Introduction To Telecommunication Laboratory

10 FSK Modulators

10.1 Objectives

• Understanding the principle of frequency-shift keying (FSK) modulation.

• Measuring FSK signals.
• Implementing a FSK modulator with LM566.

10.2 Discussion

In digital transmission repeaters can regenerate digital signals and improve the
ability against noise interference, and the use of encoding techniques can
provide debugging and correction functions. But digital signals often occurs
distortions due to its high-frequency components are easily attenuated for long
distance transmission. To improve this advantage, a particular processing
(modulation) is needed for this purpose. Frequency-shift keying (FSK) is a type
of FM in which the modulating signal (digital signal) shifts the output between
two predetermined frequencies – usually termed the mark and space
frequencies. The relationship between FSK and digital signals is shown in Fig.
10.1. The FSK frequency f1 corresponds to the digital input high, and the f2
represents the digital low.

FSK technique is widely used for the transmission of Teletype information. FSK
standards have evolved for the years. For radio Teletype, the frequency of 2124
Hz represents mark or 1, and 2975 Hz represents space or 0.

Fig. 10-1 Relationship between digital and FSK signals.

For data transmission over telephone and landlines, the commonly used
frequencies are:
space = 1270 Hz.

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mark = 1070 Hz.

and
space = 2225 Hz.
mark = 2025 Hz.

Notice that the frequency difference (gap) of FSK signal equals 200 Hz.

The FSK modulator is used to convert the digital signal (square wave) into the
analog signal having two different frequencies corresponding to the input levels.
In this experiment, we use the frequencies of 1070 Hz. and 1270 Hz. to
represent space and mark, respectively. A voltage-controlled Oscillator (VCO)
can easily generate these two frequencies. A practical FSK modulator using the
LM566 VCO is shown in Fig. 10.2. In such cases, the oscillating frequency of
LM566 can be found by

2 ⎛ Vcc − Vin ⎞
f0 = ⎜ ⎟
R10C5 ⎝ Vcc ⎠

where Vcc is the power voltage applied to LM566 pin 8, and Vin is the VCO control
voltage applied to pin 5.

If Vcc is constant, proper values of R10, Cc and Vin are determined to generate
the LM566 output frequencies fo of 1072 Hz and 1272 Hz. In practice, the
limitations of using LM566 VCO are as follows:

2k Ω ≤ R10 ≤ 20k Ω
0.75 ≤ Vin ≤ Vcc
f 0 ≤ 500kHz
10V ≤ Vcc ≤ 24V

To generate the frequencies of 1070Hz and 1270 Hz exactly, the digital input
levels, such as TTL levels 0V and 5V must be converted to proper voltage levels
before applying to the input of VCO. The level shifter (Q1 and Q2) provides this
purpose. The Q1 acts as a NOT gate. In other words, when Q1 input is high (5V),
than Q1 conducts and the output goes to low (about 0.2V) causing the Q2 to
cutoff. If Q1 input is low (0V), the Q1 if OFF and its output rises to high (5V),
and thus the Q2 conducts. When the Q2 is OFF, the input voltage of VCO is
given by

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VR2
V1 = Vcc
VR2 + R6

and the output frequency of VCO is f1. When Q2 conducts, the input voltage of
VCO is

VR1 & VR2

V2 = V
(VR1 & VR2 ) + R6 cc

and the output frequency is f2. Therefore the output frequencies f1 = 1270 Hz
and f2 = 1070 Hz can be obtained by carefully adjusting the VR1 and VR2 values.
Both U2 and U3 are the second-order low-pass filters. The fourth-order low-pas
filter formed by cascading these filters is used to filter the high-frequency
harmonic components on the output of LM566 and therefore the FSK modulated
signal is obtained.

If the FSK modulated signal mentioned above is desired to transmit by antenna,

a mixer is required to modulate the signal to the frequency range in RF band.

Fig. 8-1 FSK modulator circuit.

10.3 Experiment Equipments

• Module KL-92001
• Module KL-94003
• Oscilloscope

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10.4 Procedures

Procedure 1- FSK Modulator

1. Locate the FSK modulator circuit on Module KL-94003.

2. Connect 5Vdc to digital signal input (I/P). Using the oscilloscope, observe
the LM566 output frequency (pin 3) and adjust VR2 to obtain the
frequency of 1070 Hz, and then record the results in Table 10.1.
3. Using the oscilloscope, observe and record the FSK output signal in Table
10.1.
4. Connect 0Vdc to digital signal input (I/P). Using the oscilloscope, observe
the LM566 output frequency (pin 3) and adjust VR2 to obtain the
frequency of 1270 Hz, and then record the results in Table 10.1.
5. Using the oscilloscope, observe and record the FSK output signal in Table
13.1.
7. Set the output of signal generator to TTL level and the frequency of 200
Hz. and then connect the output to the digital signal input (I/P). Using the
oscilloscope, observe and record the input, LM566 output (pin 3), and FSK
output signals in Table 10.2

Before you leave the lab;

• Turn off the power to all the equipment.

• Disassemble the circuit and place the Small components in the

plastic tray.

• Straighten up your lab station.

• Report any problems or suggest improvements to your TA.

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10.5 Results

Table 10-1

Input Signal LM566 (pin 3) Output FSK Output

Waveform Waveform

0V

5V

Table 10-2

Input Signal 200 Hz

Input
Waveform

LM566 (pin 3)
Output
Waveform

FSK Output
Waveform

10.6 Questions

1. Describe the operations of Q1, Q2 and LM566?

2. Describe the functions of VR1 and VR2.
3. If the input frequency is higher than the FSK frequency, does the FSK
modulator operate normally?

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11 FSK Demodulators

11.1 Objectives

• Performing a frequency-shift keying detector using Phase Locked Loop.

• Learning how to design a voltage comparator using an OPAMP.

11.2 Discussion

The digital signal is converted into the FSK signal by the FSK modulator for long
distance communications. At receiver section, an FSK demodulator is necessary
to recover the original digital signal from the received FSK signal. A phase-
locked loop (PLL) is a good choice for this purpose. In short, the phase-locked
loop (PLL) is the control system that tracks the frequency and phase of the
input signal. Recently, the PLL is widely used as a demodulator in many types of
analog communication systems, such as the AM demodulator, FM demodulator,
frequency selector, and chroma subcarrier acquisition in color TV receiver.
Similarly, many digital phase-locked loops have been developed to track a carrier
or bit synchronizing signal in digital communication systems.

Basically a PLL includes three major sections: Phase Detector ( PD), Loop Filter
(LF), and Voltage Controlled Oscillator ( VCO). Fig 11.1 provides the block
diagram of PLL.

Fig. 11-1 PLL block diagram.

Consider the PLL block diagram shown in Fig. 11.1. If Vin changes frequency, an
instantaneous change will result in a phase change between A and B and hence a
dc level change at the output. This level shift will change the frequency of the
VCO to maintain lock. If the PLL is used as an FSK demodulator and the FSK

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signal is applied to the input, the output voltages V1 and V2 will correspond to the
input frequencies f1 and f2 respectively. Thus an input frequency change has
converted into an output dc level change. When the PLL output is connected to
the input of voltage comparator having a reference between V1 and V2, the
output signl of the comparator is the digital signal, or the FSK demodulated
signal.

Fig. 11-2 FSK demodulator.

In this experiment we use LM565 PLL to perform an FSK demodulator shown in

Fig. 1112. The LM565 PLL including the phase detector, VCO, and amplifier
operates below the frequency of 500 kHZ. The phase detector operates as a
double balanced modulator and the VCO is an integrator- Schmitt circuit. Power
supplies +5V and –5V are applied to VCC ( pin 10) and VEE (pin 1), respectively. The
FSK signal is applied to the input of phase detector. Since a frequency multiplier
is needless in our experiment, pin 4 and 5 are directly tied together. The
reference output (pin 6) provides the reference voltage of the comparator U2.
The combination of internal resistor Rx, and external capacitor C3 operates as
the loop fitler. The limiting components VR1 and C2 determine the free- running
frequency of the VCO. In designing with the LM565 the important parameters
of interest are as follows:

Free-running Frequency
In the absence of the input signal, the output frequency of the VCO is called the
free-running frequency fo. In the circuit of Fig. 11.2, the free running frequency
of LM565 is determined by the timing components C2 and VR1 and can be found
by

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1.2
fo ≈
4VR1C2

Lock Range
Initially, The PLL is in already locked state and the VCO is running at some
frequency. If the input frequency fi is away from the VCO frequency fo, locking
may stil ocur. When the input frequency reaches a specific frequency where the
PLL loses lock, the frequency difference of fi and fo is called the lock range of
the loop. The lock range of LM565 can be found by

8 f0 8 f0
fl = =
Vc Vcc − VEE

Capture Range
Initially, the loop is unlocked and the VCO is running at some frequency. If the
input frequency fi is close to the VCO frequency fo, unlocking may maintain.
When the input frequency reaches a specific frequency where the PLL locks, the
frequency difference of fi and fo is called the capture range of the loop. The
capture rande of LM565 can be found by

1 2π × f l
fc =
2π 3.6 ×103 × C2

In the circuit Fig. 11.2, components R3, R4, R5, C3, C4 and C5 perform the low-pass
fitler to reduce the output ripple. The digital levels of FSK demodulated signal
are compatible with TTL levels.

11.3 Experiment Equipments

• Module KL-92001
• Module KL-93003
• Oscilloscope

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11.4 Procedures

Procedure 1- Pulse Width Demodulator

1. Locate the FSK Demodulator circuit on Module KL-94003. Connect the

vertical input of oscilloscope to VCO output (T1). Observe the free-
running frequency of LM565 and adjust VR1 to obtain a frequency of 1170
Hz.
2. Connect a 1070Hz, 2Vp-p sine wave to the input terminal (I/P). Set
oscilloscope vertical input to DC range and observe the output waveform
and record the result in Table 11.1.
3. Change the input frequency to 1270Hz and repeat step 2.
4. Complete the FSK Modulator circuit on Module KL-94003. Apply a 150 Hz
TTL square wave to the input of FSK modulator.
5. Connect the output of FSK modulator to the input of FSK demodulator.
Using the oscilloscope, observe and record the demodulated output
waveform in Table 14-2. If the demodulated signal is not obtained, check
the input FSK frequencies 1070 Hz and 1270 Hz.

Before you leave the lab;

• Turn off the power to all the equipment.

• Disassemble the circuit and place the Small components in the

plastic tray.

• Straighten up your lab station.

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11.5 Results

Table 11-1
(Vm=2Vp-p)
Input Input Output
Frequency Waveform Waveform

1070 Hz

1270 Hz

Table 11-2

FSK FSK Demodulator Input FSK Demodulator Output

Modulator Waveform Waveform
Input
Frequency

150 Hz

11.6 Questions

1. What components determine the free running frequency of the VCO in

LM565 of Fig. 11.2?
2. What is the purpose of µA741 in Fig. 11.2?
3. What is the function of LM565 pin 6?
4. What is the purpose of the multistage low-pass filter between the LM565
output and the comparator input?

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