BASIC RADIO THEORY WAVE CHARACTERISTIC

When alternating current is passed through an aerial, electrical energy is transmitted in the form of waves. Electromagnetic waves propagate in a vacuum and can be stopped by a metallic screen. Radio waves are the product of the changing fields produced by an alternating current Speed The electromagnetic wave travel at a speed of 186000 sm/sec 162000 nm/sec 3 X 108 m/sec Electro-magnetic fields The energy thus transmitted has Electrical fields Magnetic fields. Electric Field

Direction of Propagation

The fields are at right angles to each other. Magnetic Field If the aerial is vertical then the electrical field is vertical and magnetic field is in horizontal plane to the direction of propagation. If the aerial is horizontal then the electrical field is horizontal and magnetic field is in vertical plane to the direction of propagation.

Cycle: One complete oscillation of an AC source i.e. mean value to peak to mean, to peak in other direction to the mean value is called one cycle. Hertz (Hz): Number of cycles per second. Amplitude: The amplitude of a curve is the maximum displacement, or the maximum value it achieves on either side of mean position during a cycle. Frequency (f): Number of cycles per second expressed in hertz 1000 Hz = 1 Kilo hertz 1000 KHz = 1 Mega hertz 1000 MHz = 1 Giga hertz Wave Length: The physical distance traveled by the radio wave during one complete cycle of transmission. It is defined as the distance between successive crests or the distance between two consecutive points a which the moving particles of the medium have the same displacement from the mean value and are moving in the same direction. Frequency-Wave Length Relationship: Frequency = Speed of electromagnetic wave / wavelength Wavelength = Speed of electromagnetic wave / Frequency Speed of electromagnetic wave = Wavelength X Frequency

Phase: Position of a cycle at any instant of time is called its phase. Phase Difference: The angular difference between corresponding points of two wave forms of the same frequency which do not reach the same phase value at the same instant of time.

POLARIZATION Electric Field

Direction of Propagation

Magnetic Field

Radio energy travels in the form of waves from transmitter to the receiver. Radio energy comprises of two components; electrical and magnetic components and they travel at right angle to each other. The plane in which electric vector (field) moves is called its plane of polarization. A vertical aerial transmits electrical vector in vertical plane. Such a transmission is called vertically polarized wave. Receiving aerial should be polarized the same way for optimum reception.
E L E C M A G

C O M P Polar diagram.

Magnetic Component Vertically Polarized

C O M P

Electrical Component Horizontally Polarized

A locus of relative values of field strength (or power) for transmission or reception of an aerial is called its polar diagram. It may be anywhere between horizontal and vertical direction. In simple words it is graphical representation of relative field strength / power radiated by a transmitting aerial or capacity to receive by a receiving aerial at various points in both horizontal and vertical planes. For a transmitter T the polar diagram for the aerial is a teardrop pattern as shown in the diagram. For receivers at A an B at equal distance X from T, the relative field strength of the signal will be in the proportion of the distance covered within the teardrop area shown in the diagram. MODULATION If a Transmitter is in operation at a given frequency it is sending continuous waves and in this fashion it is of no use unless it conveys some information. The information is superimposed on these carrier waves. This superimposition is known as modulation.

Technical limitations make audio frequency (AF) transmission non-effective. AF signals are transported by higher radio frequency (RF). The frequency, which carries the AF, is called Superimposition of AF over the CW is called modulation. carrier wave (CW).

At the receiving end the AF is separated from the CW, which is called demodulation. The process of impressing intelligence on carrier frequency is called Modulation. The various ways of modulation are as follows: (a) (b) (c) (d) Amplitude Modulation Frequency Modulation Pulse Modulation Phase Modulation

Amplitude Modulation (AM) The amplitude of CW is varied by the amplitude of the Audio Frequency. This is achieved by varying the amplitude by superimposing of the audio waves. This method is used for VHF RTF and LF/MF broadcast. The method may be used in one of two ways: (a) (b) To transmit coded message at audio frequencies (AF) or To radiate speech, music etc

In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of carrier is varied in conformation with the amplitude of the audio modulating signal, keeping carriers frequency constant. To transmit coded information, e.g. indent of a navigation facility; breaks must be caused in the audio. This is done either by keying on/off just the audio tone or both audio and the carrier. Note: When a signal is amplitude modulated, its resultant amplitude varies between the sum and difference of the amplitudes of the two waves. Modulation depth It is the extent to which carrier is modulated and is expressed as %age It is ratio amplitude B x 100 / Amplitude A Note: (a) Over modulation causes distortion in the reception.

(b) Broad casters in LF & MF bands employ amplitude modulation, so does Civil Aviation in VHF RT.

Frequency Modulation (FM) The frequency modulation is achieved by varying superimposing the audio frequency, which is quite low. the frequency by

Frequency Modulation is achieved by varying the frequency of the carrier wave in accordance with the change in amplitude of the audio frequency, keeping the amplitude of the carrier constant. The extent of frequency duration depends on the modulating audio; frequency duration is more than mean frequency when modulation is positive and less than frequency, when modulation is negative. Maximum deviation occurs on positive and negative peaks. In the Receiver, a frequency discriminator unit detects these deviations and converts them into useful information. The demodulator at receiver end is called frequency discriminator. It is used in radio altimeter and VOR. FM is advantageous over AM because of following: (a) Its transmitters are simpler (b) Less power required and (c) Reception is practically static free. Comparing technique of FM with AM FM Transmitters are simpler than AM Transmitters, the necessary modulating power is relatively lower and the reception is practically static free. FM Receivers are more complex and modulated transmission calls for a much wider frequency band to cover its multitudes side bands. This is why FM broadcasters operate on VHF Band The congestion of the lower frequency bands would not permit accommodation of necessary bandwidth. NOTE: In Civil Aviation, the technique of frequency modulation is employed in Radio Altimeter, which measures height of aircraft. VOR transmits frequency-modulated carrier. A CW Doppler may find height using this technique. Phase Modulation It is possible to alter the carrier wave by changing the phase of the transmitted signal. This can be used efficiently for transmitting digital information, as in GPS signals, where the phase is reversed every time the binary digit changes.

PULSE MODULATION. Both AM and FM transmissions use continuous carriers. Certain uses of radio waves, for example basic radar, require the signal, or parts of it, to be sent in short bursts. This was initially done by keying short transmissions with long gaps, and such pulse modulation can be applied to basic AM of FM signals. The aim can also be achieved by giving short pulses of either amplitude or frequency modulation to a continuous carrier. The modulating pulses in the simplest form amplitude modulate the carrier, giving shape of pulses. It is used in Radar. Side Bands Are additional frequencies, which occur whenever, a carrier is modulated by a frequency lower than itself, particularly audio frequency. A frequency-modulated signal, by its very structure, transmits signals at varying frequencies. These appear in a band extending in relation to the strength of the modulating signal, around the central carrier frequency, and are distributed equally on both sides of it. Since all information in an FM signal is contained in these sidebands, the receiver must be able to pick up all of them. The range of frequencies containing the sidebands is called bandwidth. Because all the information from the modulating signal is contained in mirrored sidebands around the carrier wave, as we shall see later it is possible to transmit and receive only one group of the sidebands. The other sidebands, and even the carrier wave, can be suppressed and electronically replaced in the receiver. If a transmitter uses only the upper sideband, receiver are tuned to receive that, another transmitter can use the lower sidebands for its signal. This effectively reduces the bandwidth required, and allows more transmitters to use a busy frequency band. DESIGNATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF EMISSIONS BY ICAO Emission NDB HF (Communication) VHF (Communication) & VDF ILS VOR DME Emission Designation NONA1A NONA2A J3E A3E A8W A9W P0N

Explanation of the symbols.

NON

A1A

A2A

J2E

A3E

A8W

N O N A 1 A A 2 A J 3 E A 3 E A 8 W

A9W

A 9

PON

P 0 N

Unmodulated carrier No modulating symbol No information transmitted Double sideband Single channel without modulating sub-carriers Telegraphy for aural reception Double sideband Single channel modulalting sub-carriers Telegraphy for aural reception Single sideband suppressed carrier Single channel containing analogue Telephony (including sound broadcasting) Double sideband Single channel containing analogue information Telephony including sound broadcasting Double sideband Two or more channels containing analogue information Combination of Telegraphy, Fascimile, Data Transmission Telephone, Television Double sideband Composite system comprising single channel with or without modulating sub-carrier, Two or more channels or Single channel or two or more channels containing analogue information Combination of Telegraphy, Fascimile, Data Transmission Telephone, Television Unmodulated Pulses No modulating signal No information transmitted