Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver employing antenna diversity is provided with a plurality of antennas and a local oscillator. Individual error signals are derived from each of respective ones of signals received from the plurality of antennas. The error signals are thereafter combined in such a way as to arrive at a combined error signal having greater reliability than any one of the individual error signals taken alone. Finally, an automatic frequency control circuit is controlled using the combined error signal. Since the effect of fading on the input signal to the automatic frequency control circuit is reduced, performance of the automatic frequency control circuit is increased and the quality of radio reception is improved.

Abstract: Signals in synchronizing sequences and data sequences are transmitted over a fading channel to a Viterbi-receiver. The signals are received by antennas and sampled to received antenna signals (s.sub.in,r (k)). Part channel estimates (h.sub.est,r) for the individual antennas are formed. For Viterbi-analysis, assumed input signals (s.sub.a,r (.DELTA.T.sub.ij,k)) for the data sequence are produced with the aid of the part channel estimates (h.sub.est,r). Part metric values (m.sub.r (.DELTA.T.sub.ij, k)) are formed as a difference between the received antenna signal (s, .sub.in,r (k)) and corresponding assumed input signals (s.sub.a,r (.DELTA.T.sub.ij, k)) for Viterbi state transitions (.DELTA.T.sub.ij). For one state transition there is formed a metric value such as the sum of a metric value ((M(T.sub.j, k-1)) for an old state (T.sub.j) at a preceding sampling time point (k-1) increased with a weighted (K.sub.r) sum of the part metric values (m.sub.r (.DELTA.T.sub.