OFDM is a broadband multicarrier modulation method that offers superior

performance and benefits over older, more traditional single-carrier modulation

methods because it is a better fit with today’s high-speed data requirements and
operation in the UHF and microwave spectrum.

OFDM is based on the concept of frequency-division multiplexing (FDD), the method

of transmitting multiple data streams over a common broadband medium. That
medium could be radio spectrum, coax cable, twisted pair, or fiber-optic cable. Each
data stream is modulated onto multiple adjacent carriers within the bandwidth of
the medium, and all are transmitted simultaneously.

The FDD technique is typically wasteful of bandwidth or spectrum because to keep

the parallel modulated carriers from interfering with one another, you have to space
them with some guard bands or extra space between them. Even then, very
selective filters at the receiving end have to be able to separate the signals from
one another. What researchers discovered is that with digital transmissions, the
carriers could be more closely spaced to one another and still separate. That meant
less spectrum and bandwidth waste.

The serial digital data stream to be transmitted is split into multiple slower data
streams, and each is modulated onto a separate carrier in the allotted spectrum.
These carriers are called subcarriers or tones. The modulation can be any form of
modulation used with digital data, but the most common are binary phase-shift
keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), and quadrature amplitude
modulation (QAM). The outputs of all the modulators are linearly summed, and the
result is the signal to be transmitted. It could be up converted and amplified if
needed. The whole process can be accomplished in computer hardware by using
the fast Fourier transform (FFT) or, more specifically for the transmitter, the inverse
FFT (IFFT). All the individual carriers with modulation are in digital form and then
subjected to an IFFT mathematical process, creating a single composite signal that
can be transmitted. The FFT at the receiver sorts all the signals to recreate the
original data stream.
The signals are created so they are orthogonal to one another, thereby producing
little or no interference to one another despite the close spacing.OFDM is
accomplished with digital signal processing (DSP).

The first reason is spectral efficiency, also called bandwidth efficiency. What that
term really means is that you can transmit more data faster in a given bandwidth in
the presence of noise. The measure of spectral efficiency is bits per second per
Hertz, or bps/Hz. For a given chunk of spectrum space, different modulation
methods will give you widely varying maximum data rates for a given bit error rate
(BER) and noise level. Simple digital modulation methods like amplitude shift keying
(ASK) and frequency shift keying (FSK) are only fair but simple. BPSK and QPSK are
much better. QAM is very good but more subject to noise and low signal levels.
Code division multiple access (CDMA) methods are even better. But none is better
than OFDM when it comes to getting the maximum data capacity out of a given
channel. It comes close to the so called Shannon limit that defines channel capacity
C in bits per second (bps) as
C = B x log2(1 + S/N)Here, B is the bandwidth of the channel in hertz, and S/N is the
power signal-to-noise ratio. OFDM is highly resistant to the multipath problem in
high-frequency wireless.

It is very complex, making it more expensive to implement. However, modern

semiconductor technology makes it pretty easy. OFDM is also sensitive to carrier
frequency variations. To overcome this problem, OFDM systems transmit pilot
carriers along with the subcarriers for synchronization at the receiver. Another
disadvantage is that an OFDM signal has a high peak to average power ratio. As a
result, the complex OFDM signal requires linear amplification. That means greater
inefficiency in the RF power amplifiers and more power consumption.

GMSK modulation is based on MSK, which is itself a form of phase shift keying. One
of the problems with standard forms of PSK is that sidebands extend out from the
carrier. To overcome this, MSK and its derivative GMSK can be used.

MSK and also GMSK modulation are what is known as a continuous phase scheme.
Here there are no phase discontinuities because the frequency changes occur at the
carrier zero crossing points. This arises as a result of the unique factor of MSK that
the frequency difference between the logical one and logical zero states is always
equal to half the data rate. This can be expressed in terms of the modulation index,
and it is always equal to 0.5.

Signal using MSK modulation

A plot of the spectrum of an MSK signal shows sidebands extending well beyond a
bandwidth equal to the data rate. This can be reduced by passing the modulating
signal through a low pass filter prior to applying it to the carrier. The requirements
for the filter are that it should have a sharp cut-off, narrow bandwidth and its
impulse response should show no overshoot. The ideal filter is known as a Gaussian
filter which has a Gaussian shaped response to an impulse and no ringing. In this
way the basic MSK signal is converted to GMSK modulation.

Spectral density of MSK and GMSK signals

Advantages
1. Improved spectral efficiency when compared to other phase shift keyed
modes.
2. It can be amplified by a non-linear amplifier and remain undistorted This is
because there are no elements of the signal that are carried as amplitude
variations.
3. It is immune to amplitude variations and therefore more resilient to noise,
than some other forms of modulation, because most noise is mainly
amplitude based.