A Full-Rate Space-Time Block Code with Rational Separators and Shapers

In this conference paper, we revisit the celebrated Golden space-time block code and show that it is possible to find space-time block codes with rational separators and shapers. We thus demolish the preconception that only irrational numbers can be used as separators and shapers. We start with the determinant of the transmit matrix and derive the necessary constraints for separators in order to put on equal footing the two 2D symbols transmitted together by an antenna in a single channel use. Once the separators have been established, the shapers result accordingly. We substantiate with a space-time block code and compare it with the Golden code by way of computer simulations. The new code is only slightly inferior as about the FER and BER performance.