UNIT 4

Modulation
By T Haiduwa

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Learning Outcomes
Understand:
• Modulation Demodulation (MODEM) concept
• Modulation Techniques/Methods
Introduction
• Modulation is the process of converting data into electrical signals
optimized for transmission.
• Modulation is the process of varying the properties of a periodic
waveform in order to represent analogue or digital information.
 Modulator Demodulator (MoDem)
• Modern devices work with digital data.
• Most traditional communication channels/devices only allow analogue data
transmission.
• To allow the transmission of digital data over analogue communication
channels we need to use a modem (modulator demodulator).
• The modem, is a device that converts digital data to analogue data. It also does
the reverse - converting data received over the analogue network into digital
data which can be understood by the modern devices.
Modulation - Demodulation
Example 1

Example 2

Modems are used for data transfer from one computer network to another
computer network through telephone lines.
The computer network works in digital mode while analog technology is used
for carrying massages across telephone lines. 5
 Concept of a MoDem

• A modem is an abbreviation for Modulator – Demodulator.

• A modulator is a device that performs modulation.
• A demodulator is a device that performs demodulation, the inverse of modulation.
• Therefore, a modem perform both operations, whereby .
• The modulator converts information from digital mode to analog mode at the transmitting
end &
• The demodulator converts the same data from analog to digital at the receiving end.

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Modulation Methods Classification
• Modulation techniques are divided into four types: Analog
modulation, Digital modulation, Pulse modulation , and Spread
Spectrum.
Analog Modulation
• Analog modulation is typically used for AM, FM radio, and short-wave
broadcasting.
• This method is divided further into:
1. Amplitude Modulation (AM)
2. Frequency Modulation (FM)
3. Phase Modulation (PM)
Cont’d

• Analog modulation such as AM,

FM and PM are more sensitive to
noise.
• If noise enters a system, it
persists and gets carried up to
the end receiver.
• This drawback can be overcome
by the digital modulation
technique.

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Digital Modulation
• Digital modulation involves transmission of binary signals (0s and 1s).
• This method is further divided into:
1. Single Carrier Modulation, by which the carrier occupies the entire
bandwidth (i.e., Amplitude Shift Keying(ASK), Frequency Shift Keying
(FSK), and Phase Shift Keying (PSF).
2. Multicarrier Modulation, is a scheme that modulates and transmits
different data on multiple carriers.
Pulse Modulation
• Pulse modulation technique is used to change the pulse width.
Spread Spectrum
• Spread Spectrum method is used to spread the signal energy over a
wide band.
 Basics of Analogue Modulation Techniques
(AM, FM and PM)
 Analog-to-analog conversion can be accomplished in three ways:
1. Amplitude Modulation (AM)
2. Frequency Modulation (FM)
3. Phase Modulation (PM)
• Amplitude modulation (AM): Encode bits using amplitude levels. It was the earliest
modulation technique used to transmit/broadcast voice by radio.
• Frequency modulation (FM): Encode bits using frequency differences. Frequency
modulation is used in different applications like radar, radio, and magnetic tape-recording
systems.
• Phase modulation (PM): Encode bits using phase shifts. Phase modulation is used for
transmitting waves. Used in technologies like GSM, WiFi, and satellite television.
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 Basics of Digital Modulation Techniques
(ASK, FSK & PSK)
• Digital modulation is adopted for better quality
and efficient communication, digital modulation
technique is employed.
• Modulation of digital signals are known as Shift
Keying.
• Where needed, digital data is translated into an
analog signal (baseband) with schemes such as :
ASK, FSK, PSK
 ASK, FSK and PSK
• Digital modulation techniques are based on shift keying.
• Keying in British English is the act of inputting data using a keyboard.
1. Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK): is implemented by changing the amplitude of a carrier signal to
reflect amplitude levels in the digital signal.
It is sensitive to noise and used for low-band requirements.
• Example: a digital “1” could not affect the signal, whereas a digital “0” would, by making it zero.

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 Cont’d

2. Frequency Shift Keying(FSK): When the two binary values are

represented by two different frequencies.
 The frequency of the carrier wave is varied for each symbol in the
digital data.

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 Cont’d
3. Phase Shift Keying(PSK) : Is when the phase of carrier signal
is shifted to represent the data.
 In PSK , the phase is varied to represent binary 1 or 0.

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 Analog -to-Digital Conversion

• Why analog to digital conversion?

1. The effect of noise is more on analog systems and less on digital systems
2. It is suitable for long distance transmission/communication.
3. Digital circuits are easy to handle.
4. Redundant information can be easily removed from digital transmission
5. Multiplexing techniques can be implemented in digital system easily.
6. We can make use of repeaters in the digital communication channels.

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 Types of Digital-to-Analog Conversion
Digital-to-Analog conversion
• Digital-to-Analog conversion is the process of changing one of the
characteristics of an analog signal-based data into digital data.
• Some times digital data needs to be carried on an analog signal.

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 Digital Modulation Vs. Analog Modulation

Advantages of the digital modulation over analog modulation

include:
1. Available bandwidth
2. High noise immunity
3. Permissible power

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Multiplexing
 Multiplexing

• Multiplexing (or Muxing) is a way of sending multiple signals

(streams of information) over a communications link at the same
time in across a single data link.
• This technique is commonly used in telecommunications and
computer networks to efficiently utilize available bandwidth and
resources.
• When the receiver recovers the separate signals, a process is
called Demultiplexing (or Demuxing).
• Multiplexing allows several transmission sources to share a larger
transmission capacity. 22
 Multiplexing Techniques

• Types of multiplexing:
• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
• Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
• Wavelength-division multiplexing(WDM)
• Space Division Multiplexing (SDM)
Frequency-division multiplexing &
Wavelength-division techniques are
designed for analog signals.
Time-division multiplexing is for digital

signals.

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 Frequency Division
Multiplexing(FDM)
• Frequency-division multiplexing (FDM): multiple signals are
transmitted simultaneously over a shared medium by
allocating different frequency ranges to each signal. T
• FDM is often used in radio and television broadcasting, where
different radio stations or TV channels are allocated specific
frequency bands.
• Several signals are carried simultaneously on the same
medium by allocating to each signal a different frequency
band.
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Example: Multiplexing Process of Frequency-division
Multiplexing (FDM)

• Each source generates a signal of a similar frequency range.

• Inside the multiplexer, these similar signals modulate different carrier
frequencies f1, f2, and f3).
• The resulting modulated signals are then combined into a single composite
signal that is sent out over a media link that has enough bandwidth to
accommodate it.

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Example: Demultiplexing Process of Frequency-division
multiplexing (FDM)

• The de-multiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose the multiplexed

signal into its constituent component signals.
• The individual signals are then passed to a demodulator that separates
them from their carriers and passes them to the output lines.

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 Wavelength-Division Multiplexing
(WDM)
• Wavelength-Division Multiplexing involves transmitting multiple optical signals of different
wavelengths (colors of light) simultaneously through a single optical fiber.
• Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is designed to use the high-data-rate capability of fiber-
optic cable.
• The optical fiber data rate is higher than the data rate of metallic transmission cable.
• Multiplexing allows us to combine several lines into one.

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 Synchronous Time Division Multiplexing
• Time-division multiplexing (TDM) involves dividing a transmission medium into time
slots and assigning each signal a specific time slot in a cyclic manner.
• It is a digital process that allows several connections to share the high bandwidth of a link
instead of sharing a portion of the bandwidth as in FDM.
• Time is shared, and Each connection occupies a portion of time in the link.
• This allows multiple signals to share the same channel by taking turns.
• TDM is commonly used in digital communication systems like digital telephone networks.
i.e, digitized voice streams.

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 Statistical Time Division
Multiplexing
• Statistical Time Division Multiplexing dynamically allocates time slots
based on the data traffic.
• It allows for more efficient utilization of the channel by allocating time
slots based on demand rather than using a fixed cyclic pattern.
• With statistical TDM, time slots are not pre-assigned to particular data
sources.
• Rather, user data are buffered and transmitted as rapidly as possible using
available time slots.

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Space Division Multiplexing (SDM)
• Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) involves transmitting multiple
signals simultaneously by using different spatial paths, such as
different physical cables or different antennas.
• It's commonly used in MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output)
wireless communication systems.
 Duplexing
• Demultiplexing, often referred to as "demuxing" is the process of
extracting individual data streams or signals from a single channel or
transmission medium that has been multiplexed.
• Demultiplexing is the reverse operation of multiplexing.
• Duplexing involve a point-to-point communication(receiving and
transmitting the signal)
Duplexing techniques in wireless communication
systems