A Practical Diversity Combining Scheme based on the Selection of Maximal Ratio Combined Signals

—This paper presents a general diversity combining scheme, in which maximal-ratio combined signals are chosen on a traditional selection combining algorithm. This method has a simple implementation and a tractable analytical formulation. A general analysis of the probability distribution, level crossing rate, and average fade duration at the output of the combiner is provided, exemplifying for a Nakagami-m fading environment. The main result of the present work, however, is the derivation of an exact expression for the SNR at the output of the combiner for a Nakagami-m fading scenario. The formulations derived here find a direct applicability in the dimensioning of cellular networks.