INTRODUCTION

In a typical wireless communication environment, multiple propagation paths often exist from a transmitter to a receiver due to scattering by different objects. Signal copies following different paths can undergo different attenuation, distortions, delays and phase shifts. Constructive and destructive interference can occur at the receiver. When destructive interference occurs, the signal power can be signi cantly diminished. !his phenomenon is called fading. !he performance of a system "in terms of probability of error# can be severely degraded by fading. $ery often, especially in mobile communications, not only do multiple propagation paths exist, but they are also time-varying. !he result is a time-varying fading channel. Communication through these channels can be dif cult. Special techni%ues may be re%uired to achieve satisfactory performance. channels can be dif cult. Special techni%ues may be re%uired to achieve satisfactory performanc

In wireless communications, fading is deviation of the attenuation affecting a signal over certain propagation media. !he fading may vary with time, geographical position or radio fre%uency, and is often modeled as a random process. & fading channel is a communication channel comprising fading. In wireless systems, fading may either be due to multipath propagation, referred to as multipath induced fading, or due to shadowing from obstacles affecting the wave propagation, sometimes referred to as shadow fading. & common example of deep fade is the experience of stopping at a traffic light and hearing an '( broadcast degenerate into static, while the signal is re-ac%uired if the vehicle moves only a fraction of a meter. !he loss of the broadcast is caused by the vehicle stopping at a point where the signal experienced severe destructive interference. Cellular phones can also exhibit similar momentary fades.

Types of fading