Simulation of a Wireless Communication Channel to Determine a Best Topology for a Base Station Array Antenna

Abstract

This thesis presents simulation data on array operation in wideband communication systems. It is shown that array structures with closer inter-element spacing outperform structures with much larger inter-element spacing. It is also shown that circular structures outperform linear structures. This performance difference between the classifications of arrays is due largely to the circular array's ability to handle high levels of interference. Even though a diversity combining scheme (MRC) was used in the simulator, the arrays provided interference rejection capabilities due to the closely spaced antenna elements. Though diversity does provide a gain in received signal, relative to the faded signal, realized diversity gain only comes about once interference has been mitigated. This thesis work showed that in an environment with a lot of interferers, the rejection of those interferers by an array is of utmost importance, even more than fading mitigation.