multipathefekte

Multipatheffekte, also known as multipath propagation or simply multipath, refers to a physical phenomenon that occurs when a signal, such as radio waves or sound waves, reaches a receiver by multiple paths. This happens because the signal can bounce off objects in the environment, like buildings, walls, or the ground, before arriving at the destination.

The direct path from the transmitter to the receiver is often the shortest and strongest. However, reflected paths can also reach the receiver, but these are typically longer and may have experienced attenuation or phase shifts. When these multiple versions of the same signal arrive at the receiver at slightly different times, they can interfere with each other.

This interference can be constructive, where the signals reinforce each other, potentially strengthening the overall signal. More commonly, however, the interference is destructive, leading to signal fading or distortion. In wireless communication systems, multipath effects can cause a reduction in signal quality, data errors, and even temporary loss of communication. The severity of the multipath effect depends on factors such as the environment, the frequency of the signal, and the antenna characteristics. Techniques like diversity reception, equalization, and spread spectrum are employed to mitigate the negative impacts of multipath propagation in various communication technologies.