Chapter 2

Modulation

2.1 Introduction to Modulation

The base station send a radio signal, but in this base station as we know, there are people
speaking and the frequency of this human voice signal range from 20 Hz-20KHz and
these frequency signals are called low frequency signals, we cannot directly transmit
these low frequency signals because there are some problem.
Analog signal generated by the message source is called “baseband signal” (such a
signal has low frequency components

Baseband signal may be directly transmitted without

modulation (e.g. audio telephone signal with approx. 3KHz bandwidth is transmitted
on twisted pair wire with almost the same bandwidth).
However, baseband signals are not always suitable for direct transmission.
When signal and channel frequencies do not match, channel cannot be moves.

In this case, the signal must be moved to the right channel bandwidth.

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Thus, the message signal must be modified for possible (efficient) transmission. This
modification is called “modulation”.
In the modulation process, the baseband (message) signal modulates a carrier signal.
Carrier:- is a sinusoid of high frequency.

⁂ A message carrying a signal has to get transmitted over a distance and for it to
establish a reliable communication, it needs to take the help of a high frequency signal
which should not affect the original characteristics of the message signal.

The characteristics of the message signal, if changed, the message contained in it also
alters. Hence, it is a must to take care of the message signal. A high frequency signal can
travel up to a longer distance, without getting affected by external disturbances. We take
the help of such high frequency signal which is called a carrier signal to transmit our
message signal. Such a process is simply called as Modulation.

Modulation is the process of changing the parameters of the carrier signal, in accordance
with the instantaneous values of the modulating signal.

2.2 Need for Modulation

Baseband signals are incompatible for direct transmission. For such a signal, to travel
longer distances, its strength has to be increased by modulating with a high frequency
carrier wave, which doesn’t affect the parameters of the modulating signal.

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a] Reduction of Antenna Size

⁂For efficient radiation of electromagnetic (EM) energy, the radiating antenna size
relates to the wavelength of the transmitted signal ( λ ¿ .

c
λ=
f

Where:

c :- is the speed of light; that is 3 ×10 8 m/s .

Note that the wavelength 𝜆 is inversely proportional to the frequency f .

The length of antenna should be

λ
Length of antenna=
4

For low frequency signals like 15KHz, the length of antenna should be at least 5 Km
for effective reception which is practically impossible.

Example:- If a high frequency like 1MHz is used, then its wavelength would be
nearly 300 m.
8
c 3× 10
λ= ⇒ =300 m
f 1× 106

And hence, the length of the antenna would be around length

λ 300
Length of antennad= ⇒ =75 m .
4 4

Which is practically possible.

As frequency f decrease ⇒ the wavelength 𝜆 increases ⇒ antenna length d

increases

Suppose that without any modulation a signal (audio) is transmitted then-we have

c c
λ min= λmax =
f max f min
8 8
3× 10 3 × 10
¿ 3
=
20× 10 20
3 6
¿ 15 ×10 m=15 ×10 m

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If we make possible the designing of such antennas; then only for transmission of
audio signals, we need the antenna height variation from (in order of) 103 m to 106 m.

But if we use modulation with 200 MHz carrier

8 8
3 ×10 3× 10
λ= 6 3
λ= 6
200× 10 +20 ×10 200 ×10 + 20
8 8
3 ×10 3 × 10
¿ λ=
2× 10 ( 10 + 1 )
4 4 8
2× 10
8
3× 10
= 8
=1.5 m=1.5 m
2× 10

That means now the audio signal (all from 20 kHz – 20 Hz) can use same antenna.
We have just changed a wide band signal (20 kH – 20 Hz) to a narrow and signal.

⁂ If the baseband message signal is transmitted on a high frequency carrier signal,

then the antenna size will be reduced much.

b] Multiplexing of Signals

Modulation allows multiple signals to be transmitted at the same in the same

geographical area.

Consider TV signals, without modulation, multiple video signals will be interfering with
each other (because all video signals inherently have the bandwidth of approx.. 4.5
MHz).

If carriers are chosen sufficiently far apart in frequency, the TV channels (signals) will
not overlap (no interference will occur).

This process is called “frequency division multiplexing” (FDM);

FDM is the method of transmitting several signals simultaneously over nonoverlapping

frequency bands.

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c] No Signal Mixing

⁂ Without any modulation, if an audio signal is transmitted directly, then between

receiver and transmitter there are many sources that generates the signal in audio range
(such as due automobiles industries). Then they will mix-up with audio signals and their
transmission and reception will not be possible.

⁂ After modulation, we also see that we are sending a modulated carrier, as carrier is a
powerful signal. (As its amplitude is very high in comparison to message signal). The
modulated carrier will have power equal to carrier or in order of magnitude of carrier
power; thus now signal can travel a long distance.

⁂ Suppose there are two base stations, if these stations directly transmit these low
frequency signals, they will interfere with each other.

If the station transmit signal of high frequency like 1MHz and 5MHz, the difference
between the frequencies very high 4 MHz. And hence waves will not mix with each other
and interference will not take place.

d] Poor Reception

The energy of electromagnetic wave like radio is given by this equation

E=h . f

Where

E :- Energy

h :- Blank Constant

f :- Frequency

From this equation, it is clear that for low frequency signals, the energy of the signal is
very low and hence radio wave becomes weak and leads to poor signal quality.

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According to the equations

E=h . f

For a high frequency signal, the energy of the wave will be high and hence the quality
of signal at reception will be good.

⁂ But how to increase the frequency of the signal, the answer is modulation. In
modulation we not actually increase the frequency of the signals, we what actually do,
we take our information signal [which is low frequency] and supper-imposed on a
carrier signal [which is of high frequency].

Baseband signals produced by various information sources are not always suitable for
direct transmission over a given channel. These signals are usually further modified to
facilitate transmission. This conversion process is known as modulation. In this
process, the baseband signal is used to modify some parameters of a high frequency
signal.

A carrier is a sinusoid of high frequency, and one of its parameters, such y or phase, is
varied in proportion to the baseband signal f m (t). Accordingly, we have amplitude
modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM).

2.3 Signals in the Modulation Process

Following are the three types of signals in the modulation process.

a] Message or Modulating Signal

The signal which contains a message to be transmitted, is called as a message signal. It is

a baseband signal, which has to undergo in the process of modulation, to get transmitted.
Hence, it is also called as the modulating signal.

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b] Carrier Signal

The high frequency signal, which has a certain amplitude, frequency and phase, but
contains no information is called as a carrier signal. It is an empty signal and is used to
carry the signal to the receiver after modulation.

c] Modulated Signal

The resultant signal after the process of modulation is called as a modulated signal. This
signal is a combination of the modulating signal and carrier signal.

2.4 Types of Modulation

There are many types of modulations. Depending upon the modulation techniques used,
they are classified as shown in the following figure.

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Chapter 2

Type of
Modulation

-Continuous
Pulse
wave
Modulation
Modulation

Amplitude Angle Digital Analog

Modulation Modulation Modulation Modulation

Frequency Phase Pulse Code

PAM PWM PPM
Modulation Modulation Modulation

Delta
Modulation

a] Continuous Wave Modulation (CW)

** When the carrier wave is continuous in nature, the modulation process is known as
“CWM”. Where some parameters of modulated wave vary continuously with the
message and the modulation is done by sinusoidal signals. CW is the basis of analog
communication system.

1- The modulated signal is in the form of continuous signals.

2- It is not used sampling technique
3- It has required less bandwidth.
4- High frequency sine wave is used as a carrier.
5- Input signal is analog signal only.
6- It is used in radio and TV broadcasting.

b] Pulse Modulation

** When the carrier is a pulse in nature, the modulation process is known as “Pulse
Modulation”. Where some parameter of each pulse is modulated by a particular
value of the message.

** If the carrier consists of (discrete) pulse train, some parameter of the pulse train is
varied in accordance with the message signal.

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1- The modulated signal is in the form of pulses.

It is used sampling technique. [converting continuous time signal to a digital signal by
taking the “samples” at discrete time intervals], [The process of generating pulses of
zero width and of amplitude equal to the instantaneous amplitude of the analog signal,
number of pulses/sec is called “sampling rate”].

-Sampling analog signals make them discrete in time, but still continuous valued.
-Quantization:- converting the amplitude of the analog signal to a digital value [covert
from discrete-time continuous valued signal to discrete time discrete valued signal].

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2- It has required large bandwidth [increasing the data rate implies decreasing the
pulse width of the digital symbol, which increase the bandwidth of the signal.

C
=log 2 (1+ SNR )
B

3- In pulse modulation, the train of pulses is used as a carrier.

4- The input signal is either analog or digital.
5- It is used in satellite communication.

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2.5 Questions for Review

1-The main purposes of modulation index.

a. Ease of radiation/ Transmission
b. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio
c. Frequency multiplexing
d. (a) and (c)
2-In the modulation process:
a. The baseband signal changes some parameters of a high – frequency carrier
signal.
b. The carrier signal modulates a baseband message signal
c. The modulating signal is the message signal which is carried on a high-frequency
sinusoidal signal
d. (a) and (c)
3- Modulation is needed for:
a. Matching signal band with channel band
b. Reducing antenna size in RF communication
c. Simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
d. All the above
4-In any modulation process, the modulating signal is:
a. The message signal
b. The carrier signal
c. None of the two
5-The process of inserting information onto a high frequency carrier is called
a. Agitation
b. Modulation
c. Distortion
d. None
6-Define modulation. Why is modulation required?
7-List the various types of modulation?
8-Explain the benefits of modulation.
9-Explain the difference between baseband and carrier signa
10-What is the meaning of frequency translation?

11-What is modulation?
Modulation is the process of changing the characteristics of the carrier signal with
respect to that of the message signal.
12-What are the principle forms of modulation?
Amplitude Modulation(AM)
Frequency Modulation(FM)
Phase Modulation(PM)

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13-Name the two signals involved in the modulation process.
14-Assuming a quarter wave antenna, what would be the required antenna height for
effective radio communication at 30 MHz?
15-What is meant by the term baseband signal?
16-A 100m long antenna is mounted on a 500m tall building. The complex can become a
transmission tower for waves with 𝜆
a. ~ 400 m
b. ~25 m
c. ~150 m
d. ~2400 m
17-An audio signal of 15 KHz frequency cannot be transmitted over long distances
without modulation because
a. The size of the required antenna would be at least 5 Km which is not
convenient.
b. The audio signal can not be transmitted through sky waves.
c. The size of the required antenna would be at least 20 Km, which is not
convenient.
d. Effective power transmitted would be very low, if the size of the antenna is
less than 5 Km.
18-Write two factors justifying the need of modulating a signal
a) Size of antenna:- For an electromagnetic waves of 20 KHz, the size of antenna
is 15 Km. This is not possible to construct and operate. So there is a need to
translate low frequency into high frequency before transmissions.
1
b) Effective power radiated:- Power radiate ∝ 2 . It means power radiated
λ
increases with decreasing wavelength or increasing frequency. Therefore, high
frequency carrier waves are needed.
19-Give reason for the following:- Audio signals, converted into an electromagnetic
wave, are not directly transmitted?
Audio signal if converted to electromagnetic signal will require antenna of at least
size 15 Km, which is impractical and signals of different transmitter would mix
up.
20-What is modulation? Explain the need of modulating a low frequency information
signal.
21- Define the term Modulation. Name three types of modulation used for a message
signal using a sinusoidal continuous carrier wave. Explain, the meaning of any
one of these.
Modulation:- When a signal is superimposed on a high frequency wave, which
acts as a carrier by change its amplitude, frequency or phase

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Amplitude Modulation means that the amplitude of the carrier wave is modulated
as per the amplitude of the signal to be transmitted.
22-What should be the length of dipole antenna for a carrier wave of frequency 5 ×108 Hz
?
8
λ 1 c 3× 10
Length of dipole antenna= = × = =0.15 m
4 4 f 4 ×5 ×108
23-What are the advantages of modulation?
a. Reduction of antenna size
b. No signal mixing
c. Increased communication range
d. Multiplexing of signals
e. Possibility of bandwidth adjustments
f. Improved reception quality

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