Systems and methods for providing improved cell-edge antenna performance are disclosed. The system can use various signal quality indicators (SQIs) for each user equipment (UE) on a particular wireless base station (WBS) or network. When one or more of these metrics reaches a first predetermined value for a particular UE, the WBS or the UE can decide to activate a diversity receive (Rx) antenna on the UE to improve reception. If one or more of these metrics continues to degrade to a second predetermined value, however, the WBS or the UE can deactivate the diversity Rx antenna and activate a primary Rx antenna. Deactivating the diversity antenna when signal quality/strength is poor can improve reception by reducing interference between the diversity Rx antennas. Disabling the diversity Rx antenna when signal quality/strength is poor can also decrease the number of retransmission requests from each UE, reducing traffic on the WBS.