A radio-over-fiber distributed antenna system permits larger physical separation between antennas in a wireless system's infrastructure; this investigation verifies that improved performance -lower error rates and higher capacities -can thus be achieved. In this paper, specific single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input single-output (MISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) algorithms are compared in an experimental radio over fiber system, using user-defined processing functions for the signals. It is shown that significantly reduced symbol error rate (SER) and modestly increased capacity is achieved for a wireless 1x2 SIMO uplink using the maximal ratio combining (MRC) processing algorithm and 2x1 MISO downlink using the Alamouti space time block coding (STBC) scheme. Further, SER is reduced for a downlink 2x2 wireless MIMO using the zero-forcing algorithm while, most importantly, greatly increased capacity is achieved through the spatial multiplexing gain.

The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.

The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.

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 2.2km of fiber and up to 8m of 60 GHz wireless transmission distance. A performance comparison is performed between Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) 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 30m indoor transmission. Index Terms-Radio-over-Fiber (RoF), Millimeter Wave (mmW), Multiple-input Multiple-output (MIMO)

The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.