Abstract: A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving multi-carrier wideband signals is arranged to determine, during a guard interval, which antenna provides the strongest carrier, for each of a plurality of carrier frequencies. A switch is then operated to select, for the subsequent symbol, that antenna which provides the greatest number of strongest carriers.

Abstract: A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving wideband signals is arranged to split the received signal into separate channels each carrying a respective frequency band. Respective switch means are provided for each channel in order to switch the input of each channel between different antennas. A switch control determines the switch setting in accordance with the result of a comparison operation, preferably performed during a guard period, in which the signal qualities for different settings are compared.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, symbol timing recovery, comprising asynchronously sampling a signal burst at a predetermined plurality of times per symbol period, combining corresponding samples occurring in successive sampling cycle periods, making a soft decision on each combination of samples, and selecting for demodulation a timing offset(i) giving the largest soft decision.

Abstract: A diversity receiver for receiving digital signals, particularly, but not exclusively, digital private mobile radio signals, comprises first and second reception branches (10,12) which frequency down convert respective input signals to the zero IF signals which are digitized and combined in a maximal ratio combiner (22) and the result is applied to a digital demodulator (23). The first and second branches are asymmetrical with the first branch (10) being fully specified and the second branch (12) being deliberately degraded relative to the first branch (10).