Apparatus and methods for multi-antenna communications

A method of radio frequency communication, the method comprising:

• receiving a radio wave using a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array;
• generating two or more analog baseb and signals using a plurality of radio frequency circuit channels each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• amplifying each of the two or more analog baseband signals with a separately controllable gain using a controllable amplification and combining circuit;
• in a beamforming mode, combining the two or more amplified analog baseband signals to generate a combined analog baseband signal using the controllable amplification and combining circuit;
• and
• in a non-beamforming mode, to output the two or more amplified analog baseband signals.

A communication system comprising:

• an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements;
• a plurality of radio frequency circuit channels each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of radio frequency circuit channels operable to generate two or more analog baseband signals in response to the antenna array receiving a radio wave;
• and
• a controllable amplification and combining circuit configured to generate two or more amplified analog baseband signals based on amplifying each of the two or more analog baseband signals with a separately controllable gain, the controllable amplification and combining circuit further configured, in a beamforming mode, to combine the two or more amplified analog baseband signals to generate a combined analog baseband signal and, in a non-beamforming mode, to output the two or more amplified analog baseband signals.