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GMSK Basics: Signal Using MSK Modulation

GMSK modulation is a form of continuous phase frequency shift keying used in digital radio communications. It has advantages over other modulation schemes like being more spectrally efficient and allowing for the use of non-linear power amplifiers. GMSK modulation works by passing the modulating signal through a Gaussian filter prior to modulating the carrier, which reduces sidebands compared to unmodified MSK. It is commonly generated using an I-Q modulator to precisely set the modulation index to 0.5. GMSK is used widely in GSM cellular systems due to its spectral efficiency and noise resilience.

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155 views

GMSK Basics: Signal Using MSK Modulation

GMSK modulation is a form of continuous phase frequency shift keying used in digital radio communications. It has advantages over other modulation schemes like being more spectrally efficient and allowing for the use of non-linear power amplifiers. GMSK modulation works by passing the modulating signal through a Gaussian filter prior to modulating the carrier, which reduces sidebands compared to unmodified MSK. It is commonly generated using an I-Q modulator to precisely set the modulation index to 0.5. GMSK is used widely in GSM cellular systems due to its spectral efficiency and noise resilience.

Uploaded by

sagardongar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying, or to give it its full title Gaussian filtered Minimum Shift

Keying, GMSK, is a form of modulation used in a variety of digital radio communications


systems. It has advantages of being able to carry digital modulation while still using the spectrum
efficiently. One of the problems with other forms of phase shift keying is that the sidebands
extend outwards from the main carrier and these can cause interference to other radio
communications systems using nearby channels.

In view of the efficient use of the spectrum in this way, GMSK modulation has been used in a
number of radio communications applications. Possibly the most widely used is the GSM
cellular technology which is used worldwide and has well over 3 billion subscribers.

GMSK basics
GMSK modulation is based on MSK, which is itself a form of phase shift keying. One of the
problems with standard forms of PSK is that sidebands extend out from the carrier. To overcome
this, MSK and its derivative GMSK can be used.

MSK and also GMSK modulation are what is known as a continuous phase scheme. Here there
are no phase discontinuities because the frequency changes occur at the carrier zero crossing
points. This arises as a result of the unique factor of MSK that the frequency difference between
the logical one and logical zero states is always equal to half the data rate. This can be expressed
in terms of the modulation index, and it is always equal to 0.5.

Signal using MSK modulation

A plot of the spectrum of an MSK signal shows sidebands extending well beyond a bandwidth
equal to the data rate. This can be reduced by passing the modulating signal through a low pass
filter prior to applying it to the carrier. The requirements for the filter are that it should have a
sharp cut-off, narrow bandwidth and its impulse response should show no overshoot. The ideal
filter is known as a Gaussian filter which has a Gaussian shaped response to an impulse and no
ringing. In this way the basic MSK signal is converted to GMSK modulation.
Spectral density of MSK and GMSK signals

Generating GMSK modulation


There are two main ways in which GMSK modulation can be generated. The most obvious way
is to filter the modulating signal using a Gaussian filter and then apply this to a frequency
modulator where the modulation index is set to 0.5. This method is very simple and
straightforward but it has the drawback that the modulation index must exactly equal 0.5. In
practice this analogue method is not suitable because component tolerances drift and cannot be
set exactly.

Generating GMSK using a Gaussian filter and VCO

A second method is more widely used. Here what is known as a quadrature modulator is used.
The term quadrature means that the phase of a signal is in quadrature or 90 degrees to another
one. The quadrature modulator uses one signal that is said to be in-phase and another that is in
quadrature to this. In view of the in-phase and quadrature elements this type of modulator is
often said to be an I-Q modulator. Using this type of modulator the modulation index can be
maintained at exactly 0.5 without the need for any settings or adjustments. This makes it much
easier to use, and capable of providing the required level of performance without the need for
adjustments. For demodulation the technique can be used in reverse.
Block diagram of I-Q modulator used to create GMSK

Advantages of GMSK modulation


there are several advantages to the use of GMSK modulation for a radio communications system.
One is obviously the improved spectral efficiency when compared to other phase shift keyed
modes.

A further advantage of GMSK is that it can be amplified by a non-linear amplifier and remain
undistorted This is because there are no elements of the signal that are carried as amplitude
variations. This advantage is of particular importance when using small portable transmitters,
such as those required by cellular technology. Non-linear amplifiers are more efficient in terms
of the DC power input from the power rails that they convert into a radio frequency signal. This
means that the power consumption for a given output is much less, and this results in lower
levels of battery consumption; a very important factor for cell phones.

A further advantage of GMSK modulation again arises from the fact that none of the information
is carried as amplitude variations. This means that is immune to amplitude variations and
therefore more resilient to noise, than some other forms of modulation, because most noise is
mainly amplitude based.

GMSK highlights
GMSK modulation is a highly successful form of modulation, being used in GSM cellular
technology, and as a result, its use is particularly widespread. It is also used in other radio
communications applications because of its advantages in terms of spectral efficiency, resilience
to noise and its ability to allow the use of efficient transmitter final amplifiers. Even though other
radio communications systems utilise other forms of modulation, GMSk is an ideal choice for
many applications.

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