Bit Error Rate Analysis of Maximal-Ratio Combining over Correlated Gaussian Vector Channels

Analytical results are derived for the performance of maximal-ratio combining (MRC) over correlated Gaussian vector channels. Generality is maintained by assuming arbitrary- power users and no specific form for the covariance matrices of the received faded signals. The scenarios of Rayleigh fading and statistical independence among diversity branches are considered as special cases of the general analysis. The analysis is presented within the context of a system with receive diversity and cochannel interference. The results obtained are applicable to antipodal signaling over a multiuser single-input multiple-output (SIMO) channel.