This　paper　is　concerned　with　the　consensus　of　multi-agent　systems　(MASs)　in　the　presence　of　fading　channels　and　limited　communication　bandwidth.　These　issues　will　lead　to　inaccurate　and　energy　constraints　of　communication　data　respectively,　which　will　not　be　possible　for　MASs　to　achieve　consensus.　To　this　end,　this　paper　proposes　a　variable　structure　encoding-decoding　scheme　(VS-EDS),　which　includes　an　encoder　with　a　unitary　signal　generator　and　a　corresponding　decoder　with　an　adaptive　activation　module.　The　advantages　of　the　proposed　VS-EDS　are　mainly　in　three　aspects.　First,　it　avoids　the　need　for　existing　methods　to　perform　a　large　amount　of　statistical　work　on　the　statistics　of　fading　gains　before　the　system　runs.　Second,　it　can　eliminate　the　communication　errors　caused　by　fading.　At　the　same　time,　it　can　adapt　to　the　changing　communication　network　environment.　In　addition,　in　order　to　achieve　consensus　control,　a　distributed　protocol　based　on　the　VS-EDS　is　designed.　Finally,　the　feasibility　and　effectiveness　of　the　VS-EDS　are　demonstrated　through　comparative　simulations.　©　2025　Elsevier　Inc.