Space-Time Coding for Aeronautical Telemetry: Part II - Experimental Results

Abstract

Experiments involving side-by-side comparisons of traditional two-antenna transmissions and space-time coded (STC) transmissions involving two transmit antennas confirm theoretical predictions that space time coding is effective in removing signal dropouts caused by the "twoantenna problem." The experiments involved real transmitters on an airborne platform and a prototype demodulator operating at the Air Force Flight Test Center. The theory is confirmed both by the behaviors of the received signal powers from the two signaling approaches as well as the improved link availability based on the bit error rate performance.