CDMA AT CARRIER

FREQUENCIES
modules
basic: ADDER, PHASE SHIFTER, QUADRATURE UTILITIES, SEQUENCE GENERATOR
extra basic: QUADRATURE UTILITIES, SEQUENCE GENERATOR
advanced: CDMA DECODER, DIGITAL UTILITIES, ERROR COUNTING UTILITIES,
MULTIPLE SEQUENCES SOURCE, NOISE GENERATOR, WIDEBAND TRUE
RMS METER
optional advanced: 100 kHz CHANNEL FILTERS

preparation
The Lab Sheet entitled CDMA – 2 channel described the generation and reception of a
baseband spread spectrum signal. In this sheet a two-channel bandpass CDMA system is
modelled, with the messages spread around a 100 kHz carrier. This more closely resembles
a cellular radio CDMA system.
The spectrum of the transmitted signals will extend either side of the carrier frequency ωc,
which in TIMS is typically 100 kHz. In order to achieve a reasonable processing gain the
bandwidth B1 of the message sequence should be considerably less than B2, the bandwidth
of the PN spreading sequence. But the bandwidth of the spread signal should not extend to
DC, so this requires that B2 < ωc.

generation
One method of generation of a single DSSS generator at carrier frequencies is illustrated in
the block diagram of Figure 1. Other methods are possible.

The transmission medium (not shown) can be

baseband bandpass simply an ADDER. A bandlimited medium
is not essential, but a bandpass filter1, plus
X-OR

TTL message DSSS

perhaps an optical fibre2, or a pair of
antennae3, could be included. The
transmitted signal is spread around the carrier
TTL spreading PN
carrier frequency. Two such DSSS, combined in the
Figure 1 – 1 of ‘n’ DSSS sources channel (not at baseband), together with
noise, constitute a two channel CDMA
system.

As resources permit, further channels can be added.

1 match the signal bandwidth to that of the bandpass filter in the 100 kHz CHANNEL FILTERS module
2 using FIBRE OPTIC TX and FIBRE OPTIC RX modules.
3 using 100kHz TX ANTENNA and 100kHz RX ANTENNA UTILITIES modules.

www.emona-tims.com 1/2
Emona-TIMS CDMA at carrier frequencies L-67 rev 1.1

reception
A demodulator and decoder, for one channel at a time, is illustrated in Figure 2. This first
translates the bandpass signal back to baseband, where it is de-spread. A comparator is used
to ‘clean up’ the received signal. Bit error rate (BER) instrumentation is included.

CDMA error
IN X-OR
count
carrier data
filter filter
carrier

frequency translater despreading reference data clock

PN sequence message

Figure 2: receiver – decoder - BER measurement

experiment
A two-channel transmitter is illustrated in Figure 3. The two channels are combined at
100 kHz in the ADDER of a QUADRATURE UTILITIES module. A second ADDER is
used to introduce the noise.
message PN

to the transmission
medium, which could
include some or all of
BPF, optical fibre,
antenna, etc.

100 kHz TTL from 8.333kHz TTL from 100 kHz sine from
MASTER SIGNALS MASTER SIGNALS MASTER SIGNALS

Figure 3: 2-channel 100 kHz system model – transmitter.

In the model a carrier frequency of 100 kHz is shown. To satisfy the bandwidth
requirements choose division ratios (in the DIGITAL UTILITIES module) to suit
requirements. For example, if a 100 kHz BPF is chosen for the transmission medium, the
message clock could be 512 Hz, and the PN spreading clock 8.333 kHz.

stolen message clock

stolen 100 kHz

carrier

CDMA input
stolen PN clock

Figure 4: system model – receiver, decoder, and error counting

A decoder for a single channel is shown modelled in Figure 4. Channels can be changed by
PN sequence selection in the CDMA DECODER module.
See your Lab Manager for measurement suggestions; at the very least investigate the BER
change when the second channel is added or removed.

TIMS Lab Sheet copyright  tim hooper 2001, amberley holdings pty ltd ABN 61 001-080-093 2/2