Evaluating spatial diversity technique for mitigating multipath fading of fixed terrestrial point-to-point systems

Multipath fading is the dominant propagation factor for fixed terrestrial microwave line-of-sight (LOS) radio links operating at frequencies below 10 GHz. Fading due to multipath propagation attenuates received signals on line-of-sight links and thereby impair the performance of point-to-point systems. Several methods are used to reduce the effects of multipath fading without or with the need for diversity. Antenna spacing in spacing diversity is one of the most effective methods of mitigating multipath fading. This paper provides an evaluation of the concept of two antenna space-diversity configuration for fixed terrestrial microwave line-of-sight radio links. Multipath fading events due to multipath arising from ground reflection points have been analysed along the terrain path profile. A spatial diversity with two antenna configuration in different antenna heights above ground level is simulated over sample fixed terrestrial microwave line-of-sight radio links. The results have been evaluated in terms of the available signal power at the receiver.