COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT 1: INTRODUCTION TO EMONA 101 TRAINER

A. OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENT
1. To investigate the function of the communication modules available in the EMONA 101 trainer
kit.
B. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
1. Emona Telecoms Trainer 101
2. Oscilloscope and Patch leads
3. Dual Channel Oscilloscope
C. SUMMARY OF THEORY
EMONA 101 trainer is used to help student learn about communications and telecommunications
principles. It lets the students brings to life the block diagrams that fill communications textbooks.
Block diagram are used to explain the principle operation of electronic systems without worrying
about how the actual circuit implementation. Among the block diagrams available in the EMONA 101
are master signals, buffer, adder, phase shifter and voltage controlled oscillator.

D. PROCEDURE
Part A. Buffer Module
Amplifiers are used extensively in communications and telecommunications equipment. The buffer
module in Emona Trainer 101 is an amplifier that can make the signals bigger and also used as an
interface between devices and circuits that cant normally be connected.
1. Locate the Buffer module and set its Gain control to about middle of its travel. Connect the set up
shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1
2. Adjust the timebase control to view two or so cycles of the Buffer modules input and output.
Measure and record the peak to peak amplitude of both signals.
The measure of how much bigger an amplifiers output compared to its input is called gain. Gain is
represented as;
Av = Vout/Vin
(1)
3. Calculate and record the Buffer nodules gain.

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The Buffer modules gain is variable. Usefully, it can be set so that the output voltage is smaller than
the input voltage. This is called as attenuation or loss.
4. Turn the Buffer modules gain control fully anti clock wise. Repeat step A.2 and A.3.
Clipping usually occurs when the amplifiers input signal is too big for the amplifiers gain. When this
happens, the amplifier is said to be overdriven. It can also occur if the amplifiers gain is too big for the
input signal.
5. Turn the Buffer modules gain control fully clock wise. Repeat step A.2 and A.3.
Part B. Adder
Adder is used to add two signals together.
1. Locate the Adder module and turn its g control (for Input B) fully anti clock wise.
2. Set the G control (for Input A) to about middle of its travel.
3. Connect the setup shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Adjust the timebase control to view two or so cycles of the Master Signals modules 2 kHz sine
output.
Vary the Adder modules G control left and right and observe the effect. Record your observation.
Measure the voltage on the Adder modules input A.
Turn the Adder modules G control to fully clock wise.
Measure and record the Adder modules output voltage. Calculate and record the voltage gain.
Record your measurement in Table 1.
Turn the Adder modules G control to fully anti clock wise. Repeat steps B.8.
Table 1
Input Voltage
Input A

Output Voltage

Gain

Maximum
Minimum

10. Disconnect the Master signal modules 2 kHz sine output from the Input A and connect it to Input B.
11. Turn the Adder modules g control fully clockwise.
12. Measure the Adder modules output voltage. Record your measurement in Table 3. Calculate and
record the voltage gain of the Adder modules Input B.
13. Turn the Adder modules g control fully anti clockwise. Repeat step B.12.

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Table 2
Input Voltage
Input A

Maximum
Minimum

Output Voltage

Gain

See Table 1

14. Compare the results in Table 1 and 2. What can you say about the Adders outputs in term of their
gain?
15. Turn both of the Adder modules gain controls fully clock wise.
16. Connect the 2 kHz sine output to both Input A and Input B.
17. Measure and record the adder modules new output voltage.

Part C. Phase Shifter

Several communications and telecommunications systems require that the signal to be transmitted is
phase shifted.
1. Locate the Phase Shifter module and set its Phase Change control to the 00 position.
2. Set the Phase Adjust Control to about the middle of its travel.
3. Connect the setup shown in Figure 3.
4. Adjust the Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the master signal modules 2 kHz sine
output and the phase sifiters output.
5. Vary the Phase Adjust control left and right and observe the effect on the two signals. Record your
observation.
6. Set the Phase Shifter module and set its Phase Change control to the 1800 position.
7. Repeat step C.5.

Figure 3

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Part D. Voltage Controlled Oscillator
The VCO module is an oscillator with varying output frequency. The VCO has two outputs, namely
analog and digital.
1. Locate the VCO and set the Gain control to about middle of its travel.
2. Set the VCO modules Frequency Adjust control to about middle of its travel.
3. Set the VCO modules Range control to the LO position.
4. Connect the setup shown in Figure 4.
5. Adjust the scopes Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the VCO modules sine output.
6. Measure the peak to peak amplitude of the VCO modules sine output.
7. Vary the Frequency Adjust control left to right. Measure and record the minimum and maximum
VCo output frequency.
8. Set the VCO modules Range control to the HI position.
9. Repeat step D.7.
The output frequency of VCO module can also be varied by changing the voltage on the Variable DCV.
10. Connect the VDC to the VCO input. Set the VDC control to middle of its travel.
11. Set the input coupling of the scope that connected to the Variable DCV to DC position.
12. Vary the Variable DCV module left to right. Observe the effect to the frequency of the VCO
modules output. Record your measurement in Table 3.

Minimum DCV voltage =

Table 3
Frequency of VCO output =

Maximum DCV voltage =

Frequency of VCO output =

Figure 4

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Part E. Using the EMONA Trainer to Model Equations
1.
2.
3.

Set up the connection shown in Figure 5. This set up is to implement the following equation:
Adder module output = 4Vpp (2 kHz sine) + 4Vpp (2 kHz sine with phase shift)
Set the Phase Change control to 1800. Set the Phase Adjust control until the two signals look like
theyre out of phase to each other.
Measure and record the amplitude of the Adder modules output. Is the output waveform that you
obtained is perfect? If not, do necessary adjustments.

Figure 5

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