Diversity reception

Diversity reception, in electronics, refers to a method for perfectly receiving a radio signal such that there is no interruption in the signal. This is typically achieved by the use of dual receivers whose antennae are located in physically distinct locations, which can be just a few feet apart. An electronic circuit combines or selects from the two signal sources to derive a pure signal.

The best-known practical application of diversity reception is in wireless microphones and similar apparatus such as wireless guitar transmitters. A wireless microphone with a non-diversity receiver (a receiver having only one antenna) is prone to random drop-outs, fades, or noise, especially if the transmitter (the wireless microphone) is in motion. A wireless microphone or sound system using diversity reception will switch to the other antenna within microseconds if one antenna experiences noise, providing a pure signal free of drop-outs or noise.

References: Federal Standard 1037C and MIL-STD-188