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Introduction to Modulation and Different Types of Modulations

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Introduction to Modulation and Different Types of Modulations

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kumariheena0601
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Modulation and Different

Types of Modulations
We are living in an era of communication wherein we can easily transfer any
information (video, audio and other data) in the form of electrical signals to any
other device or destined area. Although it is common in our perceptual experience
that sending or receiving signals or data is simple, but it involves quite complex
procedures, possibilities and scenarios within the communication systems.
Modulation plays a key role in communication system to encode information
digitally in analog world. It is very important to modulate the signals before
sending them to the receiver section for larger distance transfer, accurate data
transfer and low-noise data reception.

What is Modulation?

Modulation in communication system

Modulation is a process of changing the characteristics of the wave to be


transmitted by superimposing the message signal on the high frequency signal. In
this process video, voice and other data signals modify high frequency signals –
also known as carrier wave. This carrier wave can be DC or AC or pulse chain
depending on the application used. Usually high frequency sine wave is used as a
carrier wave signal.
These modulation techniques are classified into two major types: analog and digital
or pulse modulation. Prior to discussing further about the different types of
modulation techniques, let us understand the importance of modulation.

Why modulation is used in communication?

Need of Modulation
 In modulation technique, the message signal frequency is raised to a range
so that it is more useful for transmission. The following points describe
modulation’s importance in communication system.
 In signal transmission, the signals from various sources are transmitted
through a common channel simultaneously by using multiplexers. If these signals
are transmitted simultaneously with certain bandwidth, they cause interference. To
overcome this, speech signals are modulated to various carrier frequencies in order
for the receiver to tune them to desired bandwidth of his own choice within the
range of transmission.
 Another technical reason is antenna size; the antenna size is inversely
proportional to the frequency of the radiated signal. The order of the antenna
aperture size is at least one by tenth of the wavelength of the signal. Its size is not
practicable if the signal is 5 KHz; therefore, raising frequency by modulating
process will certainly reduce the height of the antenna.
 Modulation is important to transfer the signals over large distances, since it
is not possible to send low-frequency signals for longer distances.
 Similarly, modulation is also important to allocate more channels for users
and to increase noise immunity.
Different Types of Modulation
The two types of modulation: analog and digital modulation techniques have
already been discussed. In both the techniques, the baseband information is
converted to Radio Frequency signals, but in analog modulation these RF
communication signals are continuous range of values, whereas in digital
modulation these are prearranged discrete states.
Analog Modulation

Analog Modulation

In this modulation, a continuously varying sine wave is used as a carrier wave that
modulates the message signal or data signal. The Sinusoidal wave’s general
function is shown in the figure below, in which, three parameters can be altered to
get modulation – they are amplitude, frequency and phase, so the types of analog
modulation are:
 Amplitude modulation (AM)
 Frequency modulation (FM)
 Phase modulation (PM)
In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the carrier wave is varied in
proportion to the message signal, and the other factors like frequency and phase
remain constant. The modulated signal is shown in the below figure, and its
spectrum consists of lower frequency band, upper frequency band and carrier
frequency components. This type of modulation requires greater band width, more
power. Filtering is very difficult in this modulation.
Types of Analog Modulation

Frequency modulation (FM) varies the frequency of the carrier in proportion to


the message or data signal while maintaining other parameters constant. The
advantage of FM over AM is the greater suppression of noise at the expense of
bandwidth in FM. It is used in applications like radio, radar, telemetry seismic
prospecting, and so on. The efficiency and bandwidths depend on modulation
index and maximum modulating frequency.
In phase modulation, the carrier phase is varied in accordance with the data
signal. In this type of modulation, when the phase is changed it also affects the
frequency, so this modulation also comes under frequency modulation.

Analog modulation (AM, FM and PM) is more sensitive to noise. If noise enters
into a system, it persists and gets carried till the end receiver. Therefore, this
drawback can be overcome by the digital modulation technique.

Digital Modulation
For a better quality and efficient communication, digital modulation technique is
employed. The main advantages of the digital modulation over analog modulation
include permissible power, available bandwidth and high noise immunity. In
digital modulation, a message signal is converted from analog to digital message,
and then modulated by using a carrier wave.
The carrier wave is keyed or switched on and off to create pulses such that the
signal is modulated. Similar to the analog, here the parameters like amplitude,
frequency and phase variation of the carrier wave decides the type of digital
modulation.

Types of Digital Modulation

Digital modulation is of several types depending on the type of signal and


application used such as Amplitude Shift Keying, Frequency Shift Keying, Phase
Shift Keying, Differential Phase Shift Keying, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying,
Minimum Shift Keying, Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying, Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiplexing, etc., as shown in the figure.

Amplitude shift keying changes the amplitude of the carrier wave based on the
base band signal or message signal, which is in digital format. It is used for low-
band requirements and is sensitive to noise.
Digital Modulation

In frequency shift keying, the frequency of the carrier wave is varied for each
symbol in the digital data. It needs larger bandwidths as shown in the figure.
Similarly, the phase shift keying changes the phase of the carrier for each symbol
and it is less sensitive to noise.

To avoid making this article complex, some mathematical equations and in-depth
information about digital communication systems have been exempted from it.
However, the efforts put in to bring forth this article ensure basic information on
different types of modulation in communication system. And therefore, the readers
can share their ideas, suggestions and comments in the comment section below.

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