Empirical rates characterization of wearable multi-antenna terminals for first-responders

Empirical characterization of the achievable rates for a wearable multi-antenna terminal shows
the potential advantages of deploying a large number of antennas at the user end. We focus on the challenges
and requirements of the broadband communication in future emergency communication systems, specifically
addressing the outdoor–to–indoor propagation scenario, where the first responder is within an underground
area such as a garage or basement. The measurement campaign undertaken characterizes the flat fading
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel matrices at 3.5 GHz for a maximum of M = 30 antennas
deployed at the base station (BS), and N = 12 wearable antennas at the user. The achievable rates are
obtained for two transmission strategies that account for the different levels of channel knowledge. In both
cases, all the MIMO processing is carried out at the BS.