Keysight Technologies

Spectrum Analysis Amplitude

and Frequency Modulation

Application Note
02 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Chapter 1. Modulation Methods

Modulation is the act of translating some low-frequency or baseband signal (voice,
music, and data) to a higher frequency. Why do we modulate signals? There are at least
two reasons: to allow the simultaneous transmission of two or more baseband signals
by translating them to different frequencies, and to take advantage of the greater
efficiency and smaller size of higher-frequency antennae.

In the modulation process, some characteristic of a high-frequency sinusoidal carrier is

changed in direct proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the baseband signal. The
carrier itself can be described by the equation.

e = A cos (ωt + φ)

where:

A = peak amplitude of the carrier,

ω = angular frequency of the carrier in radians per second,
t = time, and
φ = initial phase of the carrier at time t = 0.

In the expression above, there are two properties of the carrier that can be changed,
the amplitude (A) and the angular position (argument of the cosine function). Thus we
have amplitude modulation and angle modulation. Angle modulation can be further
characterized as either frequency modulation or phase modulation.
03 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Chapter 2. Amplitude Modulation Since the modulation is symmetrical,

Emax – Ec = Ec – Emin
Modulation degree and sideband amplitude
Amplitude modulation of a sine or cosine carrier results in a and
variation of the carrier amplitude that is proportional to the
Emax + Emin
amplitude of the modulating signal. In the time domain (amplitude = Ec
2
versus time), the amplitude modulation of one sinusoidal carrier
by another sinusoid resembles figure 1a. The mathematical From this, it is easy to show that:
expression for this complex wave shows that it is the sum of three Emax + Emin
sinusoids of different frequencies. One of these sinusoids has m= E –E
max min
the same frequency and amplitude as the unmodulated carrier.
The second sinusoid is at a frequency equal to the sum of the
carrier frequency and the modulation frequency; this component for sinusoidal modulation. When all three components of the
is the upper sideband. The third sinusoid is at a frequency equal modulated signal are in phase, they add together linearly and
to the carrier frequency minus the modulation frequency; this form the maximum signal amplitude Emax, shown in figure 2.
component is the lower sideband. The two sideband components
have equal amplitudes, which are proportional to the amplitude Emax = Ec + EUSB + ELSB
of the modulating signal. Figure 1a shows the carrier and
sideband components of the amplitude-modulated wave of figure
Emax + Ec EUSB + ELSB
1b as they appear in the frequency domain (amplitude versus m= =
Ec Ec
frequency).

and, since EUSB = ELSB = ESB, then:

Amplitude (volts)

2SB
m=
Ec
LSB USB

fc – fm fc fc +fm
(a)
Emax
Ec
Emin
Amplitude (volts)

(a)
(b)
Ec
Figure 1. (a) Frequency domain (spectrum analyzer) display of an
amplitude-modulated carrier. (b)Time domain (oscilloscope) display of ELSB = m Ec EUSB = m Ec
2 2
an amplitude-modulated carrier.

A measure of the degree of modulation is m, the modulation

index. This is usually expressed as a percentage called the fc – fm fc fc +fm
percent modulation. In the time domain, the degree of modulation (b)
for sinusoidal modulation is calculated as follows, using the
variables shown in figure 2a: Figure 2(a)(b). Calculation of degree of amplitude modulation from time
Emax – Ec domain and frequency domain displays
m=
Ec
For 100% modulation (m = 1.0), the amplitude of each sideband
will be one-half of the carrier amplitude (voltage). Thus, each
sideband will be 6 dB less than the carrier, or one-fourth the
power of the carrier. Since the carrier component does not
change with amplitude modulation, the total power in the 100%
modulated wave is 50% higher than in the unmodulated carrier.
04 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Although it is easy to calculate the modulation percentage 100

M from a linear presentation in the frequency or time domain
(M = m • 100%), the logarithmic display on a spectrum
analyzer offers some advantages, especially at low modulation
percentages. The wide dynamic range of a spectrum analyzer
(over 70 dB) allows measurement of modulation percentage
less than 0.06%, This can easily be seen in figure 3, where 10.0
M = 2%; that is, where the sideband amplitudes are only 1% of
the carrier amplitude. Figure 3A shows a time domain display
of an amplitude-modulated carrier with M = 2%. It is difficult to
measure M on this display. Figure 3B shows the signal displayed
logarithmically in the frequency domain. The sideband amplitudes

M [%]
1.0
can easily be measured in dB below the carrier and then
converted into M. (The vertical scale is 10 dB per division.)

0.1

0.01
0 –10 –20 –30 –40 –50 –60 –70
(ESB / EC)(dB)
(a)
Figure 4. Modulation percentage M vs. sideband level (log display)

The relationship between m and the logarithmic display can be

expressed as:
m
(ESB/EC)(dB) = 20 log ( 2 )
or

(ESB / EC)(dB) + 6 dB = 20 log m.

Figure 4 shows modulation percentage M as a function of the

difference in dB between a carrier and either sideband.

(b)

Figure 3. Time (a) and frequency (b) domain views of low level (2%) AM.
05 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Figures 5 and 6 show typical displays of a carrier modulated by a

sine wave at different modulation levels in the time and frequency
domains.

(a)

(a)

(b)
Figure 6. (a)An overmodulated 60 MHz signal in the time domain,
(b) The frequency domain display of the signal

(b) Zero span and markers

Figure 5. (a)An amplitude-modulated carrier in the time domain,
(b)Shows the same waveform measured in the frequency domain So far the assumption has been that the spectrum analyzer has
a resolution bandwidth narrow enough to resolve the spectral
Figure 5a shows an amplitude-modulated carrier in the time components of the modulated signal. But we may want to view
domain. The minimum peak-to-peak value is one third the low-frequency modulation with an analyzer that does not have
maximum peak-to-peak value, so m = 0.5 and M = 50%. Figure sufficient resolution. For example, a common modulation test
5b shows the same waveform measured in the frequency domain. tone is 400 Hz. What can we do if our analyzer has a minimum
Since the carrier and sidebands differ by 12 dB, M= 50%. You can resolution bandwidth of 1 kHz?
also measure 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion on this waveform.
Second harmonic sidebands at fc ± 2fm are 40 dB below the One possibility, if the percent modulating is high enough, is to
carrier. However, distortion is measured relative to the primary use the analyzer as a fixed-tuned receiver, demodulate the signal
sidebands, so the 28 dB difference between the primary and 2nd using the envelope detector of the analyzer, view the modulation
harmonic sidebands represents 4% distortion. signal in the time domain, and make measurements as we would
on an oscilloscope. To do so, we would first tune the carrier to the
Figure 6a shows an overmodulated (M>100%) signal in the time center of the spectrum analyzer display, then set the resolution
domain; fm = 10 kHz. The carrier is cut off at the modulation bandwidth wide enough to encompass the modulation sidebands
minima. Figure 6B is the frequency domain display of the signal. without attenuation, as shown in figure 7, making sure that the
Note that the first sideband pair is less than 6 dB lower than the video bandwidth is also wide enough. (The ripple in the upper
carrier. Also, the occupied bandwidth is much greater because trace of figure 7 is caused by the phasing of the various spectral
the modulated signal is severely distorted; that is, the envelope of components, but the mean of the trace is certainly flat).
the modulated signal no longer represents the modulating signal,
a pure sine wave (150 kHz span, 10 dB/Div, RBW 1 kHz).
06 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Next we select zero span to fix-tune the analyzer, adjust the As we adjust the reference level to move the signal up and down
reference level to move the peak of the signal near the top of the on the display, the scaling in volts/division changes. The result is
screen, select the linear display mode, select video triggering and that the peak-to-peak deviation of the signal in terms of display
adjust trigger level, and adjust the sweep time to show several divisions is a function of position, but the absolute difference
cycles of the demodulated signal. See figure 8. Now we can between Emax and Emin and the ratio between them remains
determine the degree of modulation using the expression: constant. Since the ratio is a relative measurement, we may be
able to find a convenient location on the display; that is we may
m = (Emax - Emin) / (Emax + Emin). find that we can put the maxima and minima on graticule lines
and make the arithmetic easy, as in figure 9. Here we have Emax of
six divisions and Emin of four divisions, so:

m = (6 - 4) / (6 + 4) = 0.2, or 20% AM.

Figure 7. Resolution bandwidth is set wide enough to encompass the

modulation sidebands without attenuation

Figure 9 Placing the maxiima and minima on graticule lines makes the
calculation easier

The frequency of the modulating signal can be determined from

the calibrated sweep time of the analyzer. In figure 9 we see that
4 cycles cover exactly 5 divisions of the display. With a total
sweep time of 20 msec, the four cycles occur over an interval
of 10 msec. The period of the signal is then 2.5 msec, and the
frequency is 400 Hz.

Figure 8. Moving the signal up and down on the screen does not change
the absolute difference between Emax and Emin, only the number of
display divisions between them due to the change of display scaling
07 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Many spectrum analyzers with digital displays also have markers

and delta markers. These can make the measurements much
easier. For example, in figure 10 we have used the delta markers
to find the ratio Emin/Emax. By modifying the expression for m,
we can use the ratio directly:

m = (1 – Emin/Emax)/(1 + Emin/Emax).

(a)

Figure 10. Delta markers can be used to find the ratio Emin/ Emax

Since we are using linear units, the analyzer displays the delta
value as a decimal fraction (or, as in this case, a percent), just
what we need for our expression. Figure 10 shows the ratio as
53.32%, giving us:

m = (1 – 0.5332)/(1 + 0.5332) = 0.304, or 30.4% AM. (b)

Figure 11. (a) Using markers to measure percent AM works well even at
This percent AM would have been awkward to measure on an low modulation levels. Percent AM computed from ratio in A agrees with
analyzer without markers, because there is no place on the values determined from carrier/sideband ratio in (b)
display where the maxima and minima are both on graticule lines.
The technique of using markers works well down to quite low
modulation levels. The percent AM (1.0%), computed from the
98.1% ratio in figure 11a, agrees with the value determined from
the carrier/sideband ratio of –46.06 dB in figure 11b.
08 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Note that the delta marker readout also shows the time difference
between the markers. This is true of most analyzers in zero span.
By setting the markers for one or more full periods, (figure 12), we
can take the reciprocal and get the frequency; in this case,
1/2.57 ms or 389 Hz.

Figure 12. Time difference indicated by delta marker readout can be used
to calculate frequency by taking the reciprocal
09 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

The fast fourier transform (FFT) FFT capability is particularly useful for measuring distortion.
Figure 15 shows our demodulated signal at a 50% AM level. It
There is an even easier way to make the measurements above is impossible to determine the modulation distortion from this
if the analyzer has the ability to do an FFT on the demodulated display. The FFT display in figure 16, on the other hand, indicates
signal. On the Keysight Technologies, Inc. 8590 and 8560 families about 0.5% second-harmonic distortion.
of spectrum analyzers, the FFT is available on a soft key. We
demodulate the signal as above except we adjust the sweep time
to display many rather than a few cycles, as shown in figure 13.
Then, calling the FFT routine yields a frequencydomain display
of just the modulating signal as shown in figure 14. The carrier
is displayed at the left edge of the screen, and a single-sided
spectrum is displayed across the screen. Delta markers can be
used, here showing the modulation sideband offset by 399 Hz
(the modulating frequency) and down by 16.5 dB (representing
30% AM).

Figure 15. The modulation distortion of our signal cannot be read from
this display

Figure 13. Sweep time adjusted to display many cycles

Figure 16. An FFT display indicates the modulation distortion; in this case,
about 0.5% second-harmonic distortion

Figure 14. Using the FFT yields a frequency-domain display of just the
modulation signal
10 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

The maximum modulating frequency for which the FFT can be Setting an analyzer to zero span allows us not only to observe a
used on a spectrum analyzer is a function of the rate at which demodulated signal on the display and measure it, but to listen
the data are sampled (digitized); that is, directly proportional to it as well. Most analyzers, if not all, have a video output that
to the number of data points across the display and inversely allows us access to the demodulated signal. This output generally
proportional to the sweep time. For the standard Keysight 8590 drives a headset directly. If we want to use a speaker, we probably
family, the maximum is 10 kHz; for units with the fast digitizer need an amplifier as well.
option, option 101, the maximum practical limit is about 100 kHz
due to the roll-off of the 3 MHz resolution bandwidth filter. Some analyzers include an AM demodulator and speaker so that
For the Keysight 8560 family, the practical limit is again about we can listen to signals without external hardware. In addition,
100 kHz. Note that lower frequencies can be measured: very low the Keysight analyzers provide a marker pause function so we
frequencies, in fact figure 17 shows a measurement of powerline need not even be in zero span. In this case, we set the frequency
hum (60 Hz in this case) on the 8563EC using a 1-second sweep span to cover the desired range (that is, the AM broadcast band),
time. set the active marker on the signal of interest, set the length
of the pause (dwell time), and activate the AM demodulator.
The analyzer then sweeps to the marker and pauses for the set
time, allowing us to listen to the signal for that interval, before
completing the sweep. If the marker is the active function, we can
move it and so listen to any other signal on the display.

Figure 17. A 60 Hz power-line hum measurement uses a 1-second sweep

time
11 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Special forms of amplitude modulation

We know that changing the degree of modulation of a particular
carrier does not change the amplitude of the carrier component
itself. It is the amplitude of the sidebands that changes, thus
altering the amplitude of the composite wave. Since the
amplitude of the carrier component remains constant, all the
transmitted information is contained in the sidebands. This
means that the considerable power transmitted in the carrier
is essentially wasted, although including the carrier does make
demodulation much simpler. For improved power efficiency,
the carrier component may be suppressed (usually by the use
of a balanced modulator circuit), so that the transmitted wave
consists only of the upper and lower sidebands. This type of
modulation is double sideband suppressed carrier, or DSB-
SC. The carrier must be reinserted at the receiver, however, to
recover this modulation. In the time and frequency domains,
DSB-SC modulation appears as shown in figure 18. The carrier is
suppressed well below the level of the sidebands. (The second set
of sidebands indicate distortion is less than 1%.)

(a)

(b)

Figure 18. Frequency (a) and time (b) domain presentations of balanced
modulator output
12 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Single sideband
In communications, an important type of amplitude modulation
is single sideband with suppressed carrier (SSB). Either the
upper or lower sideband can be transmitted, written as SSB-
USB or SSB-LSB (or the SSB prefix may be omitted). Since each
sideband is displaced from the carrier by the same frequency,
and since the two sidebands have equal amplitudes, it follows
that any information contained in one must also be in the other.
Eliminating one of the sidebands cuts the power requirement in
half and, more importantly, halves the transmission bandwidth
(frequency spectrum width).

SSB is used extensively throughout analog telephone systems

to combine many separate messages into a composite signal
(baseband) by frequency multiplexing. This method allows the
combination of up to several thousand 4-kHz-wide channels (a)
containing voice, routing signals, and pilot carriers. The
composite signal can then be either sent directly via coaxial
lines or used to modulate microwave line transmitters.

The SSB signal is commonly generated at a fixed frequency by

filtering or by phasing techniques. This necessitates mixing and
amplification in order to get the desired transmitting frequency
and output power. These latter stages, following the SSB
generation, must be extremely linear to avoid signal distortion,
which would result in unwanted in-band and out-of-band
intermodulation products. Such distortion products can
introduce severe interference in adjacent channels.

Thus intermodulation measurements are a vital requirement

for designing, manufacturing, and maintaining multi-
channel communication networks. The most commonly used
(b)
measurement is a two-tone test. Two sine-wave signals in the Figure 19. (a)A SSB generator, modulated with two sine-wave signals of
audio frequency range (300-3100 Hz), each with low harmonic 2000 and 3000 Hz. The 200 MHz carrier (display center) is suppressed
content and a few hundred Hertz apart, are used to modulate 50 dB; lower sideband signals and intermodulation products are more
the SSB generator. The output of the system is then examined than 50 dB down (b)The same signal after passing through an amplifier
for intermodulation products with the aid of a selective receiver.
The spectrum analyzer displays all intermodulation products
simultaneously, thereby substantially decreasing measurement
and alignment time.

Figure 19 shows an intermodulation test of an SSB transmitter.

13 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Chapter 3. Angle modulation Comparing the basic equation with the two definitions of
modulation, we find:

Definitions (1) A carrier sine wave modulated with a single sine wave
In Chapter 1 we described a carrier as: of constant frequency and amplitude will have the same
resultant signal properties (that is, the same spectral
e = A cos (ωt + φ) display) for frequency and phase modulation. A distinction
in this case can be made only by direct comparison of the
and, in addition, stated that angle modulation can be signal with the modulating wave, as shown in figure 20.
characterized as either frequency or phase modulation. In
either case, we think of a constant carrier plus or minus some
incremental change.

Frequency modulation. The instantaneous frequency deviation

of the modulated carrier with respect to the frequency of the
unmodulated carrier is directly proportional to the instantaneous
amplitude of the modulating signal.

Phase modulation.
The instantaneous phase deviation of the modulated carrier
with respect to the phase of the unmodulated carrier is directly
proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating
signal.

For angle modulation, there is no specific limit to the degree of

modulation; there is no equivalent of 100% in AM. Modulation
index is expressed as:
(2) Phase modulation can generally be converted into
frequency modulation by choosing the frequency response
β=Δfp/fm = Δφp
of the modulator so that its output voltage will be
proportional to 1/fm (integration of the modulating signal).
where
The reverse is also true if the modulator output voltage is
β = modulation index, proportional to fm (differentiation of the modulating signal).
Δfp = peak frequency deviation,
fm = frequency of the modulating signal, and We can see that the amplitude of the modulated signal always
Δφp = peak phase deviation in radians. remains constant, regardless of modulation frequency and
amplitude. The modulating signal adds no power to the carrier in
This expression tells us that the angle modulation index is really angle modulation as it does with amplitude modulation.
a function of phase deviation, even in the FM case (Δfp/fm = Δ φp).
Also, note that the definitions for frequency and phase modulation Mathematical treatment shows that, in contrast to amplitude
do not include the modulating frequency. In each case, the modulation, angle modulation of a sine-wave carrier with a single
modulated property of the carrier, frequency or phase, deviates sine wave yields an infinite number of sidebands spaced by the
in proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating modulation frequency, fm; in other words, AM is a linear process
signal, regardless of the rate at which the amplitude changes. whereas FM is a nonlinear process. For distortion-free detection
However, the frequency of the modulating signal is important in of the modulating signal, all sidebands must be transmitted. The
FM and is included in the expression for the modulating index spectral components (including the carrier component) change
because it is the ratio of peak frequency deviation to modulation their amplitudes when β is varied. The sum of these components
frequency that equates to peak phase. always yields a composite signal with an average power that
remains constant and equal to the average power of the
unmodulated carrier wave.
14 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

The curves of figure 21 show the relation (Bessel function)

between the carrier and sideband amplitudes of the modulated
wave as a function of the modulation index β. Note that the carrier
component Jo and the various sidebands Jn go to zero amplitude
at specific values of β. From these curves we can determine the
amplitudes of the carrier and the sideband components in relation
to the unmodulated carrier. For example, we find for a modulation
index of β = 3 the following amplitudes:

Carrier J0 = –0.26
First order sideband J1 = 0.34
Second order sideband J2 = 0.49
Third order sideband J3 = 0.31, etc.

0
0,3 1 2 3 4 5 6 8
7 9 10
0,2 11 12 13
Jn Carrier
0 0,1
1
0,9 Jn 0
–0,1
0,8 7 8 9 10
3 4 5 6
1st order –0,2 0 1 2
0,7
sideband
–0,3
0,6
1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
0,5 2 2nd order sideband m
3
0,4 4
Amplitude

5 6 7
8 9 10
0,3 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
0,2 23
24
0,1 25
26
0
–0,1
–0,2 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
6 7 8
4 5
–0,3 2 3
1
–0,4 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
β=3 m

Figure 21. Carrier and sideband amplitude for angle-modulated signals

The sign of the values we get from the curves is of no significance

since a spectrum analyzer displays only the absolute amplitudes.

The exact values for the modulation index corresponding to each

of the carrier zeros are listed in table 1.

Order of carrier zero Modulation index

1 2.40
2 5.52
3 8.65
4 11.79
5 14.93
6 18.07
n(n > 6) 18.07 + π(n-6)

Table 1. Values of modulation index for which carrier amplitude is zero

15 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Bandwidth of FM signals 0.5–

In practice, the spectrum of an FM signal is not infinite. The
sideband amplitudes become negligibly small beyond a certain
frequency offset from the carrier, depending on the magnitude f
of β. We can determine the bandwidth required for low distortion (a)
fc
transmission by counting the number of significant sidebands. 22 f f
For high fidelity, significant sidebands are those sidebands that
have a voltage at least 1 percent (–40 dB) of the voltage of the
unmodulated carrier for any β between 0 and maximum. f
(b)
fc
We shall now investigate the spectral behavior of an FM signal for 2 f
different values of β. In figure 22, we see the spectra of a signal
for β = 0.2, 1, 5, and 10. The sinusoidal modulating signal has the
constant frequency fm, so β is proportional to its amplitude. In f
figure 23, the amplitude of the modulating signal is held constant (c)
fc
and, therefore, β is varied by changing the modulating frequency. 2 f
Note: in figure 23a, b, and c, individual spectral components are
shown; in figure 23d, the components are not resolved, but the
envelope is correct. f
(d)
1 2 f

0.5
Figure 23. Amplitude-frequency spectrum of an FM signal (amplitude
of delta f fixed; fm decreasing.) In (a), β = 5; in (b), β = 10; in (c), β = 15;
(a) in (d), β −> ∞
fc –fm fc fc +fm
2 f

(b)
fc –2fm fc fc +2fm
Bandwidth
2 f

(c)
fc –8fm fc fc +8fm
Bandwidth

2 f

(d)
fc –14fm fc +14fm
Bandwidth

Figure 22. Amplitude-frequency spectrum of an FM signal (sinusoidal Figure 24. A 50 MHz carrier modulated with fm = 10 kHz and β= 0.2
modulating signal; f fixed; amplitude varying). In (a), β = 0.2; in (b),
β = 1; in (c), β = 5; in (d), β= 10 Two important facts emerge from the preceding figures:
(1) For very low modulation indices (β less than 0.2), we get only
one significant pair of sidebands. The required transmission
bandwidth in this case is twice fm, as for AM. (2) For very high
modulation indices (β more than 100), the transmission bandwidth
is twice Δfp.

For values of β between these extremes we have to count the

significant sidebands.
16 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Figures 24 and 25 show analyzer displays of two FM signals, one An FM broadcast station has a maximum frequency deviation
with β = 0.2, the other with β = 95. (determined by the maximum amplitude of the modulating signal)
of Δfpeak = 75 kHz. The highest modulation frequency fm is 15 kHz.
This combination yields a modulation index of β = 5, and the
resulting signal has eight significant sideband pairs. Thus the
required bandwidth can be calculated as 2 x 8 x 15 kHz = 240
kHz. For modulation frequencies below 15 kHz (with the same
amplitude assumed), the modulation index increases above 5 and
the bandwidth eventually approaches 2 Δfpeak = 150 kHz for very
low modulation frequencies.

We can, therefore, calculate the required transmission bandwidth

using the highest modulation frequency and the maximum
frequency deviation Δfpeak.

FM measurements with the spectrum analyzer

The spectrum analyzer is a very useful tool for measuring Δfpeak
and β and for making fast and accurate adjustments of FM
Figure 25. A 50 MHz carrier modulated with fm = 1.5 kHz and β = 95 transmitters. It is also frequently used for calibrating frequency
deviation meters.
Figure 26 shows the bandwidth requirements for a low-distortion
transmission in relation to β. A signal generator or transmitter is adjusted to a precise
frequency deviation with the aid of a spectrum analyzer using
one of the carrier zeros and selecting the appropriate modulating
8 frequency.
7
6 In figure 27, a modulation frequency of 10 kHz and a modulation
Bandwidth/∆f

5 index of 2.4 (first carrier null) necessitate a carrier peak frequency

4 deviation of exactly 24 kHz. Since we can accurately set the
3 modulation frequency using the spectrum analyzer or, if need
2 be, a frequency counter, and since the modulation index is also
1 known accurately, the frequency deviation thus generated will be
0
β equally accurate.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Figure 26. Bandwidth requirements vs. modulation index, β

For voice communication a higher degree of distortion can be

tolerated; that is, we can ignore all sidebands with less than 10%
of the carrier voltage (–20 dB). We can calculate the necessary
bandwidth B using the approximation:

B = 2 Δfpeak + 2 fm

or

B = 2 fm (1 + β)

So far our discussion of FM sidebands and bandwidth has been

based on having a single sine wave as the modulating signal.
Extending this to complex and more realistic modulating signals is
difficult. We can, however, look at an example of single-tone
modulation for some useful information.
17 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Table 11 gives the modulation frequency for common values of deviation for the various orders of carrier zeros.

Commonly used values of FM peak deviation

Order of
carrier Modulation
zero index 7.5 kHz 10 kHz 15 kHz 25 kHz 30 kHz 50 kHz 75 kHz 100 khz 150 kHz 250 kHz 300 kHz
1 2.40 3.12 4.16 6.25 10.42 12.50 20.83 31.25 41.67 62.50 104.17 125.00
2 5.52 1.36 1.18 2.72 4.53 5.43 9.06 13.59 18.12 27.17 45.29 54.35
3 8.65 .87 1.16 1.73 2.89 3.47 5.78 8.67 11.56 17.34 28.90 34.68
4 11.79 .66 .85.1 1.27 2.12 2.54 4.24 6.36 8.48 12.72 21.20 25.45
5 14.93 .50 .67 1.00 1.67 2.01 3.35 5.02 6.70 10.05 16.74 20.09
6 18.07 .42 .55 .83 1.88 1.66 2.77 4.15 5.53 8.30 13.84 16.60

Table 11. Modulation frequencies for setting up convenient FM deviations

18 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

If it is not possible or desirable to alter the modulation frequency

to get a carrier or sideband null, there are other ways to obtain
usable information about frequency deviation and modulation
index. One method is to calculate β by using the amplitude
information of five adjacent frequency components in the
FM signal. These five measurements are used in a recursion
formula for Bessel functions to form three calculated values of a
modulation index. Averaging yields β with practical measurement
errors taken into consideration. Because of the number of
calculations necessary, this method is feasible only using a
computer. A somewhat easier method consists of the following
two measurements.

First, the sideband spacing of the modulated carrier is measured

by using a sufficiently small IF bandwidth (BW), to give the
modulation frequency fm. Second, the peak frequency deviation
Figure 27. This is the spectrum of an FM signal at 50 MHz. The deviation Δfpeak is measured by selecting a convenient scan width and an
has been adjusted for the first carrier null. The f m is 10 kHz; therefore, IF bandwidth wide enough to cover all significant sidebands.
Δf peak = 2.4 x 10 kHz = 24 kHz Modulation index β can then be calculated easily.

The procedure for setting up a known deviation is: Note that figure 28 illustrates the peak-to-peak deviation. This
type of measurement is shown in figure 29.
(1) Select the column with the required deviation; for example,
250 kHz.
BW < fm
(2) Select an order of carrier zero that gives a frequency in the
fc
table commensurate with the normal modulation bandwidth
of the generator to be tested. For example, if 250 kHz was
chosen to test an audio modulation circuit, it will be neces fm
sary to go to the fifth carrier zero to get a modulating
frequency within the audio pass band of the generator
(here, 16.74 kHz).

(3) Set the modulating frequency to 16.74 kHz, and monitor the
output spectrum of the generator on the spectrum analyzer.
Adjust the amplitude of the audio modulating signal until
the carrier amplitude has gone through four zeros and stop
when the carrier is at its fifth zero. With a modulating
frequency of 16.74 kHz and the spectrum at its fifth zero, the
setup provides a unique 250 kHz deviation. The modulation BW > fm
meter can then be calibrated. Make a quick check by moving
to the adjacent carrier zero and resetting the modulating 2f Peak
frequency and amplitude (in this case, resetting to13.84 kHz
at the sixth carrier zero).

Other intermediate deviations and modulation indexes can

be set using different orders of sideband zeros, but these are
influenced by incidental amplitude modulation. Since we know
that amplitude modulation does not cause the carrier to change
but instead puts all the modulation power into the sidebands,
incidental AM will not affect the carrier zero method above.

Figure 28. Measurement of fm and Δf peak

19 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

for occupied bandwidth. Here the statistical nature of the

modulation must be considered. The signal must be observed
long enough to make catching peak frequency deviations
probable. The max-hold capability available on spectrum
analyzers with digitized traces is then used to capture the signal.
To better keep track of what is happening, you can often take
advantage of the fact that most analyzers of this type have two or
more trace memories. That is, select the max-hold mode for one
trace while the other trace is live. See figure 30.

(a)

Figure 30. Peak-to-peak frequency deviation

Figure 31 shows an FM broadcast signal modulated with stereo

multiplex. Note that the spectrum envelope resembles an FM
signal with low modulation index. The stereo modulation signal
contains additional information in the frequency range of 23 to
53 kHz, far beyond the audio frequency limit of 15 kHz. Since
(b)
the occupied bandwidth must not exceed the bandwidth of
a transmitter modulated with a mono signal, the maximum
frequency deviation of the carrier must be kept substantially
lower.

(c)
Figure 29. (a)A frequency-modulated carrier. Sideband spacing is
measured to be 8 kHz (b)The peak-to-peak frequency deviation of the
same signal is measured to be 20 kHz using max-hold and min-hold on
different traces (c)Insufficient bandwidth: RBW = 10 kHz

Figure 31. FM broadcast transmitter modulated with a stereo signal. 500

The spectrum analyzer can also be used to monitor FM
kHz span, 10 dB/div, β = 3 kHz, sweeptime 50 ms/div, approx. 200 sweeps
transmitters (for example, broadcast or communication stations)
20 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

It is possible to recover the modulating signal, even with AM plus FM (incidental FM)
analyzers that do not have a built-in FM demodulator. The
analyzer is used as a manually tuned receiver (zero span) with a Although AM and angle modulation are different methods of
wide IF bandwidth. However, in contrast to AM, the signal is not modulation, they have one property in common: they always
tuned into the passband center but to one slope of the filter curve produce a symmetrical sideband spectrum.
as illustrated in figure 32.
In figure 33 we see a modulated carrier with asymmetrical
sidebands. The only way this could occur is if both AM and FM
Frequency response
A or AM and phase modulation existed simultaneously at the same
of the IF filter modulating frequency. This indicates that the phase relations
between carrier and sidebands are different for the AM and the
angle modulation (see appendix). Since the sideband components
of both modulation types add together vectorially, the resultant
amplitude of one sideband may be reduced. The amplitude of the
other would be increased accordingly. The spectrum displays the
AM signal absolute magnitude of the result.

f
2f peak
FM signal

Figure 32. Slope detection of an FM signal

Here the frequency variations of the FM signal are converted into

amplitude variations (FM to AM conversion). The resultant AM
signal is then detected with the envelope detector. The detector
output is displayed in the time domain and is also available at
the video output for application to headphones or a speaker.
If an analyzer has built-in AM demodulation capability with a
companion speaker, we can use this (slope) detection method to
listen to an FM signal via the AM system.

A disadvantage of this method is that the detector also responds

Figure 33. Pure AM or FM signals always have equal sidebands, but when
to amplitude variations of the signal. The Keysight 8560 family
the two are present together, the modulation vectors usually add in one
of spectrum analyzers include an FM demodulator in addition to sideband and subtract in the other. Thus, unequal sidebands indicate
the AM demodulator. (The FM demodulator is optional for the E simultaneous AM and FM. This CW signal is amplitude modulated 80%
series of the Keysight ESA family of analyzers.) So we can again at a 10 kHz rate. The harmonic distortion and incidental FM are clearly
take advantage of the marker pause function to listen to an FM visible.
broadcast while in the swept-frequency mode. We would set
the frequency span to cover the desired range (that is, the FM
broadcast band), set the active marker on the signal of interest,
set the length of the pause (dwell time), and activate the FM
demodulator. The analyzer then sweeps to the marker and pauses
for the set time, allowing us to listen to the signal during that
interval before it continues the sweep. If the marker is the active
function, we can move it and listen to any other signal on the
display.
21 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Provided that the peak deviation of the incidental FM is small

relative to the maximum usable analyzer bandwidth, we can use
the FFT capability of the analyzer (see Chapter 2) to remove the
FM from the measurement. In contrast to figure 32, showing
deliberate FM-to-AM conversion, here we tune the analyzer to
center the signal in the IF passband. Then we choose a resolution
bandwidth wide enough to negate the effect of the incidental FM
and pass the AM components unattenuated. Using FFT then gives
us just AM and AM-distortion data. Note that the apparent AM
distortion in figure 33 is higher than the true distortion shown in
figure 34.

Figure 34. True distortion, using FFT to remove FM from the

measurement

For relatively low incidental FM, the degree of AM can be

calculated with reasonable accuracy by taking the average
amplitude of the first sideband pair. The degree of incidental FM
can be calculated only if the phase relation between the AM and
FM sideband vectors is known. It is not possible to measure Δfpeak,
of the incidental FM using the slope detection method because of
the simultaneously existing AM.
22 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Appendix
Amplitude modulation m·A m·A
2 2
A sine wave carrier can be expressed by the general equation: A
Lower ωm ωm Upper
ωc sideband sideband
e(t) = A * cos(ω ct + φ o). (Eq.1-1) m·A m·A
2 2
In AM systems only A is varied. It is assumed that the modulating
A
signal varies slowly compared to the carrier. This means that we ωc – ωm ωc + ωm
can talk of an envelope variation or variation of the locus of the
carrier peaks. The carrier, amplitude-modulated with a function
f (t) (carrier angle φ o arbitrarily set to zero), has the form (1-2):
a b
e(t) = A(1 + m • f (t)) • cos(ω ct) (m = degree of modulation).
Figure A-1
(Eq. 1-2)

For f (t) = cos(ω mt) (single sine wave) we get Figure A-2 shows the phasor composition of the envelope of an AM
signal.
e(t) = A(1 + m • cosω mt) • cosωct (Eq. 1-3)

or
m•A m•A
e(t) = A cosω ct + cos (ω c + ω m)t +
2 2
• cos(ω c - ω m)t. (Eq. 1-4)
Axis
We get three steady-state components:
Figure A-2

A * cosω ct) Carrier

We can see that the phase of the vector sum of the sideband
m•A phasors is always collinear with the carrier component; that is,
cos (ω c + ω m)t. Upper sideband
2 their quadrature components always cancel. We can also see
from equation 1-3 and figure A-1 that the modulation degree m
m•A cannot exceed the value of unity for linear modulation.
cos (ω c + ω m)t. Lower sideband (Eq. 5)
2
Angle modulation
We can represent these components by three phasors rotating The usual expression for a sine wave of angular frequency ω c, is:
at different angle velocities (figure A-1a). Assuming the carrier
phasor A to be stationary, we obtain the angle velocities of the fc(t) = cosφ (t) = cos(ω ct + φ o). (Eq. 2-1)
sideband phasors in relation to the carrier phasor (figure A-1b).
We define the instantaneous radian frequency ωi to be the
derivative of the angle as a function of time:
dφ
ωi =
dt (Eq. 2-2)

This instantaneous frequency agrees with the ordinary use of the

word frequency if φ (t) = ω ct + φ o.

If φ (t) in equation 2-1 is made to vary in some manner with a

modulating signal f (t), the result is angle modulation.

Phase and frequency modulation are both special cases of angle

modulation.
23 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

We can take φ o as zero by referring to an appropriate phase

m·A m·A m·A reference. The frequency modulated carrier is then expressed by:
2 2 2
e(t) = A • cos (wct + β • sin ω mt). (Eq. 2-6)

m·A For Δω peak

2 A β = ω
A m
(Eq. 2-7)
R ø(t)
β is the modulation index and represents the maximum phase
AM shift of the carrier in radians; Δfpeak is the maximum frequency
Narrowband FM
deviation of the carrier.
Figure A-3
Narrowband FM
Phase modulation To simplify the analysis of FM, we first assume that β << π/2
In particular, when (usually β < 0.2).

φ (t) = ω ct + φ o + Κ i • φ (t) (Eq. 2-3) We have

e(t) = A • cos (ω ct + β • sin ω mt)
we vary the phase of the carrier linearly with the modulation = A [cos ω ct • cos (β • sin ω mt) - sin ω ct • sin (β • sin ω mt)]
signal. Ki, is a constant of the system.
for β << π cos (β • sin ω mt) = 1 and
2
Frequency modulation sin (β • sin ω mt) = β • sin ω mt, (Eq. 2-8)

Now we let the instantaneous frequency, as defined in Equation

(2-2), vary linearly with the modulating signal. thus
e(t) = A (cos ω ct – β • sin ω mt • sin ω ct).
ω (t) = ω c + K 2 • f (t)

Written in sideband form:

Then
e(t) = A cosω ct + m•A cos(ω c + ω m) t – m•A *
2 2
φ (t) = ∫ ω (t)dt cos(ω c – ω m)t. (Eq. 2-9)

= ω ct + φ o + K 2 • ∫ f (t)dt (Eq. 2-4) This resembles the AM case in Equation (1-4), except that in
narrowband FM the phase of the lower sideband is reversed and
In the case of phase modulation, the phase of the carrier varies the resultant sideband vector sum is always in phase quadrature
with the modulation signal, and in the case of FM the phase of with the carrier.
the carrier varies with the integral of the modulating signal. Thus,
there is no essential difference between phase and frequency FM thus gives rise to phase variations with very small amplitude
modulation. We shall use the term FM generally to include both change (β << π/2), while AM gives amplitude variations with no
modulation types. For further analysis we assume a sinusoidal phase deviation.
modulation signal at the frequency ω m:

f (t) = a • cos ω mt.

The instantaneous radian frequency ωi is

ωi = ω c + Δω peak • cosω mt ( Δω peak <<ω c). (Eq. 2-5)

Δω peak is a constant depending on the amplitude a of the

modulating signal and on the properties of the modulating
system.

The phase φ (t) is then given

Δω peak
φ (t) = ∫ ωidt = ω ct + sin ω mt + φ o.
ωm
24 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

Figure A-4 shows the spectra of AM and narrowband FM signals. We thus have a time function consisting of a carrier and an infinite
However, on a spectrum analyzer the FM sidebands appear number of sidebands whose amplitudes are proportional to Jn(β).
as they do in AM because the analyzer does not retain phase We can see (a) that the vector sums of the odd-order sideband
information. pairs are always in quadrature with the carrier component; (b) the
vector sums of the even-order sideband pairs are always collinear
with the carrier component.
ωc
J0
ωc –ωm ωc +ωm
J2
J–2
J1
J3
ω
ωc –3ωm ωc –ωm
AM ωc –2ωm ωc ωc +ωm ωc +2ωm ωc +3ωm

J–3
J–1
ωc
Figure A-5. Composition of an FM wave into sidebands
ωc +ωm

ωc –ωm
ω

Narrowband FM

Figure A-4
Figure A-4

Wideband FM
e(t) = A • cos (ω ct + β sin ω mt) β not small
= A [cos ω ct • cos (β • sin ω mt) – sin ω ct • sin (β • sin ω mt)].

Using the Fourier series expansions,

cos(β • sin ω mt)

= Jo(β) + 2J2(β) • cos 2ω mt
+2J4(β)cos 4ω mt + … (Eq. 2-10)

sin(β · sin ω mt)

= 2J1(β)sin ω mt + 2J3(β) • sin 3ω mt +… (Eq. 2-11)

when Jn(β) is the nth-order Bessel function of the first kind, we get

e(t) = Jo(β) cos ω ct

– J1(β) [cos (ωc – ωm)t – cos (ωc + ωm) t]
+ J2(β) [cos (ωc – 2ωm)t + cos (ωc + 2ωm) t]
– J3(β) [cos (ωc – 3ωm)t – cos (ωc + 3ωm) t]
+ … (Eq. 2-12)
25 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

J3 (1)
Locus of R
J3 (1)

J2 (1) J1 (1) J2 (1)

J1 (1) J2 (1)
J1 (1)

J1 (1)
1 Radian J0 (1)
J0 (1)
J0 (1)

ωm· t = 0 ωm· t = π ωm· t = π

4 2
J3 (1)
J2 (1) J1 (1) J1 (1) J2 (1)
J1 (1)

For m = 1
J0 (1) 1 Radian J3 (1) J0 = 0.77R
J0 (1)
J1 = 0.44R
J2 = 0.11R
J3 = 0.02R
ωm· t = π
ωm· t = 3π
4

Figure A-6. Phasor diagrams of an FM signal with a modulation index β = 1. Different diagrams correspond
to different points in the cycle of the sinusoidal modulating wave
26 | Keysight | Spectrum Analysis Amplitude and Frequency Modulation - Application Note

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