SIDE BAND COMMUNICATION

In conventional AM carrier power constitutes 2/3 or more power, but it does not contain any information.
Also the information contained in the lower side band is same as upper side band, so in conventional AM,
we use twice bandwidth as needed with single side band. Thus conventional AM is both power and BW
inefficient.
4.1 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SSB SYSTEMS

1. Single Sideband Full Carrier (SSBFC)

Fig 4.1
Here carrier is transmitted at full power but only one of the side bands is transmitted.
2.

Single Side Band Suppressed Carrier (SSBSC)

Fig 4.2
In SSBSC form of AM, carrier is totally suppressed and one of the sidebands removed.

The sideband

power makes up 100% of the total transmitted power.

3. Single Side Band Reduced Carrier (SSBRC)

Fig 4.3
Here carrier is reduced to approximately 10% of its unmodulated amplitude. So 96% of transmitted power
is due to the single side band. To produce a reduced carrier, first remove carrier and then inserted carrier at

reduced amplitude.

Thus SSBRC is also called reinserted carrier (Pilot Carrier) system.

At the

demodulation side again remove carrier and it is amplified and again reinserted.
4. Independent Side Band (ISB)

Fig 4.4
An independent sideband (ISB) is a form of AM in which a single carrier frequency is independently
modulated by two different modulating signals.

ISB consists of two independent single-sideband

suppressed carrier modulators. The single-side band output signals from the two modulators are combined
to form a double-sideband signal in which the two sidebands are totally independent of each other except
that they are symmetrical about a common carrier frequency. For demodulation carrier is also reinserted at a
reduced level.

5. Vestigial Sideband

Fig 4.5
It is a form of AM in which the carrier and one complete sideband are transmitted, but only part of the
second sideband is transmitted. Thus in VSB the lower side modulating-signal frequencies are transmitted
double sideband and the higher modulating signal frequencies are transmitted single sideband. Thus at the
demodulator, low-frequency modulating signals are emphasized and produce larger-amplitude signals in the
demodulator than the high frequencies.

Fig 4.6
The SSBSC waveform is not an envelope, but rather a single-frequency sinusoid equal in frequency to the
unsuppressed sideband frequency. (i.e. either LSB or VSB)

Advantages of SSB
1. Power conservation: In SSB, carrier is suppressed so the total power transmitted is used for one sideband
only. By eliminating carrier would increase the power available for the sidebands by at least a factor of
three providing a signal power advantage of 10 log (3) or 4.8 dB improvements in the S/N ratio.
2. Bandwidth conservation: Since we are using only one sideband, the bandwidth required is reduced to
half, this allows more channels to be included in the spectrum. For example if we consider audio channel
with frequency range 300 Hz to 3 kHz, the bandwidth required for DSBFC is 6 kHz but for SSB it is 2.7
kHz.
3. Selective fading: In DSBFC, there are three frequency components, when this is transmitted through a
media, different frequencies may undergo different impairments.

This is called ` selective fading .

Suppose one sideband is attenuated more, it is called ` sideband fading , this will reduce S/N ratio. If
carrier level is reduced it is called Carrier amplitude fading. This may cause severe distortion like envelope
resembles an over modulated envelope due to carrier voltage level reduction.But in SSB since we are using
either a reduced or totally suppressed carrier, selective fading cannot occur. Thus in SSB, it is not necessary
to maintain specific amplitude or phase relationship between the carrier and sideband signals.

4. Noise reduction: In SSB the bandwidth required is only half of conventional AM, so the thermal noise
power is also reduced to half. In SSB systems there are approximately 12 dB S/N improvement over
conventional AM.

Disadvantages:
1. Complex Receivers: Most of SSB transmissions include either a reduced or suppressed carrier, thus
envelop detection cannot be used unless the carrier is generated at an exalted level. Thus SSB receiver
requires a carrier recovery and synchronization circuit.
2. Tuning difficulties: SSB require more complex and precise tuning than conventional AM receivers.
4.2 SUPPRESSION OF CARRIER
For generating SSB, the carrier and one sideband should be removed. For removing one side band
filter can be used, but for removing carrier, it is very difficult to use notch filter. So for practical purpose,
modulator circuits that inherently remove the carrier during the modulation process have been developed.
Such circuits are called double-sideband suppressed-carrier (DSBSC) modulators.
4.2.1

Balanced Ring Modulator

It uses diodes and transformers generally circuits that generate DSBSC signal is a balanced

modulator. A balanced modulator has two inputs, a single frequency carrier and a modulating signal. For a
balanced modulator to operate properly the amplitude of the carrier must be sufficiently greater than the
amplitude of the modulating signal. This is to make sure that the on or off condition of diode is controlled
by carrier and not by modulating signal.

Fig 4.7

(a)

(b)

Fig 4.8
The diodes D1 to D4 are switches that control the modulating signal is passed from transformer T 1 to output
transformer T2, as is or with 1800 phase shift. For Fig (a) D1 and D2 are forward biased and D3 and D4 are
reverse biased. Thus the modulating signal will reach T2 without phase reversal. While in fig (b) D 3 and D4
are forward biased and D1 and D2 are reverse biased. Thus the modulating signal undergoes 180 0 phase
reversal before reaching T2. Carrier current flows from its source to the center taps of T 1 and T2 where it
splits and goes in opposite directions through the upper and lower waves of the transformer. Thus their
magnetic fields cancel in the secondary windings of the transformer and the carrier is suppressed. If the
diodes are not perfectly matched or if the transformers are not exactly center taped, the circuit is out of
balance and the carrier is not totally suppressed, so a small current will flow called carrier leak. Typically
40 dB to 60 dB carrier suppression can be obtained.

Fig 4.9
The above figure shows the output and input waveforms associated with a

balanced modulator. The

output from a balanced modulator consists of a series of RF pulses whose repetition rate is determined by
the RF carrier switching frequency, and amplitude is determined by modulating signal.

4.2.2

FET Push Pull Balanced Modulator

The figure given below shows a balanced modulator that uses FETs rather than diodes for the non
linear devices. The carrier is into the circuit in such a way that it is applied simultaneously and in phase to
the gates of both FET amplifiers (Qa and Qb).

Fig 4.10
Ita = Iqa + Ida + Ima
Itb = -Iq6-Idb+Imb
It = Ita + Itb = Ima + Imb = - 2 Im
Let ` Iqa and `Iq6 are the quiescent dc drain currents from Qa and Q6 pass through primary winding of T 3.
These currents are equal but 1800 out of phase. But when carrier signal is applied, the drain current will
increase by Ida and Idb. But it we apply carrier signal in opposite polarity the current due to carrier signal
will oppose quiescent drain currents.

Fig 4.11
When modulating signal is added the phasor diagram can be shown as follows. The modulating signal
currents (Ima and Imb) produce in their respective values of the output transformer currents that are in phase
with each other. In one half total current is equal to the difference between the dc and carrier currents and
the modulating signal current, and in other half of the winding the total current is equal to the sum of the
dc, carrier and modulating signal currents.

Fig 4.12
Thus the dc and carrier currents cancel in the secondary windings, while the difference components add.
Thus the total current in ` a side is
And total current in ` b side is

Ita = Ida + Iqa+ Ima

Itb = -Idb-Iqb+Imb.

The net current through primary of T3 is

Ita+Itb = Ima + Imb.

For proper operation Qa and Qb must be matched and T1 and T3 must be exactly center tapped. And carrier
attenuation is 40dB to 60dB.

4.2.3 Balanced Bridge Modulator

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Fig 4.13

The operation of the balanced bridge modulator depends on the switching action of diodes D 1 through D4
under influence of the carrier and modulating signal voltages. Here also the ` ON and ` OFF of diode is
controlled by the carrier voltage.
When the carrier polarity is as shown in fig (a), all the diodes are reverse biased and the audio signal
voltage is transferred directly to the load resistor (RL).When the carrier polarity is opposite, all the diodes
are forward biased and on, and the load resistor is bypassed (short). Thus the output waveform contains a
series of pulses that is mainly of the upper and lower sideband frequencies.
4.3 SSB GENERATION
Three main systems are used for the generation of SSB, the filter method, the phase shift method and the
third method

4.3.1 Filter Method

The block diagram given below shows a SSB transmitter that uses balanced modulator to suppress
the unwanted carrier and filters to suppress the unwanted sideband. Here three stages of frequency-upconversion is used. The modulating signal is an audio spectrum that extends from 0 to 5 kHz.

Fig 4.14
The modulating signal mixes with a low- frequency 100 kHz carrier in balanced modulators, to produce a
double sideband frequency spectrum centered on the suppressed 100 kHz carrier. The BPF1 is tuned to a 5
kHz bandwidth with a centre frequency of 102.5 kHz. The pilot or reduced-amplitude carrier is added to the
single-sideband waveform in the carrier insertion stage, which is simply a ` linear summer . Thus the
output of the summer is a SSBRC waveform.
For the frequency up conversion, balanced modulator stages are used. First the SSBRC waveform is
mixed in balanced modulator 2 with a 2MHz medium frequency (MF) carrier. Thus in the output the upper
and lower sidebands are separated by 200 kHz. Thus for selecting

the upper sideband use a BPF 2 with

center frequency 2.1025 MHz, and bandwidth 5 kHz. The output of BPF 2 is once again SSBRC waveform.
The output of BPF2 is once again mixed with a 20MHz high frequency (HF) carrier in balanced modulator3.
Here sidebands are separated by 4.2 MHz. The BPF 3 is centered on 22.1025 MHz with a bandwidth of 5
KHz. The output waveform is amplified in the linear power amplifier and then transmitted.
In the above figure we used three stages of frequency up conversion, but the same can be obtained
using single balanced modulator, and BPF.

Fig 4.15
The output of balanced modulator is DSBSC with frequency 22.1 MHz For obtaining a single side band
BPF can be used, but here for getting single sideband with 5kHz bandwidth in 22 MHz is very difficult, for

that we have to use filters with very high value of ` Q ( quality factor).

f0
Q BW

Practically it is very

difficult to construct such a filter. But in step-by-step frequency up conversion, the sidebands are separated
so it can filter by using filters with low value of `Q.

4.3.2 Phase Shift Method

In phase shift method of SSB generation, the undesired sideband is canceled in the output of the
modulator, therefore sharp filtering is unnecessary.

Here two balanced modulators are used.

The

modulating signal and carrier are applied directly to one of the modulators and then both are shifted 90 0 and
applied to the second modulator. The outputs from the two balanced modulators are DSBSC signals with
the proper phase such that, when they are combined in a linear summer, the upper sideband is cancelled.
We know that output from the balanced modulator will not contain any carrier, but two sidebands. The
carrier and modulating signal is fed to the balanced modulator and both 90 0 phase shift and fed to balanced
modulator 2. The phasor shows the output

Fig 4.16
The output of the summer shows the sum of the phasors from the two balanced modulators.

Fig 4.17
The two phasors for the lower sideband are in phase and additive whereas the phasors for the upper
sideband are 1800 out of phase and thus cancel.
From Modulator 1

t .Sinwct =

1
Cos ( wc wm )t 1 Cos ( wc wm )t
2
2

Sinw
From modulator2

Cos wmt Coswct =

1
Cos ( wc wm )t 1 Cos ( wc wm )t
2
2

Cos ( wc wm )t
The sum of modulator 1 and modulator 2 =

4.3.3 Third Method

It is similar to phase shift method in that it uses phase shifting and summing to cancel the undesired
sideband. Here the information signal is initially modulated on to an audio ` sub carrier , thus there is no
need for a wideband phase shifter. A wideband shifter will phase shift a band of frequencies.

Fig 4.18

In `third method SSB modulator, phase shifter input and o/p are single frequencies. The input audio signals
mix with the audio subcarrier in balanced modulators 1 and 2. The output of balanced modulator 2 is fo
fm and balanced modulator is

fo fm+900. LPF is used to remove lower sideband. These signals are

again mixed with the RF carrier (fc). Thus the o/p of balanced modulator 3 is fc
balanced modulator 4 is fc+900

(fo+900-fm) and o/p of

( fo-fm). Now the o/p of both balanced modulators summed in a linear

summer, such that

(fc + f0 + 900-fm) + (fc fo + fm 900) +
(fc + 900 +f0 -fm) + (fc +900 fo + fm)
(fc + f0 fm+900) + Cancel
Thus the final output is (fc+fo)-fm i.e. the lower sideband of RF carrier

fc + fo. The 90 0 phase shift is

insignificant since the entire signal will undergo the same phase shift of 900.

4.4 INDEPENDENT SIDEBAND (ISB) TRANSMITTER

Fig 4.19
From the above block diagram of an independent sideband (ISB) transmitter, it uses three stages of
modulation. It uses filter method to produce two independent SSB channels. Pilot carrier is also inserted.

There are two 5 kHz-wide information signals each modulate a 100 kHz LF carrier in balanced modulator.
The balanced modulator output is passed through BPF which select the required spectrum. For channel A
95 kHz. The two single-sideband frequency spectrums are combined in a hybrid network to form a
composite ISB suppressed carrier spectrum. For the carrier reinsertion a linear summer is used.
For the frequency up conversion two stages of balanced modulators are used. In balanced modulator
3 the ISB spectrum is mixed with 2.7 MHz MF carrier. BPF 3 will select only the required spectrum that is
2.795 MHz to 2.805 MHz and this spectrum is mixed with 2.5 MHz carrier. This high frequency signal can
be transmitted.
4.5

SINGLE-SIDEBAND TRANSMITTERS
Single-sideband suppressed carrier transmitter can be converted to single-side band reduced carrier

by using an additional circuit that adds a low-amplitude carrier to the SSBSC waveform. The reinserted
carrier is called a pilot carrier. The circuit where the carrier is reinserted is called a linear summer
(Resistive) or hybrid Coil (inductive).
4.6 SINGLE SIDEBAND RECEIVERS
There are two types of SSB receiver circuits, coherent and non-coherent.

Non Coherent Receiver

Fig 4.20
The beat frequency is IF carrier frequency itself. Thus the difference between BF0 and IF amplifier gives
the information signal.
It is non coherent because the RF local oscillator and BFO signals are not synchronized to each other or to
the oscillators in the transmitter. Thus there is possibility for ` frequency offset error due to difference
between transmit and receive local oscillator frequencies.
RF mixer and second detectors are product detectors, in which their o/p is equal to product of their inputs.
In a product detector the input is tuned to a high-frequency modulated carrier and the output is tuned to a

low-frequency information signal. In a product modulator the input is tuned to a low frequency modulating
signal and the output is tuned a high-frequency carrier.

Coherent Receiver

Fig 4.21
Here L0 and BF0 are synchronized to each other and to the carrier oscillators in the transmitter. The carrier
recovery circuit is a narrowband PLL that tracts the pilot carrier and it is used to generate L0 and BF0.

4.7 MULTICHANNEL PILOT CARRIER SINGLE-SIDEBAND RECEIVER

The block diagram shows a multichannel pilot carrier SSB receiver that uses PLL. (Phase locked loop). The
RF input range extends from 4 MHz to 30 MHz. The VCO (Voltage controlled oscillator) frequency range
can vary in the range 6 MHz to 32 MHz with an external selector switch. The VCO signal and RF signal
are mixed in RF mixer, to produce the IF difference frequency, of 2MHz. This signal is mixed with a 1.8
MHz beat frequency to produce a 200 kHz second IF.

Fig 4.22
PLL contains three parts phase detector, low pass filter and VC0.

Fig 4.23
The phase detector will compare fin and f

out

and will produce a dc voltage. This voltage can be used for

controlling VC0. The VC0 frequency continuous to change until it equals the fin.
In the receiver circuit, PLL locks on to the 200 kHz pilot carrier. It will act as a BF0 for second IF
mixer and its output are passed on to the preamplifier for further processing.AGC detector output voltage
will depend up on the pilot carrier voltage. Its o/p is used to control the gain of (RF/IF) amplifiers, and to
the ` squelch circuit to turn the audio preamplifier off in the absence of a received pilot. PLL compares the
carrier pilot with a 200 kHz stable crystal controlled reference. Thus even though the carrier supply is not

synchronized to the transmitter oscillators, the First and second IFs are thus compensating for any frequency
offset in the demodulated audio spectrum.
4.8 SINGLE SIDE BAND ENVELOPE DETECTION RECEIVER

Fig 4.24
The above block diagram shows a SSB receiver, envelope detection is used. The reduced carrier is detected,
separated in frequency synthesizer circuit, which will provide RF oscillator and BF0.
The received RF signal is mixed down to IF in the first detector. A regenerated IF carrier is added to
the IF spectrum in the last linear summer, which produces a SSB FC signal. The envelope is demodulated
in a conventional peak diode detector to produce the original signal spectrum. Thus type of receiver is often
called an ` exalted carrier receiver`.
4.9 VESTIGIAL SIDEBAND
In single sideband transmission there is bandwidth saving, but the reception of SSB is complicated.
Also we have to use high quality filters, otherwise information lose will occur. For the transmission of
video signals in TV transmission amplitude modulation is used. In 625 line European system the video
picture information signal contain 5.5MHz bandwidth, so if AM system is used total bandwidth required is
11 MHz, which cannot be practically possible.
So in TV transmission, we have to use SSB, but, since video signal contain very low frequency
modulating components, if we use filters it may also be removed, so it is very difficult to use physically
realizable filters. Thus as a compromise only a part of the lower sideband is suppressed, and the radiated
signal consists of a full upper sideband together with the carrier and the vestige (remaining part) of lower
sideband. This is called ` Vestigial sideband transmission .

Fig 4.25

Fig 4.26
In 625 line system frequencies up to 0.75MHz in the lower sideband is fully sound carrier is positioned
5.5MHz away from the picture carrier. Its spectrum range

75 kHz deviation.

Since in VSB, carrier is present so an envelop detector can be used for the demodulation. But in
VSB, it can be seen that relative amplitude of low frequencies is double that of high frequencies. This can
be shown as follows.

Fig 4.27

Between 0.75 MHz and 1.25MHz the output voltage would fall linearly.
The frequency response of transmitter and receiver can be shown as follows.

Fig 4.28
At the receiver the picture carrier is present half-way down the side corresponding to the suppressed
sideband. Frequencies between 5 MHz and 0.75 MHz only one sideband present, below 0.75 MHz both the
upper and lower sideband present but, the sum of these again unity.

e.g.: At 0.7 MHz amplitude is 0.92, and at the LSB at 0.7MHz amplitude is 0.08

total amplitude is unity.

Demerits
1. A small portion of the transmitted power is wasted as remaining LSB is removed.
2. The attenuation slope of the receiver will place the carrier a 50% output voltage which will introduce a 6
dB in the S/N
3. If we are not using an ideal filter we cannot obtain the response curve of receiver. If it happens then it
will introduce phase and amplitude distortion of the picture signal.

4. Critical tuning is necessary, since for higher frequencies output voltage is less, compared to lower
frequencies.

***