Unit -2
Topic: Modulation
Modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a carrier signal (such as
amplitude, frequency, or phase) according to the information (data) signal that needs to be
transmitted. It is the process of transforming a carrier signal so that it can carry the information
of a message signal. It superimposes the contents of the message signal over a high-frequency
carrier signal, which is then transmitted over communication channels.
The main function of the carrier wave is to carry the audio or video signal from the transmitter
to the receiver wave results into a new wave called the modulation wave.
Three major techniques of modulation work with three basic properties of
waves: amplitude ,frequency and phase
Amplitude
The amplitude of a weave is its maximum disturbance from its undisturbed position. It is
measured in the form of the height of the wave.
Frequency
The frequency of a wave is the number of waves produced by a Source, per second. It is
measured as the number of waves that pass a certain point in one second.
Phase
The phase of a carrier wave is varied in proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the
modulating signal.
So, if the message signal changes, the carrier’s phase shifts accordingly.
Modulation is used to convert digital or analog data into signals suitable for transmission over
communication media (like copper wires, optical fibers, or through the air in wireless systems)
Why Modulation Is Needed?
1. Efficient Transmission:
The raw baseband signal (original data) cannot travel long distances efficiently.
Modulation shifts the signal to a higher frequency that can travel better.
2. Multiplexing:
Different signals can be transmitted simultaneously over the same medium if each is
modulated to a different frequency range.
3. Reduce Noise and Interference:
Higher frequency carrier waves are less affected by noise.
4. Antenna Size:
Higher frequency signals allow for smaller antennas in wireless communication.
5. Long-Distance Communication:
Carrier waves help the signal travel long distances without losing strength
Carrier signal
A carrier signal is a high-frequency wave that can be modified to carry information. The
information (data) signal is used to modify amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier.
Types of modulation
1. Analog Modulation
2. Digital Modulation
1. Analog modulation
Analog modulation is a process in which the characteristics of a high-frequency carrier signal
(such as amplitude, frequency, or phase) are varied in proportion to an analog message signal
(like sound or voice)
In simple terms Analog modulation is using an analog signal (like voice) to modify a continuous
wave (carrier) so it can travel long distances through air or cable.
Types of Analog Modulation
There are three main types
[Link] Modulation (AM):
As we know that amplitude is the height of the carrier wave, if somehow, ywe can tweak the
height of the carrier so that it shows the impact of data/message signal. For example, if an
input signal’s height varies with the loudness of a user’s voice and then adds this to the carrier,
then the carrier’s amplitude will change corresponding to the input signal that’s been fed into
it. This is called amplitude modulation or AM.
So amplitude modulation is the technique in which the amplitude of the carrier signal is
varied in line with the variations in the intensity of the modulation signal, i.e. the message and
the resultant signal is the modulation signal (amplitude to carry the actual message. The other
characteristics of the carrier wave (frequency, phase etc.) remain unchanged.
[Link] Modulation:
Just as the amplitude gets varied as per the input message signal in amplitude modulation, the
frequency of carrier signal can also be changed as per the input signal. If this input signal is
added to the pure carrier wave, it thereby changes the frequency of the carrier wave. In that
way, users can use changes of frequency to carry wave the message information. This is
called frequency modulation Or FM.
With frequency modulation, the frequency of the carrier wave is shifted proportionally to the
intensity of the modulation signal. Therefore, the frequency of the modulated wave is shifted
continuously. The other characteristics of the carrier wave (amplitude, phase etc.) remain
unchanged.
Phase Modulation: It is a type of modulation in which the phase of the carrier signal is
varied to represent the data being added to the signal. Different information values are
represented by different phases. For example: '1' may be represented by 0° while '0' by
180°.
[Link] Modulation
Modulating a signal digitally, is a technique with the help of which digital signals/data can be
converted into analog signals i.e. base band signals.
This can further be classified as:
1. Amplitude Shift Key(ASK)
In Amplitude Shift Key as the name suggests, amplitude is represented by “1” and if the
amplitude doesn’t exists, it is represented by “0”.
Use of Amplitude Shift Key is very simple and requirement of bandwidth is very low.
ASK is vulnerable to inference or deduction.
2. Frequency Shift Key(FSK)
It uses different notations f1 and f2 are used for different frequencies.
f1 is used to represent bit “1” and f2 is used to represent bit “0”.
Frequency Shift Key is simple too, but due to use of different frequencies for different
bits, bandwidth requirement becomes high.
3. Phase Shift Key(PSK)
In this, phase difference is used to differentiate between the bits i.e. “1” and “0”.
If the bit is “1” , simple wave is drawn and if the bit becomes “0”, the phase of the wave
is shifted by “180 or π”
PSK is more complex than ASK and FSK and is robust too.