BER Prediction of Distributed MISO Systems Using Beamsteering with Phase Compensation in mmWave Channels

This paper presents theoretical derivations for predicting the bit error rate (BER) of distributed antenna systems (DAS) in 3GPP clustered delay line channels with partial blockage accounting for typical millimeter wave (mmWave) propagation conditions. Assuming that the receiver equalizer is not updated during sudden blockage events, a statistical analysis is led to provide the probability density functions for received symbols under such blockage conditions. Three beamforming techniques—maximum ratio transmission (MRT), beamsteering (BS), and a proposed combination of BS with phase compensation (PC)—are considered in line-of-sight scenarios. Analytical BER predictions of the proposed PC-BS are validated through simulations, offering insights for optimizing DAS in mmWave environments. In particular, we conclude that PC-BS performs very close to MRT while being much simpler to implement and much more suited to mmWave electronics.