BRIEF REPORT ON VARIOUS MODULATION TECHNIQUES
P.SRAVAN KUMAR REDDY
Roll NO: 200906005
Sravankumar.p@students.iiit.ac.in
Introduction
In earlier times, the most widely used form of
communication was a system based on the
transmission of a continuous-wave (CW) signal. With
this system, the signal was interrupted periodically
(Morse code) to produce a coded message. The CW
systems required tremendous training and expertise
on the part of the persons involved in transmitting
and receiving the messages. So, the field was
limited to a few experts. With the development of
modulation, a whole new era of communications
evolved. Its results can be seen all round us today.
Can electricity carry intelligence?
 A steady current (DC) cannot carry any
intelligence. This is because there is no
variation in it.
 A continuous as wave as such also cannot
carry intelligence. This is because it is made
up of a series of identical sine waves having
same amplitude, same period, same
frequency etc., there are no meaningful
variations. Every cycle of sine wave looks
exactly the same.
 A continuous ac wave can be made to carry
intelligence if it is interrupted in such a way
that it becomes a series of pulses. These
pulses can correspond to some known code.
A high frequency carrier wave is used to
carry the audio signal. The audio signal is
superposed over the carrier wave.
Definition
Process of changing some characteristic e.g.
amplitude, frequency or plane of a carrier wave in
accordance with the intensity of the signal is known
as “Modulation”.
Why Modulation Needed
Modulation is extremely necessary in communication
systems due to the following reasons
Practical Antenna Length (L)
When free space is the communication channel,
antennas radiate and receive the signal.
The audio frequencies range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Suppose a frequency of 20 kHz is to be radiated
directly into space. For this,
This is too long antenna to be constructed
practically. So, it is impracticable to radiate audio
signal directly into space.
Let us now calculate the length of the antenna if a
carrier wave of say, 1000 kHz is used to carry the
signal.
An antenna of 300m length can be easily
constructed.
Wireless Communication
One desirable feature of radio transmission is that it
should be carried without wires (i.e.,) radiated into
space. At audio frequencies, radiation is not
practicable because the efficiency of radiation is
poor. However, efficient radiation of electrical energy
is possible at high frequencies (>20 kHz). For this
reason, modulation is always done in
communication systems.
Operating Range
The energy of a wave depends upon its frequency.
The greater the frequency of the wave, the greater is
the energy possessed by it. As the audio signal
frequencies are small, these cannot be transmitted
over large distances if radiated directly into space.
The only practical solution is to modulate a high
frequency carrier wave with audio signal and permit
the transmission to occur at this high frequency
BRIEF REPORT ON VARIOUS MODULATION
TECHNIQUES
P.SRAVAN KUMAR REDDY
Roll NO: 200906005
Sravankumar.p@students.iiit.ac.in