Analog radio-over-fiber supported increased RAU spacing for 60 GHz distributed MIMO employing spatial diversity and multiplexing

Abstract

The improvements in coverage through spatial diversity and increased data rates through spatial multiplexing using a distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system are important targets for future wireless communications. Here, the appropriate separation of remote antenna units (RAUs) at several user locations in a millimeter-wave system is demonstrated. An analog radio-over-fiber (RoF) fronthaul is used to achieve flexible spacing of distributed RAUs and transports two Gb/s data streams over 2.2 km of fiber and up to 8 m of 60 GHz wireless transmission distance. A performance comparison is performed between single-input single-output and MIMO operation using different antenna spacing and transmission distance. Results show that the wider RAU spacing enabled by the RoF distribution provides improved results at longer distances, for both spatial diversity and for spatial multiplexing. Verification of a method for measuring each channel coefficient individually and using subsequent MIMO processing on these coefficients enables an extension to the results showing the feasibility of 30 m indoor transmission.