1.

Amplitude Modulation

Also known as ASK (amplitude shift keying). An AM signal is made up of a carrier (with constant
frequency) in which its amplitude is changed (modulated) with respect to the signal (modulating signal) we
wish to transmit (voice, music, data, binary). In the example below the carrier (a high frequency sine wave)
is being modulated by a lower frequency sine wave. The modulating signal causes the carriers amplitude to
change with time. This resulting shape of the carrier is called the envelope. Note the envelope has the shape
of a sine wave.

AM signal

Modulating signal (sine wave) and modulated carrier

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Modulating signal (Audio) and modulated carrier

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2. Frequency Modulation
Also known as FSK (frequency shift keying). This also uses a sinusoidal carrier. The frequency of the
carrier is made to change in accordance with the characteristics of the modulating (audio) signal. The
nominal value of the carrier frequency is the frequency it has when the instantaneous value of the
modulating signal is 0V. When the instantaneous voltage of the modulating signal is high the carrier
frequency increases; when the instantaneous voltage of the modulating signal is low the carrier frequency
decreases. The size of the change in the carrier frequency at any instant is proportional to the value of the
modulating signal at that instant.

2.1 Power in an FM Signal and Noise Immunity

The amplitude of an FM signal does not vary. Therefore the power in an FM signal is constant and is always
equal to the power of the unmodulated carrier. The power does not depend in any way on the modulation.
(Unlike AM). Every transmitted signal picks up noise between the transmitter and the receiver. Usually this
noise adds to the amplitude of the signal. In the case of an AM signal the function of the radio receiver is to
recover the envelope of the signal as this should be an exact copy of the original audio input. If noise
changes the amplitude of the signal then the shape of the envelope has changed and the radio receiver will
recover the noise - it will reproduce this as part of the audio signal. The noise will appear in the audio
output. AM is susceptible to noise.
In the case of FM the radio receiver does not depend on the amplitude of the envelope to recover the audio
signal. If noise has changed the amplitude then the receiver will be able to ignore this. The noise will not be
passed on to the audio output. FM is much less susceptible to noise than AM, it permits a much more
accurate reproduction of the original audio signal.

3.

4. Phase Modulation

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BPSK (Binary phase shift keying) is the simplest form of PSK (phase shift keying). It uses two phases
which are separated by 180° and so can also be termed 2-PSK. To represent 1s and 0s the phase of the signal
is shifted.

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5. Frequency Bands
Long Wave (Low Frequency) (LW) 30 kHz to 300 kHz
Medium Wave (Medium Frequency) 300 kHz to 3 MHz
Short Wave (High Frequency) (SW) 3 MHz to 30 MHz
Very High Frequency (VHF) 30 MHz to 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) 300 MHz to 3 GHz

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