Performance analysis of maximal ratio combining and comparison with optimum combining for mobile radio communications with cochannel interference

The performance of maximal ratio combining for space diversity reception in digital cellular mobile radio systems is studied for communications in the presence of multiple cochannel interference (CCI) sources and is compared to optimum combining. The main contribution of the paper is that the analysis accounts for fading of the signal of interest (SOI) as well as the cochannel interference (CCI). The paper considers BPSK signalling in flat, quasi-static channels. Rayleigh or Rice fading is assumed for the SOI, while CCI is assumed subject to Rayleigh fading. Channels associated with interference sources are assumed independent and identically distributed. Using a multivariate statistical analysis approach and assuming equal-power interference sources, analytical expressions are derived for the density function of the array output signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), the outage probability, and the average probability of bit error with maximal ratio combining. Earlier results obtained for optimum combining and Rayleigh fading are extended to the case when the SOI is subject to Rice fading. A limited analysis of the equal gain combiner is also presented.