Low effort massive MIMO antenna arrays and their use

摘要

An apparatus includes a number of first RF chains configured to be able to be coupled to a plurality of first antennas from an antenna array and a number of second RF chains configured to be able to be coupled to a plurality of second antennas from the antenna array. The first and second antennas are different. The first and second RF chains are configured to create RF signals from baseband signals. The first RF chains have a certain functionality, and the second RF chains have a reduced functionality relative to the certain functionality. The apparatus may include the antenna array. The first and second antennas may have the same or different characteristics. A base station may include the apparatus. Sets of antennas for the second RF chains may be use to create signals used for over-the-air signal combining at a receiver. Methods and program products are also described.