Implementation of a real-time multiple input multiple output channel estimator on the smart antenna software radio test system platform using the Xilinx Virtex 2 Pro Field Programmable Gate Array

This paper describes the concept, architecture, development and demonstration of a real time, channel estimator system on a Xilinx Virtex 2 Pro field programmable gate array for a 4-transmit 4-receiver multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) wireless test platform. It is designed and developed for research into receiver diversity and MIMO wireless systems. Hardware, firmware, use of the Xilinx Core Generator Intellectual Property modules and experimental verification of the channel estimator are discussed