Cape Electrical and

Electronic Technology
Topic: Electromagnetic Waves
By: Tahvorn George & Charles,J

Amplitude Modulation
What is Amplitude Modulation?
Amplitude Modulation is a technique that is used in electronic
Communication, for the transmission of information via a carrier
wave.
A carrier wave is an electromagnetic wave that can be
modulated. For example frequency, amplitude or phrase which is
then used to transmit speech, music, images or other signals.
In modulation the signal strength of the carrier wave is varied in
proportion to the wave that is being transmitted.

Forms of Amplitude Modulation

Double Sideband Amplitude Modulation( DSB-AM)

Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation( SSB)
Modulators
Demodulators
Narrowband
Broadband Amplitude Modulation

Double Sideband Amplitude

Modulation (DSB-AM)
Double Sideband Amplitude Modulation also know as
simply AM is one of the oldest method of modulation that
depends on a carrier-signal( Marcani 1895), which only
allows simple implementations by the use of nonlinear
components. Also only long, medium and short wave
broadcasts use AM or DSB-AM due to the minor need for
receivers.

Single Sideband Amplitude

Modulation( SSB)
In radio communications, Single Sideband Amplitude
Modulation is an improvement of amplitude modulation by
using transmitting power and bandwidth more efficiently.
When a carrier wave undergoes amplitude modification it
produces an output signal that has twice the bandwidth of
the original signal. SSB bypasses all this by simply
avoiding bandwidth doubling, hence the name Single
Sideband Amplitude Modulation. It also avoids the power
that is being wasted on a carrier in exchange for increase
device difficulty and more problematic tuning at the
receiver.

Modulators
A modulator is a device capable of conducting modulation.
Modulation is the process of varying the properties of a
periodic waveform( carrier signal), with a modulating
signal that would naturally contain information that is to
be transmitted.

Demodulators
A Demodulator is a device capable of conducting
demodulation which is simply the opposite of modulation.

Narrowband
Narrowband refers to data communication and
telecommunication tools, technologies and services that
utilize a limited set of frequencies in the communication
channel. This channel frequency is mostly considered to
be flat.

Broadband Amplitude
Modulation
The word broadband in telecommunications is the wide
bandwidth data transmission with the capability to
transmit multiple signals and traffic types at the same
time. Basically it is a signaling method that is used to
handle a wide band of frequencies.

Frequency Modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency
modulation is the encoding of information in a carrier
wave by varying the instantaneous frequency of the wave.

FM Modulator
FM signals may be generated using either direct or indirect frequency
modulation.
Direct Frequency Modulation can be attained by directly feeding the message
into the input of aVCO( Voltage Controlled Oscillator).
For Indirect Frequency Modulation to occur the message signal must be
integrated in order to generate a phase-modulated signal( a signal that
contains information such as an audio signal). Which is then used to modulate
a crystal controlled oscillator, and the end result is then passed through a
frequency multiplier to then give an FM signal. This Modulation causes
narrowband FM to be generated which will later change to wideband FM
later on.

FM Demodulator
Aphase-locked loop a Detector/Demodulator is a device
that can be used as an FM demodulator.Slope Detection
conducts demodulation of an FM signal by the use of a
tuned circuit which has its resonant frequency slightly
offset from the carrier. As the frequency alternates the
tuned circuit provides a changing amplitude of response,
converting FM to AM.

Super-Heterodyne Radio
Receiver
Super-Heterodyning is mixing two frequencies in order to
achieve a lower resultant frequency.
A Super-Heterodyne Radio Receiver is a circuit that
incorporates a second oscillating frequency that mixes
with the tuner frequency to eventually create a lower
output frequency.

AM & FM
Systems in
comparison

AM

FM

AM - Amplitude Modulation

FM - Frequency Modulation

In AM, a radio wave known as the

"carrier" or "carrier wave" is
modulated in amplitude by the
signal that is to be transmitted. The
frequency and phase remain the
same.

In FM, a radio wave known as

the "carrier" or "carrier wave" is
modulated in frequency by the
signal that is to be transmitted.
The amplitude and phase remain
the same.

Definition

Modulating
differences

AM has poorer sound quality

compared with FM, but is cheaper
and can be transmitted over long
Pros and cons distances. It has a lower bandwidth
so it can have more stations
available in any frequency range.

FM is less prone to interference

than AM. However, FM signals
are impacted by physical
barriers. FM has better sound
quality due to higher bandwidth

Frequency Range

Bandwidth
Requirements

Zero crossing in
modulated signal

Noise

AM radio ranges from 535 FM radio ranges in a

to 1705 KHz (OR) Up to
higher spectrum from 88
1200 bits per second.
to 108 MHz. (OR) 1200 to
2400 bits per second.
Twice the highest
modulating frequency. In
AM radio broadcasting,
the modulating signal has
bandwidth of 15kHz, and
hence the bandwidth of an
amplitude-modulated
signal is 30kHz.
Equidistant

Twice the sum of the

modulating signal
frequency and the
frequency deviation. If the
frequency deviation is
75kHz and the modulating
signal frequency is 15kHz,
the bandwidth required is
180kHz.
Not equidistant

AM is more susceptible to FM is less susceptible to

noise because noise affects noise because information
amplitude, which is where in an FM signal is
information is "stored" in transmitted through
an AM signal.
varying the frequency, and

Bibliography
http://www.g4prs.org.uk/
http://fas.org/
http://www.diffen.com/