennas, with particular emphasis on the elevation dependence of the received power spectrum. In addition to their experimental characterization, such correlations can be computed from first principles according to the radio environment. The expected diversity performance can then be used as an input to antenna design and optimization.