Channel model and capacity for broadband indoor MIMO-WLAN systems based on measurements at 2.4 GHz

Abstract

The paper provides a channel model which is suited for broadband indoor WLAN (wireless local area network) applications. Especially the communication within one room is addressed. These applications are characterised by no or very slow movements of the terminal in conjunction with high data rates requiring high bandwidths for transmission. Present WLAN systems offer data rates up to 108 M b/s, multiple antenna systems -MIMO systems are at the beginning of their introduction into the market. Upcoming demand for even higher data rates necessitating higher bandwidth efficiency is almost sure. This requires at first hand a full understanding of the channel in order to make best use of it. The paper shows, that the channel can be described best by a deterministic model, which needs only few dominant paths. This is underlined by channel sounder measurements and simple calculations. Making use of this deterministic channel model the paper shows capacity improvements over a widespread Rayleigh fading model assumption.