TERM PAPER:

COMPARISON BETWEEN AM, FM &

PM
ELE-102

ELECTRICAL SCIENCES

SUBMITTED TO: MR. ASHISH SHARMA

SUBMITTED BY: AKSHAY PATHANIA
SECTION-E4911
 ROLL NO.: B50
CONTENTS:

 INTRODUCTION

 MODULATION

 TYPES OF MODULATION

 AMPLITUDE MODULATION(AM)

 FREQUENCY MOADULATION(FM)

 PHASE MODULATION(PM)

 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

  COMPARISON BETWEEN AM,FM AND PM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“If practical knowledge carves and sharps the carrier of a person, practical
experience polishes it and adds luster and brilliance to it”. Here, we found this golden chance
to acknowledge all those people who had blessed, encouraged and supported us technically
and morally through all the phases of our term paper. We take this opportunity to express our
profound sense of gratitude. We thank all mighty God for giving us this valuable opportunity
to express to all those who helped in successful completion of this term paper.

Before we get into thick of the things I would like to add a few heartfelt words for the
people who were part of this term paper in numerous ways. We reserve heartiest gratitude to
who has been very supportive and encouraging throughout this term paper. He guides us for
having given us an opportunity to undertake the term paper and providing us with feedback
and influenced the development of this term paper. We gratefully acknowledge invaluable
note of our term paper guide MR. ASHISH SHARMA and to all teachers who besides
helping us in this term paper, guided and encouraged us along each step.

We express heartfelt thanks to our friends for their morale and support and kind
corporation during this course of formulation of this project work who directly or indirectly
helps us to complete this term paper. Last but not least, my sincere regards are reserved for
our family and friends who have always encouraged and blessed us with their best. Specially
thanks to my elder brothers who always encourage me to do your best.

INTRODUCTION
In electronics, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a high
frequency periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with respect to a modulating signal.
This is done in a similar fashion as a musician may modulate a tone (a periodic waveform)
from a musical instrument by varying its volume, timing and pitch. The three key parameters
of a periodic waveform are its amplitude ("volume"), its phase ("timing") and its frequency
("pitch"), all of which can be modified in accordance with a low frequency signal to obtain
the modulated signal. Typically a high-frequency sinusoid waveform is used as carrier signal,
but a square wave pulse train may also occur.
In telecommunications, modulation is the process of conveying a message signal, for
example a digital bit stream or an analog audio signal, inside another signal that can be
physically transmitted. Modulation of a sine waveform is used to transform a baseband
message signal to a passband signal, for example a radio-frequency signal (RF signal). In
radio communications, cable TV systems or the public switched telephone network for
instance, electrical signals can only be transferred over a limited passband frequency
spectrum, with specific (non-zero) lower and upper cutoff frequencies. Modulating a sine
wave carrier makes it possible to keep the frequency content of the transferred signal as close
as possible to the centre frequency (typically the carrier frequency) of the passband. When
coupled with demodulation, this technique can be used to, among other things, transmit a
signal through a channel which may be opaque to the baseband frequency range (for instance,
when sending a telephone signal through a fiber-optic strand).
In music synthesizers, modulation may be used to synthesise waveforms with a desired
overtone spectrum. In this case the carrier frequency is typically in the same order or much
lower than the modulating waveform. See for example frequency modulation synthesis or

ring modulation.

Types of modulation:

 Analog modulation

 Digital modulation

 Pulse modulation
Modulation Techniques

Modulation techniques are methods that are used to encode digital information in an analog
world. The 3 basic modulation techniques are as follows:

o AM (amplitude modulation)
o FM (frequency modulation)
o PM (phase modulation)

All 3 modulation techniques employ a carrier signal. A carrier signal is a single frequency
that is used to carry the intelligence (data). For digital, the intelligence is either a 1 or 0.
When we modulate the carrier, we are changing its characteristics to correspond to either a 1
or 0.

AM - Amplitude Modulation

Amplitude modulation (AM) is a technique used in electronic communication, most

commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the
strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent. For example,
changes in the signal strength can be used to specify the sounds to be reproduced by a
loudspeaker, or the light intensity of television pixels. (Contrast this with frequency
modulation, also commonly used for sound transmissions, in which the frequency is varied;
and phase modulation, often used in remote controls, in which the phase is varied)

In the mid-1870s, a form of amplitude modulation—initially called "undulatory currents"—

was the first method to successfully produce quality audio over telephone lines. Beginning
with Reginald Fessenden's audio demonstrations in 1906, it was also the original method
used for audio radio transmissions, and remains in use today by many forms of
communication—"AM" is often used to refer to the medium wave broadcast band. Amplitude
Modulation modifies the amplitude of the carrier to represent 1s or 0s.In the above example,
a 1 is represented by the presence of the carrier for a predefined period of 3 cycles of carrier.
Absence--or no carrier--indicates a 0. It is imposing a signal on the amplitude of a frequency
- has the effect of modifying the frequency a bit as well, and is much more susceptible to
environmental noise such as lightning. Works well across much of the radio spectra.

Modulation index

It can be defined as the measure of extent of amplitude variation about an unmodulated

maximum carrier. As with other modulation indices, in AM, this quantity, also
called modulation depth, indicates by how much the modulated variable varies around its
'original' level. For AM, it relates to the variations in the carrier amplitude and is defined as:

where and were introduced above.

Advantages:
Simple to design .

Disadvantages:

Noise spikes on transmission medium interfere with the carrier signal.

Loss of connection is read as 0s.

FM - Frequency Modulation

frequency modulation (FM) conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its
instantaneous frequency (contrast this with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of
the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant). In analog applications, the
difference between the instantaneous and the base frequency of the carrier is directly
proportional to the instantaneous value of the input signal amplitude. Digital data can be sent
by shifting the carrier's frequency among a set of discrete values, a technique known as
frequency-shift keying. Frequency Modulation modifies the frequency of the carrier to
represent the 1s or 0s. In the above example, a 0 is represented by the original carrier
frequency, and a 1 by a much higher frequency (the cycles are spaced closer together). It
imposes a signal by altering the frequency - it takes a very high frequency to modulate either
audio or video signals - e.g. megahertz, so it eats up bandwidth.

Modulation index

As with other modulation indices, this quantity indicates by how much the modulated
variable varies around its un-modulated level. It relates to the variations in the frequency of
the carrier signal:
 where is the highest frequency component present in the modulating signal xm(t),

and is the Peak frequency-deviation, i.e. the maximum deviation of

the Instantaneous frequency from the carrier frequency. If , the modulation is

called narrowband FM, and its bandwidth is approximately . If , the

modulation is called wideband FM and its bandwidth is approximately . While

wideband FM uses more bandwidth, it can improve signal-to-noise ratio significantly.

With a tone-modulated FM wave, if the modulation frequency is held constant and the
modulation index is increased, the (non-negligible) bandwidth of the FM signal
increases, but the spacing between spectra stays the same; some spectral components
decrease in strength as others increase. If the frequency deviation is held constant and
the modulation frequency increased, the spacing between spectra increases.

Advantages:

Immunity to noise on transmission medium.

Always a signal present. Loss of signal easily detected

Disadvantages:

Requires 2 frequencies

Detection circuit needs to recognize both frequencies when signal is lost.

PM - Phase Modulation
Phase modulation (PM) is a form of modulation that represents information as variations in
the instantaneous phase of a carrier wave.Unlike its more popular counterpart, frequency
modulation (FM), PM is not very widely used for radio transmissions. This is because it tends
to require more complex receiving hardware and there can be ambiguity problems in
determining whether, for example, the signal has changed phase by +180° or -180°. PM is
used, however, in digital music synthesizers such as the Yamaha DX7, even though these
instruments are usually referred to as "FM" synthesizers. Phase Modulation modifies the
phase of the carrier to represent a 1 or 0. The carrier phase is switched at every occurrence of
a 1 bit, but remains unaffected for a 0 bit. The phase of the signal is measured relative to the
phase of the preceding bit. The bits are timed to coincide with a specific number of carrier
cycles (3 in this example = 1 bit). by altering the phase with a desired signal - works when
the bandwidth of the desired signal is very small - e.g. digital communications - but
reflections of phase modulated signals can be easily corrupted. Radio frequency has a work to
do in this field so an equipment is a must.

Modulation index
As with other modulation indices, this quantity indicates by how much the modulated
variable varies around its unmodulated level. It relates to the variations in the phase of the
carrier signal:

where Δθ is the peak phase deviation

Advantage:

Only 1 frequency used

Easy to detect loss of carrier

Disadvantages:

Complex circuitry that is required to generate and detect phase changes.

COMPARISON BETWEEN AM, FM AND PM

 AM (Amplitude Modulation) and FM (Frequency Modulation) are two popular ways

to get information onto a radio wave. The bandwidth requirements are similar for
standard data formats (PPM, PCM), so both AM and FM sets are available on most
RC frequency bands.

 AM is the simplest to implement, but is susceptible to RF interference. It is generally

used in the cheapest radios where cost is more important than performance, eg. for
cars, boats and toys.

 FM requires more complex circuitry, which is a bit more expensive. However the
extra cost is well worth it for increased range and reduced glitching, particularly in
electric powered models. FM is used in almost all currently produced airplane radios.

 Both AM and FM radio signal carriers are output at a single frequency (FM is usually
much higher than AM).

 AM (amplitude modulation) carriers alter in amplitude to mimic the audio being sent.
The carrier signal frequency doesn’t alter.
  FM (frequency modulation) carriers alter in frequency to mimic the audio being sent.

 Receivers of either type are designed to detect those changes which are applied to the
carrier signal to retrieve the audio signal.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AM AND FM

The differeces between frequency and amplitude modulation does not effect the range.
Fundamentally the amplitude modulation system is less efficient in that a carrier is generated,
which is modulated. The modulation power is half of the carrier power. The bandwidth
required is twice the highest modulating fequency. Because of the small bandwidth required,
the Amplitude Modulated band on radios is from 550 Khz to 1500 Khz. Channels are
separated by 10 Khz, with actual users usually separated by 2 or three channels minimum.
Frequency modulation varys the frequency of the carrier by the audio modulating component.
While the frequency deviation can be as low as the audio frequency modulating the carrier,
better noise performance is achieved by deviating the carrier by as much as possible. In
commercial broadcast operations, the 15 Khz audio signal deviated the carrier by 75 Khz.
This presents exceptionally good audio reproduction. It also causes the FM (Frequency
Modulated) signal to occupy a band of about 240 Khz for a 15 Khz audio channel. This
compares to 30 Khz for an equivalent AM (Amplitude modulated) signal. Because of the
larger bandwidth required, the FM broadcast band is moved higher in frequency. This makes
the other comments about range etc come into effect. AM signals can be received even when
an interfering signal is present. Weak signals can be recieved in the presence of strong
signals. Because of this property, Aviation signals, (Airplane to control tower and tower to
plane) are in AM. FM signals have an effect called "capture effect" in which a stronger signal
will capture the channel and eliminate interference from the weaker signal. Basically you are
trading bandwidth for interference rejection. Because of this, signals from satellites, where
the signal strength is extremenly small, used to be sent in FM. Present technology uses digital
broadcast techniques.

Talking about digital, because of the ability of digital receivers to process signals of
extremely small size, digital signals are being sent along with both AM and FM broadcast
signals for either better quality, or supplementary services. Cell phones are all being switched
over to digital technology for better reliability and better channel usage.

Differences between AM, FM and PM

FM and PM are similar to each other, but fundamentally different from AM. All three have a
carrier which is modulated in some way, and that modulation causes sidebands, but how
those sidebands interact with the carrier is very different.

Because noise basically affects amplitude, we can remove it from an FM or PM signal by

clipping (limiting) the signal to a fixed amplitude; this doesn’t affect the modulation.
However , we cannot remove this noise from an AM signal without affecting the amplitude,
and therefore the modulation itself. FM and PM can therefore provide the better signal-to-
noise ratio that listeners want for good music.

But to get the best signal-to-noise ratio requires also a wide deviation; hence FM signals used
for music also have fairly much wider bandwidth than most AM signals.

In those communications applications where real hi-fi sound is not required, narrow-band FM
(NBFM) with fairly small deviation and a small modulation index can produce bandwidths
not much larger than AM; this is the mode that is used for most mobile communications,
business users, and cellular phones.
FM and PM receivers also experience a ”capture effect” ,which affects how interfering
signals affect each other.

For example, suppose that within reach of a receiver there are two transmitters, both of which
transmit on the same frequency, but A is close to you, while B is farther away and weaker.

If two transmitters are AM, then their signals will add to each other, and interfere with each
other. If the two carrier frequencies are exactly the same , then the receiver might hear the
audio from both; more likely, the frequencies would be just a bit different, in which case the
receiver would get a combination of both signals, plus a beat note- an audio tone equal to the
difference between the two carrier frequencies. The result would be most unpleasant, and
possibly useless.

If, on the other hand, the two signals are FM or PM, the stronger signal “captures” the
receiver, and the weaker signal doesn’t interfere at all.

In the typical receiver, the stronger signal must be about 2 to 3 db stronger than the weaker
one to completely capture the receiver; this number is called the capture ratio, and depends on
the receiver design. If we have an FM receiver in our car, we may have noticed the capture
effect when you drive in a region somewhere between two FM stations (call them A and B)
which are on the same frequency. Since signals vary in strength in different places, the
relative strengths of A and B also vary. In the spot A may be stronger and thus capture the
receiver; move over a small distance and suddenly B is stronger and thus captures the
receiver. Thus our receiver rapidly switches back ans fourth between stations A and B as we
drive.