On the Performance of Algebraic STBCs in WiMax Systems

WiMax is a wireless technology promising to deliver high data rates over large areas to a great number of users. In this paper, the performances of several algebraic space-time codes are investigated in a WiMax environment for different multi-antennae configurations, and by applying various detection methods. These performances are then compared against those of other space-time codes supported by the WiMax technology. The new results obtained here indicate that the algebraic space-time block codes, which are known to greatly outperform any other kind of space-time block codes in uncoded systems, perform slightly better than simple spatial multiplexing schemes in WiMax systems, but with a far greater decoding complexity. They also show that orthogonal space-time or spatial multiplexing codes are better adapted than algebraic space-time codes to multiple antennae transmission in WiMax systems, when performance and complexity are both taken into account.