Abstract: The quality of a channel for each of a plurality of receive antennas is determined in part by examining data collected during reception of test data. Substantially simultaneously, payload data is also used to evaluate channel quality for at least one antenna. A quality metric calculated for any given antenna is the result of measurements made upon the test and payload data. Parameters used to calculate the quality metric are preferably divided into two sets of non-identical parameters, those based on the test data and those based on the payload data. These parameters preferably include jitter, received signal strength, CRC errors and synchronization errors. By continuously updating quality metrics based on both test and payload data, more reliable assessments can be made of the various antennas being used. As a result, antenna selection is rendered commensurately more reliable thereby improving received signal quality.

Abstract: The quality of a channel for each of a plurality of receive antennas is determined in part by examining data collected during reception of test data. Substantially simultaneously, payload data is also used to evaluate channel quality for at least one antenna. A quality metric calculated for any given antenna is the result of measurements made upon the test and payload data. Parameters used to calculate the quality metric are preferably divided into two sets of non-identical parameters, those based on the test data and those based on the payload data. These parameters preferably include jitter, received signal strength, CRC errors and synchronization errors. By continuously updating quality metrics based on both test and payload data, more reliable assessments can be made of the various antennas being used. As a result, antenna selection is rendered commensurately more reliable thereby improving received signal quality.