KNUST

Telecom.
Engineering

TE 271: Analog Communication Systems

Dr. M. S. Ellis
[email protected]
Department of Telecommunication Engineering
Room 325
 Course Objectives
 To introduce the concepts of analog communication system

 To equip students with various issues related to analogue communication

such as modulation, demodulation, transmitters, receivers and noise perfor-
mance

 To equip students with basic AM and FM transceiver design

Course Outcomes

In this course, students will be able to:

 Gain the knowledge of the components of an analog communication system

 Understand the concept of modulation & demodulation and its importance to

wireless transceiver systems

 Gain knowledge in AM and FM system design

 Evaluate the performance of analog communication systems in the presence of

 Reference material
• A. Yadav, “Analog Communication Systems”,
University Science Press, New Delhi, 2008.

• S. Sharma, “Communication Engineering”, First Ed.,

S.K. Kataria & Sons, New Delhi, 2011.

• T. G. Thomas, “Analog Communication”, McGraw

hill, New Delhi, 2007.
 Course Calendar

Week Subject
1 Electromagnetic Fields Spectrum & Applications

Basics of Communication Systems

2
Need for Modulation
3
AMPLITUDE Modulation (AM)
• DSB-AM
4 • DSB-SC
• SSB
5
6
Circuit Design Project
7

8 Mid Semester Exam

9 ANGLE Modulation (Frequency & Phase Modulation)

• Spectrum of FM
• Generation and Degeneration of FM
10 • Commercial FM transmission using Armstrong’s Method
• Demodulation of Angle Modulated Signals

11 Noise Effects on AM and FM/PM Systems

Sampling Theory

12 Revision Week
 KNUST
Telecomm.

Structure of Assessment
Engineering

 Attendance ~ 5 %
 Mini-project ~15 %
 Mid-Semester Exams ~ 10 %
 End of Semester Exams ~ 70 %
 Total ~ 100 %

 Student who miss more than 3 sessions will NOT

be allowed to take the exams
RSysEnProp Lab 5
 1. EM Field Spectrum & applications

 The Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of

all types of EM radiation

 These radiations includes the light that comes from a

lamp in homes/offices, and the waves that heat food
in microwave ovens, among several others

 The EM spectrum with its corresponding wavelengths

& applications is shown below
 EM spectrum & applications…….
Radio Waves: AM radio, FM
radio, TV
Microwaves: Microwave Ovens,
WiFi

Infrared (IR): Remote controls,

Night vision goggles, security
cameras

Visible light: Lights that our eyes

detect including: fireflies, light
bulbs

UV light: Used to detect forged

bank notes, synthesis of Vitamin D

X-ray: X-ray scans, bone fracture

detections
IR Night Vision Goggles and security cameras
Gamma Ray: Cancer treatment,
treatment of mutated cells
 ELF 3 Hz – 3 KHz. Highly vulnerable to
disturbances and atmospheric changes. Hard to
design a system in this range due to high
wavelength. Usually used in seismic studies

VLF 3 – 30 KHz. Similar to ELF. Has

complications due to due large wavelength.
Has been used in submarines

LF 30 KHz – 300 KHz. Suitable for long

distance communication since LF signals will
get reflected by earth’s ionosphere. Also used
in military applications like submarines, RFID
tags.

MF 300 KHz – 3 MHz. Has been widely used

in AM radio, navigation systems for ships and
aircrafts, coast guards. Design of transmitters,
 VHF 30 – 300 MHz One of the most commonly used bands For receivers and antennas less complex than ELF,
analogue TV broadcasting. FM broadcasting (88 – 108MHz). Also VLF and LF
operates in the VHF band
 UHF 300 MHz – 3 GHz is the most important frequency band in HF 3 – 30 MHz Also known as short wave.
modern wireless communication. It is used in GPS navigation, Also gets reflected by earth’s ionosphere and
satellite communications, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, TV, GSM, CDMA, LTE its suitable for long distance communication.
mobile transmission and more Popular used in amateur radio, military
 SHF 3 – 30 GHz Commonly used in point-point communications, communications and weather broadcasting
satellite systems, digital TV. System design is difficult due to smaller
wavelength
 EHF 30 – 300 GHz Highest in the EM spectrum. Only used in
advanced communication systems due to its complex nature and low
wavelength. Suggested for high speed internet systems like 5G
technology and future technologies
Summary of radio frequencies and application
 Some research…visible light
 Research conducted by Japanese researchers (Tohoko University)
described that certain wavelengths of visible light (typically blue
light) are lethal to certain species of insects (fruit fly pupae,
mosquitoes)

 If successful conclusion is reached, this will help reduce to use of

insecticides which are detrimental to human health and expensive in
controlling large areas (farms)
 Another research into effect of
visible light on photosynthesis

 Results show that the rate of

photosynthesis peaks around 450
nm (blue light) and 650 nm (red
light)
 2. Basic Communication System
The process of conveying
(sending, receiving and processing)
information at a distance is termed
communication

Source of information may be

sound, video, data

Transmitter processes the

physical message before
propagation. Processes involve
modulation and amplification

Channel is the media through

which the signals travel from the
transmitter to the receiver. The
medium could be free space,
optical fiber or wire

The receiver reverses the process

of the transmitter. Converts the
incoming signal back to its
physical form, through a process
called demodulation
Simplified Transmitter block diagram

Simplified Receiver block diagram

Basic Communication System ….Modulation
Systems are designed to allow many individual messages to be transmitted
over a single communication channel

A method by which this can be achieved is called Multiplexing

In multiplexing, baseband signals (voice, audio, video) of same frequency

are shifted on different frequency locations (frequency translation) within
the total bandwidth

By doing so, they can be easily transmitted without mixing

At the receiver side, they can be easily retrieved by simply using filters with
different cutoff frequencies

This method of multiplexing is called frequency multiplexing

 ….Modulation

A simple method of frequency translation is called Modulation

A process in which a high frequency signal is modified

according to the properties of a low frequency information
signal

The powerful high frequency signal is called a carrier signal

The weak low frequency (or baseband) signal is called a

modulating signal
 ….Modulation

A carrier signal is represented by Acosф. By this formula.

Modification of this signal can be done in the following ways:

 Amplitude A, of the carrier can be modulated according to the

instantaneous value of the modulating signal. This is known as
Amplitude Modulation

 Angle ф can be modulated according to the instantaneous value of

the modulating signal. This is known as Angle Modulation
 ….Modulation

Angle ф is generally given by: ф = ωt + Ө

The carrier wave becomes: A cos (ωt + Ө)

Where A is amplitude, ω is angular frequency, and Ө is the phase

Therefore Angle Modulation can be divided into Frequency

Modulation and Phase modulation

After modulation, the modulated carrier wave is rather transmitted

instead of the weak message signal
 ….Modulation
Why perform (advantages of) modulation ?
1. Frequency Translation

• In radio broadcasting, audio signals

can occupy the same band without
mixing due to modulation or
frequency conversion

• Through this, the audio signal can

be listened to at different
frequencies

• The translation is done simply by

multiplying the message signal m(t)
with the carrier signal to produce a
translated signal Frequency Translation
2. Frequency Division
Multiplexing (FDM)

• Now that many audio signals

can be shifted at different
locations in the bandwidth
through translation

• They can be easily sent on a

single channel without mixing
or overlapping with each other

• Multiplexing helps make good

use of the spectrum without
wastage

• Radio stations 1, 2, 3, and 4

can transmit on carriers
Vcosωc1t, Vcosωc2t, Vcosωc3t,
and Vcos ωc4t Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
3. Practicability of Antenna size

• For proper transmission and

reception of signal, the antenna
f  30Hz
size should be comparable to the
wavelength (frequency) of the c 3  108
signal    107 m
f 30
• Baseband frequencies make
realizing antennas very
impractical due the large
f  300MHz
wavelengths.
c 3  108
• For example, If we transmit a    1m
f 3  108
baseband voice frequency of 30
Hz, the antenna size/aperture
required to transmit is impractical,
compared to when a higher
frequency is used
3. Noise reduction 4. Narrow Banding

• Without modulation, an • With modulation, several audio signals at

audio signal, transmitted different frequencies can be
to a receiver will transmitted/received with the same
encounter a lot of other antenna.
audio signals (people,
machines) in the • Otherwise, each specific audio frequency
transmission medium. will require a separate antenna which is
not very practical and ineffective
• With modulation, the
carrier signal of high
f m1  20Hz, f c  200MHz
power and high
frequency and will not be c 3  108 6 3  108
   15 10 m,  1.5m
f 20 6
easily interfered with. It 200 10  (20)
can also travel a long
distance f m2  20kHz, f c  200MHz
c 3  108 3 3  108
   15  10 m,  1.5m
f 20  103 6 3
200 10  (20  10 )
 3. AMPLITUDE Modulation (AM)
 “if the amplitude of carrier is varied according to the instantaneous value
of the message signal. The modulation is called amplitude modulation”

 A carrier signal is generally a sinusoidal wave with the expression:

Vc = Vc cos (ωct + Ө) ….(1)

 In amplitude modulation, the focus is on modifying the amplitude of the

carrier signal as the frequency and phase remain unchanged

 The carrier equation then becomes:

Vc = Vc cos ωct …..(2)
Assuming the baseband signal (modulating signal) is sinusoidal as well, then
m(t) = Vm cos ωmt ……(3)

 Now amplitude modulation says the carrier is varied according to the

instantaneous value of the baseband signal; then the general expression
becomes: V = V cos ωct <---- (carrier wave freq unchanged) …….(4)
V = Vc + m(t)
= Vc + Vm cos ωmt ……(5)
Substituting eqtn (5) in eqtn (4) becomes:
V = {Vc + m(t)} cos ωct
= Vc cos ωct + m(t)cos ωct ……...(6)
= Vc cos ωct + Vm cos ωmt * cos ωct
= Vc cos ωct + maVc cos ωmt * cos ωct …..(7)
Where, ma Vc = Vm,
And ma = Vm / Vc ………… (8)
This ratio (Vm / Vc) is called Modulation index.
Maximum value of ma is 1, why ??
V = Vc cos ωct + (Vm cos ωmt * cos ωct)
= Vc cos ωct + (maVc)/2 {cos (ωc + ωm)t + cos (ωc - ωm)t}

From the identity Cos x * Cos y = ½ { cos (x + y) + cos (x – y)} …...(9)

V= Vc cos ωct + (maVc)/2 {cos (ωc + ωm)t + cos (ωc - ωm)t}

1st 2nd 3rd

Equation (10) can be separated into 3 terms:

1st term represents the unmodulated carrier signal

2nd term represents the upper side band with a magnitude of Vc/2
3rd term represents the lower side band with amplitude Vc/2
 What happens when ma is not less than 1??

Desired MODULATION

OVERMODULATION
Can modulation Index be greater than 1? If it can, What happens when it is greater than 1?
Solving by Fourier transform
reveals the components of the
carrier, modulating, and
modulated AM waves

Practically, negative
frequencies are of no use. Hence
Fig. 2.3 (d) shows the useful AM
wave spectrum
Fourier Analysis of the AM spectrum

The final AM wave spectrum

shows that the transmission
bandwidth of the AM signal is:
BAM = 2ωm

What happens when the

message signal isn’t sinusoidal?

AM wave spectrum
 Sample Question

The antenna current of an AM transmitter is 8A when

only carrier is sent, but it increased to 9A when carrier
is modulated by a single sine wave.

• Find the percentage modulation 72.88%

• Determine the antenna current when the percentage

of modulation change to 0.5 8.48 A
 Sample Question

An amplitude modulated signal is given by: V(t) = 10 cos (2π × t) +

5 cos (2π ×t) · cos (2π × t) + 2cos (2π × t) · cos (4π × t)

• Find the various frequency components and corresponding

modulation index. Draw the line spectrum and bandwidth
m1 = 0.5, USB = 100.001 MHz, LSB = 1 kHz, m2=0.2, USB = 100.002
MHz, LSB = 2 kHz, Bandwidth = 4 kHz

• Find total modulated power and net modulation index

mt = 0.5385, Pt = 57.25 W
 Methods of Generation of AM

Methods of generating AM can categorized into 2:

Linear time-variant circuits
Non –Linear circuits
LINEAR TIME VARIANT
CIRCUITS:
A system that is time-invariant cannot
be used to generate AM. Why?

An example of a time-variant linear

system is a Switching circuit (or
Chopper circuit or Ring modulator)
shown on the upper right
Chopper/Switching/ring Circuit
NON-LINEAR CIRCUITS:
A non linear device can also produce
AM

For a non-linear device (e.g. shown

on the lower right), current does not
only depend upon the first power of
voltage but also on the higher order of Linear and non-linear current/voltage relation
 Methods of Generation of AM…….

 Here the diode is used as an non-linear device. Other non linear devices like transistors can
also be used

Two halves of the circuit have been arranged such that I1 and I2 are opposing each other. So
the net current at output is I1 - I2. The R-C circuit forms the band pass filter tuned at ωc

This type of arrangement is called balanced circuit hence the name Balanced Modulator

Class Discussion
• COMPARE THE NON-LINEAR DEVICE METHOD AND THE CHOPPER METHOD

• WHAT ARE OTHER METHODS OF GENERATING AM?

 Demodulation of AM
• In demodulation, we require a frequency translation such
that the message signal translated at carrier frequency ωc
comes back at frequency ωm

• In demodulation, the required frequency is ωm so all other

higher frequencies must be filtered out

• This can be achieved by using a low pass filter having a

cut-off frequency of ωc

• Demodulation is essentially a reverse process of modulation

 Demodulation of AM using Linear-Time Variant System
(Rectifier Type) Detector
• Just as in modulation, demodulation can be done using a linear
time-variant detector

• AM signal is applied at the input and a low pass filter at the

outer stage with ωc cut-off frequency

• A similar operation can be easily performed using a ring

modulator
 Demodulation of AM using Linear-Time Varying System
(Envelope Detector)
• Simplest and most common way of demodulating AM
• Here, the negative half of the AM wave is absent in the output
of the diode
• Capacitor ‘C’ and resistance ‘R’ perform the filtering
• Voltage across capacitor tries to follow the envelope of signal.
Hence the envelope of AM signal is nothing but the message
signal (hence the name envelope detector).

Setbacks with envelope

detection ??
•Negative peak clipping

•Diagonal clipping (at high

freq, diode becomes reactive,
rate of slope too fast for ‘C’ and
 Demodulation of AM using Non-Linear devices)
• Again, the same circuit for modulation is used
for demodulation; now with the input being
the AM signal and output being a low pass
filter.
 Side Band Techniques
 The equation for an AM wave is given by:
V = Vc cosωct + maVc/2 cos(ωc + ωm)t +
maVc/2 cos(ωc - ωm)t….….(10) – This called Double Side
Band (DSB) AM

 Purpose of modulation is to send the weak message

signal with the help of a carrier, NOT to send the
carrier

 Now, the carrier can therefore be removed without

affecting the net content of the information. This is
known as suppressed carrier (SC) AM
This will also require less power without
affecting the net content of the information
Proven below as;

By removing the

carrier, 66.66% of the
total power can be
saved without
affecting the net
content of
information
REPRESENTATION OF AM-SC WAVE
SPECTRUM OF AM-SC WAVE
 Generation of DSB-SC

• Methods of generation a suppressed carrier AM wave is the

same as discussed in generation of an AM wave, i.e.
 Linear Time Variant Circuit
 Non-Linear Circuit

• Similarly, an example of a linear time variant circuit for DSB-

SC generation is a chopper circuit (also called switching
circuit or ring modulator) ……. Refer from Lecture 3

• Likewise, an example of a non-linear circuit used to generate

DSB-SC is a balanced modular…….. Refer from Lecture 3
 Generation of DSB-SC signal

Ring Modulator
A balanced modulator

Demodulation of DSB-SC signal

Using Linear Time-Variant Circuit Using Non-Linear Device

 Single Side-Band (SSB) Transmission

 As discussed earlier under DSB-SC, there is really no need to

transmit the carrier
V = Vc cos ωct + maVc/2 [cos (ωm+ωc) t * cos (ωc-ωm)t]
By doing so we can save power and maintain the same bandwidth as
in the case of AM

V = maVc/2 [cos (ωm+ωc) t * cos (ωc-ωm)t] ....DSB-SC wave

The DSB-SC wave contains two identical sidebands

There is really no need to transmit both side bands if only one can be
used to transmit the information
 By transmitting a
single side band signal
(SSB), 83.33 % of the
total power has been
saved

Transmission
bandwidth requirement
also drops by half

Reduced noise
Typical Applications where SSB?
 Sample Questions
• The total power constant of an AM signal is 2000 W. Determine
the power being transmitted at the carrier frequency and at each
side band when the percentage modulation is 60% ans. 297 Watts

• The percentage modulation of AM changes from 50% to 70%

originally at 50% modulation carrier power was 700 W. Now,
determine the power of side bands at 70% ans. 171.5 Watts

• An AM signal contains 500 W of carrier signal. The modulation

index is 60%
1. Determine the total power of AM 590 W
2. Determine the power if SSB transmission is used 45W
3. Calculate the percentage saving of power 92.37 W
 SSB Generation
1. Filtering Method: Since SSB modulation is the transmission
of the upper or lower sideband, SSB can be generated by
easily filtering the undesired side band of the DSB-SC signal
• Filter bandwidth should equal to that of the message signal
(not twice its bandwidth like in DSB-AM or DSB-SC)
• Center frequency of filter should equal to the center frequency
of the desired side band (not carrier)
Setback: Filters with sharp edges do not exist. Non-sharp
edges must be used. Adequate separation between side bands
required
m(t) Balanced BPF
Modulator

DSB-SC SSB
VcCosWct
2. Phase-Shift Method: Here, the box marked -π/2
is a 90 degrees phase shifter that delays the phase of
every frequency component by 90 degrees

• At output XSSB(t) = m(t)cosωct ± m(t)sinωct

• The difference represents LSB, and sum represents
USB
 SSB Demodulation
• The process for SSB demodulation is the same
as that for a simple DSB-SC demodulator.

Advantages of SSB Modulation?

Disadvantages of SSB modulation?
Vestigial Side Band (VSB) Modulation

• As stated previously, SSB generation suffer some

problems including filter sharpness problems
AND ideal phase shifter design complications

• A compromise between DSB-SC and SSB is

known as Vestigial Side Band (VSB) modulation

• Generation of VSB is similar to that of selective

filtering for SSB
• In certain applications, a DSB modulation technique takes too much
bandwidth of the channel.

• An SSB technique will take half the bandwidth of DSB but it’s also
expensive and complex to implement

• Therefore, a Vestigial Sideband is often chosen in this situation

• A VSB signal is obtained by partial suppression of one of the

sidebands of a DSB signal (AM or DSB-SC) and completely
allowing the other sideband

• Hence, it uses a bandwidth between SSB and DSB-AM (or DSB-SC)

What application uses VSB Modulation?

VSB Modulation
VSB Demodulation
Frequency Translation and Mixing
• In signal processing, it is desirable to translate
the modulated signal frequency to a new
frequency band.

• A device that performs the frequency

translation of a modulated signal is called a
frequency mixer
 Frequency Division Multiplexing
• Multiplexing is a technique whereby several message
signals are combined into a complex signal for
transmission over a single channel

• To achieve this, the signals must be kept apart so they do

not interfere with each other within the common channel

• Frequency division (FDM) and time division

multiplexing (TDM) are the two basic multiplexing
techniques
 Sample Question

FDM

•Simultaneous transmission of 3 signals

•Spectra and sum of modulated frequencies illustrated
•Band pass filters used to separate modulated signals before
demodulation
•FDM is used in telephone systems, television broadcast, telemetry..etc
 Sample Question
• For the circuit diagram shown in the figure, the
input signal of first AM modulator is message signal
m(t) and input signal of second AM modulator is
inverted m(t). The applied carrier is shown. Show
that the final output S(t) is a DSB-SC
m(t) Balanced
Modulator

+
Oscillator S(t)
Inverted m(t) _
-m(t)
AM DSB-SC
Modulator