Diversity reception for digital audio broadcasting

Antenna Diversity is a method to improve the reliability of DAB reception in mobile environment leading to less spots with undesired audio interruptions and increased coverage areas. We performed theoretical evaluations and simulations to gain a comprehensive picture about the possible diversity gain. The diversity gain was found to depend on the correlation of the signals from the different antennas which is influenced both by the antenna separation and the power azimuth spectrum of the receive signal. Typical power azimuth spectra in poorly covered areas in a DAB single frequency network were measured to support the theoretical assumptions. A DAB diversity receiver was developed and used in a series of field measurements that confirmed the expected diversity gain.