QAM - GENERATION

modules
basic: ADDER, AUDIO OSCILLATOR, 2 x MULTIPLIER

preparation
Consider the block diagram of Figure 1. It is a quadrature modulator.

I
message A

cosω t + QAM
output

message B

Figure 1: a quadrature modulator

There are two messages, A and B. Whilst these are typically independent when they are
analog, it is common practice for them to be intimately related for the case of digital
messages. In the former case the modulator is often called a quadrature amplitude
modulator (QAM), whereas in the latter it is often called a quadrature phase shift keyed
(QPSK) modulator.
This Lab Sheet investigates an analog application of the modulator. The system is then
described as a pair of identical double sideband suppressed carrier (DSBSC) generators,
with their outputs added. Their common carriers come from the same source, but are in
phase quadrature. The two DSBSC are overlaid in frequency, but can be separated (by a
suitable receiver) because of this phase difference.
Note that the two paths into the ADDER are labelled ‘I’ and ‘Q’. This refers to the phasing
of the DSBSC - inphase and quadrature.

experiment
Figure 2 shows a model of the block diagram of Figure 1.
The 100 kHz quadrature carriers come from the MASTER SIGNALS module. Note that
these do not need to be in precise quadrature relationship; errors of a few degrees make
negligible difference to the performance of the system as a whole - transmitter, channel, and

www.emona-tims.com 1/2
Emona-TIMS QAM - generation L-48 rev 1.3

receiver. It is at the demodulator that precision is required - here it is necessary that the
local carriers match exactly the phase difference at the transmitter.
The two independent analog messages come from an AUDIO OSCILLATOR and the
MASTER SIGNALS module (2 kHz).

QAM
OUT

sin ωt sin µ t cos ωt

Figure 2: QAM generation - the model of Figure 1

Setting up is simple. Choose a frequency in the range say 300 to 3000 Hz for the AUDIO
OSCILLATOR (message ‘A’).
Confirm there are DSBSC at the output of each MULTIPLIER. Adjust their amplitudes to
be equal at the output of the ADDER, by using the ADDER gain controls (remove the ‘A’
input when adjusting ‘g’, and the ‘B’ input when adjusting ‘G’).
Since the QAM signal will (in later experiments) be the input to an analog channel, its
amplitude should be at about the TIMS ANALOG REFERENCE LEVEL of 4 volt peak-to-peak.
What is the relationship between the peak amplitude of each DSBSC at the ADDER output,
and their sum ?
To what should the oscilloscope be triggered when examining the QAM ? Is the QAM of a
‘recognisable’ shape ? For the case when each message could lie anywhere in the range
300 to 3000 Hz, what bandwidth would be required for the transmission of the QAM ?

phase division multiplex

What has been examined in this Lab Sheet has been called a QAM generator. When used
for analog messages, as here, it is also often called phase division multiplex - PDM. But
beware - this abbreviation is also used for pulse duration modulation; and PDM is also
called pulse width modulation - PWM !
The demodulation of what has here been called QAM is examined in the Lab Sheet entitled
QAM demodulation. There it will be seen that two overlaid DSBSC channels can be
separated, due to their relative phases; hence the name phase division multiplex can be
applied.

TIMS Lab Sheet copyright  tim hooper 1999, amberley holdings pty ltd ACN 001-080-093 2/2