A power-based hardware antenna diversity method for a wireless transceiver
with multiple antennas is disclosed. The method is characterized in the
steps of setting the transceiver gain at a maximum level to establish a
first story of dynamic power range above a noise floor level, using a
high-resolution ADC at a large back-off level relative to the noise floor
to detect weak signals within the first story of the dynamic power range,
switching antennas and measuring power level for each antenna during
signal onset, and selecting an antenna having a largest power level.