Institut Universitaire de la Cote

Bachelor of Engineering

Course title: Analog communication

Course objectives:
1. To impart the basic concepts of basic analog modulation schemes;
2. To develop understanding about performance of analog communication
system;
3. To impart the basic concepts of various digital modulation schemes

Outcome
Upon completion of this course students will possess the ability to:
1. Describe and analyze the mathematical techniques of analog
modulation and demodulation.
2. Define and evaluate the performance of analog communications
systems.

Course content
Module 1: Analog communication 15:12.3(hours)
Objective :
The transmission of information-bearing signal over a band pass
communication channel, such as telephone line or a satellite channel usually
requires a shift of the range of frequencies contained in the signal to another
frequency range suitable for transmission. A shift in the signal frequency
range is accomplished by modulation. This chapter introduces the definition
of modulation, need of modulation, types of modulation- AM, PM and FM,
Various types of AM, spectra of AM, bandwidth requirements, Generation of
AM & DSB-SC, detection of AM & DSB-SC, and power relations.

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 Chapter 1: Generalities

I. Signal
A signal is an electrical or electromagnetic current that is used for
carrying data from one device to another. Typically, a signal is created when
a command or data is sent to a device. The data is fed into the signal using
modulation techniques, depending upon the source and destination device
and/or medium. Analog and digital are the two different form of a signal. The
difference between the analogue signal and the digital signal is that analogue
signals are continuous signals whereas digital signals are discrete time
signals.
1.1. Analog signals
Analog signal is a kind of continuous wave form that changes over time.
An analog signal is described using amplitude, period or frequency and
phase. Amplitude marks the maximum height of the signal. Frequency marks
the rate at which signal is changing. Phase marks the position of the wave
with respect to time zero.

An analog signal is not immune to noise hence, it faces distortion and

decrease the quality of transmission. The range of value in an analog signal
is not fixed.

1.2. digital signals

Digital signals also carry information like analog signals but is
somewhat is different from analog signals. Digital signal is noncontinuous,
discrete time signal. Digital signal carries information or data in the binary
form i.e. a digital signal represent information in the form of bits. Each simple

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 wave has different amplitude, frequency and phase. Digital signal is
described with bit rate and bit interval. Bit interval describes the time require
for sending a single bit. On the other hand, bit rate describes the frequency
of bit interval.

A digital signal is more immune to the noise; hence, it hardly faces any
distortion. Digital signals are easier to transmit and are more reliable when
compared to analog signals. Digital signal has a finite range of values. The
digital signal consists 0s and 1s.

1.3. comparison between analog and digital signals

Basic Analog signal Digital signal
Meaning Analogue signals are continuos Digital signals are time discrete
signals. signals.
waves analogue signals are a sine wave. Digital signals are denoted by
square wave.
range Analog signals have fixed range. Digital signals have not fixed range.

example Human voice in air, analog electronic Computers, CDs, DVDs, and other
devices. digital electronic devices.
Data transmission Subjected to deterioration by noise Can be noise-immune without
during transmission and write/read deterioration during transmission
cycle. and write/read cycle.
Uses Can be used in analog devices only. Best suited for Computing and
Best suited for audio and video digital electronics.
transmission.
Application Thermometer PC, PDA

1.4. types of signal: periodic and aperiodic

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 1.4.1. Periodic signal
Any analog or digital signal, that repeats its pattern over a period of
time, is called as a Periodic Signal. This signal has its pattern continued
repeatedly and is easy to be assumed or to be calculated. For example in
industry, the process that takes place one after the other is a continuous
procedure. Such a process whether considered analog or digital, can be
graphically represented as follows.

1.4.2. Aperiodic signal

Any analog or digital signal, that doesn’t repeat its pattern over a
period of time is called as Aperiodic Signal. This signal has its pattern
continued but the pattern is not repeated. For example, the daily routine of
a person, consists of various types of work which take different time intervals
for different tasks. The time interval or the work doesn’t continuously repeat.
Such a signal can graphically been represented by the above figure:

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 II. Communication system
2.1. Definition
Communication is a process of conveying message at a distance. The branch of
engineering which deals with communication systems is known as
telecommunication engineering.

The communication system consist of three base elements: the

transmitter, the channel and the receiver.
2.1.1. The transmitter
Transmitter is the equipment which converts physical message, such as
sound, words, pictures etc., into corresponding electrical signal. It can be a
sensor, a radar, a microphone, etc.
2.1.2. The channel
Channel which provides transmission path between transmitter and
receiver. It can be transmission line or free space. When signals are send
through free space, we talked about radio communication. In this technique,
signals are transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves by using
antennas.
2.1.3. The receiver
Receiver is equipment which converts electrical signal back to the
physical message.

2.2. Types of communication

The Two basic types of communication systems are analog and digital
communication system

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 2.2.1. Analog Communication
In analog communication, the data is transferred from transmitter and
receiver with the help of analog signal. Analog signal possesses continuous
varying amplitude with time. Firstly, the data needs to be converted into
electrical form. As voice, sound is non-electric in nature, it can be converted
into electric form with the help of transducer. Then this signal is passed
through the communication channel.

Analog communication is appropriate for short distance

communication. Although, we can also use it for long distance
communication with the help of analog modulation technique such as
amplitude modulation and angle modulation.

2.2.2. Digital communication

Digital Communication is the one which uses digital signals for
transmitting information between source and destination. Digital signals are
represented by a square wave. This signal consists of discrete values rather
than continuous values.
The digital signal is formed by the sampling of the analog signal. The
samples of Analog signal are taken, and they are quantized. Digital signals
usually consist of signals with two states ON or OFF, i.e. 0 and 1. After the
sampling and quantization, the digital signal so obtained is modulated by
digital modulation techniques.

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 The significant advantage of using Digital Communication is that it is
not deteriorated by channel noise. This is because the digital signal is not a
continuously varying signal

2.2.3. Comparison of analog and digital communication

Parameters Analog communication Digital communication
Meaning Analog Communication is the Analog Communication is the
technology which uses Analog technology which uses digital signal
signal for the transmission of for the transmission of information.
information.
Noise and distortion Get affected by noise Immune from Noise and Distortion

Cost Low cost High gost

Example of signal Analog signal comprises of Voice, Hardware is flexible and less
sound etc complicated than Analog system.
Modulation used Amplitude and angular Pulse coded modulation

Hardware Hardware is complicated and less Best suited for Computing and digital
flexible than digital system. electronics.
Signal values Continuous values Discrete values

2.2.4. Modulation
In every communication scheme, it is an obligation for the message not
to change during its transfer. A high frequency signal can travel up to a longer
distance, without getting affected by external disturbances. We take the help

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of such high frequency signal which is called as 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.
In every modulation process, three types of signals are involved: the
message or modulating signal, the carrier signal and the modulated signal.

1. The message
The signal which contains a message to be transmitted, is called a
message signal. It is a baseband signal, which has to undergo the process of
modulation, to get transmitted. Hence, it is also called as the modulating
signal.

2. The carrier
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.

3. The modulated signal

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

We have two types of modulation depending on the technique used:

the continuous wave modulation and the pulse modulation.

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