Advantages of MIMO | Disadvantages of MIMO
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of MIMO technique. It mentions MIMO advantages or benefits and MIMO disadvantages or drawbacks. It provides links on various topics on MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) basics.
What is MIMO?
Introduction:
As we know MIMO is multiple antenna technology in which more than one antennas
are used at transmitter and receiver stations.
In this smart antenna technology type, different set of data symbols are transmitted in order to
achieve high data rate compare to SISO (i.e. single antenna based system). The data at receive end from these
antennas are passed through mathematical algorithms in order to recover the original
trasmitted information without any errors. This helps in achieving higher data rate or throughput
while maintaining good BER (Bit Error Rate) of the system.
There are other variants in multiple antenna technology viz. MISO (Multiple Input Single Output)
and SIMO (Single Input Multiple Output). In MIMO, multiple antennas are used
at both transmit and receive ends. The 2x2 MIMO mode is depicted in the figure-1. In MISO, multiple antennas are used at transmit end and
single antenna is used at receive end. In SIMO, single antenna is used at transmit end and
multiple antennas are used at receive end. There are many variants of MIMO based on antenna configurations
at the transmit and receive ends viz. 4x4, 8x8 etc.
Refer MIMO vs SISO,
Single user vs Multiuser MIMO>> ,
Coordinated Multipoint MIMO and
Massive MIMO for more information.
Benefits or advantages of MIMO
Following are the benefits or advantages of MIMO:
➨The higher data rate can be achieved with the help of multiple antennas and SM
(Spatial Multiplexing) technique. This helps in achieving higher downlink and uplink throughput.
➨It helps in achieving reduction in BER (Bit Error Rate) due to application of
advanced signal processing algorithms on the received data symbols by multiple antennas.
➨The techniques such as STBC (Space Time Block Coding) and BF (Beamforming) when employed in MIMO
system helps in achieving extension of cell coverage.
➨MIMO based system minimize fading effects seen by the information traveling
from transmit to receive end. This is due to various diversity techniques such as time, frequency and space.
➨There is lower susceptibility of tapping by unauthorized persons due to
multiple antennas and algorithms.
➨The systems with MIMO offers high QoS (Quality of Service) with increased spectral
efficiency and data rates.
➨The wide coverage supported by MIMO system helps in supporting large number of
subscribers per cell.
➨The MIMO based system is widely adopted in latest wireless standards viz. WLAN (802.11n, 802.11ac etc.),
WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e), LTE, LTE-Advanced etc.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of MIMO
Following are the disadvantages of MIMO:
➨The resource requirements and hardware
complexity is higher compare to single antenna antenna based system.
Each antenna requires individual RF units for radio signal processing.
Moreover advanced DSP chip is needed to run advanced mathematical signal processing
algorithms.
➨The hardware resources increase power requirements.
Battery gets drain faster due to processing of complex and computationally intensive signal processing
algorithms. This reduces battery lifetime of MIMO based devices.
➨MIMO based systems cost higher compare to single antenna based system due to
increased hardware and advanced software requirements.
Advantages and Disadvantages of other wireless technologies
What is Difference between
difference between OFDM and OFDMA
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
FDMA vs TDMA vs CDMA
FDM vs TDM
CDMA vs GSM