A Low-decoding-complexity, Large coding Gain, Full-rate, Full-diversity STBC for 4 X 2 MIMO System

Abstract: This paper proposes a low decoding complexity, full-diversity and full-rate space-time block code (STBC) for 4 transmit and 2 receive ($4\times 2$) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. For such systems, the best code known is the DjABBA code and recently, Biglieri, Hong and Viterbo have proposed another STBC (BHV code) which has lower decoding complexity than DjABBA but does not have full-diversity like the DjABBA code. The code proposed in this paper has the same decoding complexity as the BHV code for square QAM constellations but has full-diversity as well. Compared to the best code in the DjABBA family of codes, our code has lower decoding complexity, a better coding gain and hence a better error performance as well. Simulation results confirming these are presented.