Evaluation of a mobile radio multiple channel diversity receiver using pre-detection combining

An attempt to reduce multipath fading in UHF mobile radio communication by the use of a space diversity receiver has been made. An 836 MHz pre-detection diversity combining receiver using phase equalization by multiple heterodyning in four separate branches or channels has been built and evaluated. The fading range in the combined signal is greatly reduced over that in an individual signal and there is a significant difference in its statistical nature. In addition an improvement in receiver threshold with four channels combined was observed.