Wi-Fi radio distribution network stations and method of operating Wi-Fi RDN stations

A Wi-Fi radio distribution network (RDN) station for use in a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of wireless stations, the Wi-Fi RDN station comprising:

• a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system configured to operate in accordance with a channel estimation MIMO receiving scheme;
• and
• a RDN connected to the MIMO receiving system, the RDN comprising at least one beamformer arranged to be fed by two or more antennas, wherein each of the beamformers includes a combiner configured to combine signals coming from a plurality of antennas associated with the respective beamformer into a single signal, and, wherein the MIMO receiving system is configured to select whether to perform channel estimation using a single antenna or beamforming, said selection being based on one or more packets addressed to one or more wireless stations in the communications network other than the Wi-Fi RDN station,
• wherein the MIMO receiving system is configured to determine whether an access point (AP) serving the Wi-Fi RDN station is to send a packet to a station other than the Wi-Fi RDN station and
• if the determination is positive perform said channel estimation using a single antenna;
• and
• if the determination is negative use one or more alternative methods for beamforming or channel estimation or both, and
• wherein the one or more alternative methods comprise:
• beamforming based on one or more packets addressed to one or more wireless stations in the communications network other than the Wi-Fi RDN station;
• and
• channel estimation or beamforming based on one or more packets addressed to the Wi-Fi RDN station, and
• wherein the MIMO receiving system is configured to determine the level of packets addressed to stations in the communications network other than the Wi-Fi RDN station based on the ratio between air-time or number of packets addressed to other stations and air-time or number of packets addressed to the Wi-Fi RDN station over a period of time.