We study the error performance of the binary phase-shift keying (BPSK)-modulated distributed selection combining (SC) and distributed switched-and-stay combining (DSSC) schemes that utilize a single fixed-gain amplify-and-forward (AF) relay under Rayleigh fading conditions. The error performance of the distributed maximal ratio combining (MRC) is also investigated, which serves here as a benchmark. The numerical examples confirm that SC and DSSC offer a simpler substitute for MRC without much

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... ss in performance. Moreover, we interestingly note that the performance of DSSC with a single fixed-gain AF relay is similar to that of DSSC with a single decode-and-forward relay, despite its relative simplicity. Index Terms-Amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying, error performance, selection combining (SC), switch-and-stay combining (SSC).