Technical Paper
Mobile FM Reception: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of FM Diversity Systems
1994-03-01
940265
Increasing customer expectations, combined with the expanding application of high-performance media delivery systems, requires a high performance level be achieved for automotive FM reception with the existing analog broadcast technology. Multipath distortion is often cited as a leading industry concern that can limit the quality of mobile FM reception. FM diversity has been identified as a potential methodology for improving the reception performance under multipath conditions. However, the delay time and strength of any signal reflections can vary considerably under differing terrain and geographic conditions. The corresponding amplitude and phase disturbances within the transmission channel are significantly different as a function of the propagation environment. Additionally, the specific implementation strategy and architecture of the diversity system can have a significant impact on the performance effectiveness of the system.