MODULATION

Prepared by: Clairmont Taitt

What is Modulation

Modulation is the process of putting information signal onto a high

frequency carrier for transmission.

▪ Before a signal is transmitted by a transmitter, it has to be modulated.

▪ The circuit that does this is called a Modulator.

▪ The opposite of modulation is called Demodulation. In this process, the

two modulated signals are separated after being captured by the receiver.

▪ The circuit that demodulates signal is called a Demodulator or Detector.

▪ The high frequency carrier signal is generated by a circuit called an Oscillator.

 Types of Modulation

Analog modulation – The modulating Digital modulation - The modulating

signal and carrier both are analogue signal is a digital signal, but the carrier is
signal. an analogue signal.

NOTE: This handout will only focus on analog modulation. Digital modulation is much more complex and
advance
Reasons for Modulating a signal

▪ Give signal more energy to be transmitted over longer

distances; therefore increasing the range of communication

▪ To reduce interference

▪ To reduce antenna size and height

▪ To improves Quality of Reception

▪ Multiplexing is possible
 Amplitude modulation (AM)

A process where the amplitude of the carrier signal is modulated (changed) in

proportion to the message signal while the frequency and phase are kept
constant.

▪ is the simplest form of Modulation

▪ Featured in earliest form of transmitters

▪ AM applications include broadcasting in medium- and high-frequency

applications, CB radio, and aircraft communications
 Before Modulation

After Modulation
message signal rides
the carrier signal

FIG.1: Diagram showing waveform of Message signal and carrier signal

before modulation, and modulated signal after modulation.
 fm

Bandwidth
▪ Envelope rides the positive and negative peaks of carrier wave

FIG.2: Diagram illustrating process of Amplitude Modulation.

 After modulation three frequencies are produced:

1. Center frequency fc
The carrier frequency fc

2. Upper Side Band (USB)

The sum of the carrier frequency fc and modulating frequency fm = fc + fm

3. Lower Side Band (LSB)

The difference of the carrier frequency fc and modulating frequency fm = fc - fm

Note: the useful power is carried by the side bands, though majority of the AM wave power is in the
carrier
AM Bandwidth Spectrum

Lower Side Upper Side

Band Band

LSB USB

frequency
fc - fm fc fc + f m

Bandwidth (w)

Bandwidth (w) = fc + fm – (fc – fm) = 2fm

Bandwidth (w) = 2fm

 Modulation Index (m)

Is the ratio of Amplitude of modulating signal to amplitude of the carrier wave.

▪ is used to determine the strength and quality of transmitted signal

Amplitude of modulating signal (M)

Modulation Index (m) =
Amplitude of carrier signal (C)

M
m=
C
 Modulation Index (m) graph

Under Modulation 100% Modulation Over Modulation

m<1 m=1 m>1

Modulation Index Modulation Index Modulation Index

(m) less than 1 or (m) equal to1 or (m) Greater than
100% 100% 1 or 100%

Good and acceptable Good and acceptable Not good and acceptable
causes distortion and
clipping of signal
FIG.3: Waveform illustrating various values of modulation index (ma)
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Amplitude Modulation (AM)

Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Amplitude Modulation is easier to ▪ When it comes to power usage it
implement. is not efficient.

▪ Demodulation can be done using ▪ It requires a very high bandwidth

few components and a circuit. that is equivalent to that of the
highest audio frequency.

▪ The receiver used for AM is very ▪ Noise interference is highly

cheap. noticeable.

▪ Simple and less complex

 Frequency modulation (FM)

Modulation where the frequency of the carrier signal is modulated (changed)

in proportion to the message signal while the amplitude and phase are kept
constant.

▪ FM signal has a higher efficiency

▪ Has larger bandwidth than AM

▪ better immunity to noise ( less noise)

 Before Modulation

After Modulation
message signal frequency varies
with the carrier signal frequency

FIG.4: Diagram showing waveform of Message signal and carrier signal

before modulation, and modulated signal after modulation.
 Frequency modulation produces many side bands after modulation.

FM Upper Side Bands = fc+ nfm FM Lower Side Bands = fc- nfm

Where:
fc = Carrier frequency fm = modulation signal frequency n = any integer (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on).

FM Bandwidth (w) = 2fm(1 + m)

Commercial FM broadcasting requires 150 KHz of bandwidth to transmit a 15 KHz

audio signal, 5 times the bandwidth required for an AM signal. Commercial WBFM
( wide band FM) broadcasts occur in the VHF (very high frequency) range, between
88 and 108 MHz. The carrier frequencies start at 88.1 MHz and are separated by
200 KHz intervals.
 Modulation Index (m)
Is the ratio of the change in frequency of modulating signal to frequency of the
carrier wave.
▪ is used to determine the strength and quality of transmitted signal

Change in Frequency of modulating signal (Δ fm)

Modulation Index (m) =
frequency of carrier signal (fc)

Δ fm
m=
fc
Advantages and Disadvantages of Frequency Modulation (FM)

Advantages Disadvantages
▪ signal has a higher efficiency ▪ More expensive to implement
and setup
▪ larger bandwidth ▪ more complex system and
circuitry
▪ Less noise, better clarity ▪ Has shorter range than AM

▪ Resilient to signal strength

variations
 Phase modulation (PM)

Modulation where the phase of the carrier signal is varied accordance to

the low frequency of the message signal is known as phase modulation.

▪ intended for transmitting communication signals.

▪ become the basis for modulation schemes used for carrying data.

▪ basis of a form of modulation known as quadrature amplitude

modulation. modulation, where both phase and amplitude are varied to
provide additional capabilities.
 Before Modulation

After Modulation
message signal phase varies
with the carrier signal phase

FIG.5: Diagram showing waveform of Message signal and carrier signal

before modulation, and modulated signal after modulation.
FIG.6: Diagram illustrating process of Phase Modulation.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Phase Modulation (PM)

Advantages Disadvantages
▪ simple contrasted to FM ▪ More expensive to implement
and setup than AM
▪ large bandwidth, more than ▪ Requires complex hardware
AM
▪ Less noise, better clarity than
AM, but not FM
Example: A carrier wave of 700KHZ is amplitude modulated by a speech signal of 540HZ.
Calculate:
1. the bandwidth of transmission, and the upper and lower frequencies in the output signal.
2. The bandwidth of the transmission.
3. The percentage modulation, if the amplitude of the carrier is 9v and that of the
modulating signal is 5v.
fc =700,000HZ , fm = 540HZ
1. Upper side frequency = fc + fm
Upper side frequency = 700,000HZ + 540HZ = 700,540HZ

USB = 700,540HZ

Lower side frequency = fc - fm

Lower side frequency = 700,000HZ - 540HZ = 699,460HZ
LSB = 699,460HZ

2. Bandwidth = 2 fm
Bandwidth = 2 x 540HZ
Bandwidth = 1080HZ
3. Amplitude of modulating signal (M)
Modulation Index (m) =
Amplitude of carrier signal (C)

Amplitude of modulating signal (M) = 6V

Amplitude of carrier signal (C) = 9V

Modulation index = 6V /9V

= 0.67
Modulation Index (m) = 0.67

% Modulation = 0.67 x 100

% Modulation = 67%