Understanding Frequency, Amplitude, and Phase Modulation

Frequency Modulation – the amplitude of the carrier is kept constant, frequency and rate of change are varied by the
modulating signal

Phase modulation – the amplitude of the carrier is kept constant, phase of the carrier is varied.

Deviation of the carrier is proportional to the amplitude of the modulating signal

Deviation ratio – the shift in the carrier frequency from its resting point compared to the amplitude of the modulation
voltage

Maximum deviation ration – 8 significant sidebands

Deviation – the amount by which the carrier frequency is varied from its unmodulated value of the modulating voltage.
The rate at which this frequency variation changes or takes place is equal to the modulating frequency

“The amplitude of the frequency-modulated wave remains constant at all times. (Greatest advantage of FM)”

Observations from frequency spectrum of the FM Wave

1. AM – has only 3 frequency (carrier and the first two sidebands). FM- has infinite number of sidebands and
carrier
2. J coefficients decrease in value as n increases. J coefficients represents the amplitude of a particular pair
of sidebands.The Modulation index determines how many sidebands components have significant amplitudes
3. Sidebands at equal distances from fc have equal amplitudes, so that sidebands distortion is symmetrical
about carrier frequency. J Coefficients have negative values, signifies a 180 phase change for a particular
sidebands.
4. AM – increased depth of modulation increases the sideband power and therefore the total transmitted
power. FM – the total transmitted power always remains constant, but with increased depth of modulation the
required bandwidth is increased.
5. FM – the amplitude of the carrier component does not remain constant. It is possible for the carrier
component of the FM wave to disappear completely. This happen for certain value of modulation index
“EIGENVALUES”

Two types of continuous wave modulation

1. Amplitude modulation
2. Angle modulation
Angle Modulation is divided into
1. Frequency modulation
2. Phase modulation – not used in practical analog transmission systems
It is possible to obtain FM from PM by “Armstrong System.”
FM PM

Modulation index – inversely proportional to Modulation index – inversely proportional to

the modulating frequency the modulating voltage only.
 Frequency modulation is proportional to the Phase deviation is proportional to the
amplitude of the modulating voltage amplitude of the modulating signal.

Fm is a form of PM Independent of frequency

The larger the frequency deviation, the larger Instantenous angular velocity is continually
the phase modulation changing between the limits imposed by ᶲm

Some form of frequency changes take place

FM and PM are indistinguishable for a single modulating frequency.

When Modulating frequency is changed, the PM modulation index will remain constant while the FM modulating index
will increase as modulation frequency is reduced.

PM received by FM system would appear to be lacking in bass. This deficiency is corrected by bass boosting the
modulating signal prior to phase modulation. (difference of PM and FM)

FM VS AM
FM AM

Reception More immune to noise. More prone to noise

Noise Reduction It is possible to reduce noise It is not possible to exceed

still further by increasing 100% modulation without
deviation. causing severe distortion.

Standard Frequency Provided a guard band Has more adjacent channel

Allocation (allocated
worldwide by
INTERNATIONAL RADIO
CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE of the ITU)
between commercial FM interface
stations, so that there is less
adjacent channel interface
than in AM

Frequency Operation Operates in the upper VHF Operates at MF and HF

and UHF frequency ranges (more noise)
range(less noise)

It is possible to operate
several independent
transmitter on the same
frequency with considerably
less interference than AM.

Power Transmitted All of the transmitted power Most of its transmitted

is useful. carrier, contains no useful
information.

Modulation Amplitude of the FM wave AM modulation depth

is constant (independent of governs the transmitted
modulation depth). power.
 Channel Required A much wider channel is
required by FM (10x as large
as AM required).

Transmitting and Receiving FM transmitting and

device receiving equipment tends to
be more complex,
particularly for modulation
and demodulation.

Area of reception Area of reception for FM is

much smaller than for AM.

Commercial FM broadcast began in 1940. Decade after AM

A single noise frequency will affect the output of a receiver only if it falls within its bandpass.

The noise to carrier voltages remains constant, so does the modulation index remain constant.

The noise voltage modulates the carrier.

Modulation index due to noise remains constant, the modulation index caused by the signal will go on increasing in
proportion to the reduction in frequency.

Triangular noise distribution for FM is called NOISE TRIANGLE.

Noise has a greater effect on the higher modulating frequencies than on the lower ones.

If the higher frequencies were artificially boosted at the transmitter and correspondingly cut at the receiver, an
improvement in noise immunity could be expected, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. This is termed as pre-
emphasis.

Compensation at the receiver is called DE-EMPHASIS.

75us – amount of pre-emphasis in US FM and in sound transmission accompanying television.

50us – used in EU and Australian

Wideband FM has been defined as that in which the modulation index normally exceeds unity.

Narrowband FM is used by FM mobile communication.