Diversity reception
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In telecommunications, diversity reception refers to a method for improving reception of a radio signal, typically achieved by the use of dual receivers whose antennas are located in physically distinct locations (which can be less than a metre apart). An electronic circuit or software combines or selects from the receive antenna to receive an improved quality signal.
The best-known practical application of diversity reception is in wireless microphones, and in similar electronic devices such as wireless guitar systems. A wireless microphone with a non-diversity receiver (a receiver having only one antenna) is prone to random drop-outs, fades, noise, or other interference, especially if the transmitter (the wireless microphone) is in motion. A wireless microphone or sound system using diversity reception will switch to the other antenna within microseconds if one antenna experiences noise, providing an improved quality signal with fewer drop-outs and noise. Ideally, no drop-outs or noise will occur in the received signal.
Diversity reception is a form of MIMO (Multiple inputs, multiple outputs) telecommunications systems which uses multiple antennas at the receiver and/or transmitter to improve performance.
References: Federal Standard 1037C and MIL-STD-188