Multiple symbol differential detection with diversity reception

In this letter we first consider the maximum-likelihood sequence estimator for multiple symbol differential detection (MSDD) over the slow fading diversity channel. Since this optimum decision metric results in a complex receiver implementation whose average bit-error probability (BEP) performance is difficult (if not impossible) to obtain analytically, we then focus our attention on evaluating the average BEP for MSDD with diversity reception in the form of postdetection equal-gain combining (EGC) giving emphasis to its ability to bridge the gap between EGC of conventional differentially detected M-PSK and maximal-ratio combining of coherently detected M-PSK with differential encoding.