A wireless communication apparatus is equipped with a plurality of antennas. A switch leads a received signal by way of an antenna selected according to an antenna switching signal to a demodulator unit. Software installed in a MAC unit generates a first switching signal. A diversity control unit generates a second switching signal by the built-in hardware circuit. The first switching signal is used as an antenna switching signal during a packet receiving ready period, while the second switching signal is used as an antenna switching signal during a period for receiving a packet.