ELE 361L: Communications Lab

Lab #3: Frequency Modulation

Fall 2020

American University of Sharjah

Imad Khalid 67076

Ahmad Akbar 70439

Abdelrahman Sabet 70903

Due Date: 28/9/20

Procedure

Part A: FM Generation using the Arbitrary Function Generator

In the first part of this experiment; the arbitrary function generator is used as an FM signal source. The
FM signal will then be displayed on the scope to investigate its characteristics in time domain.

 Connect the AFG output to the oscilloscope.

 On the AFG, press the AMP button and set the carrier amplitude to 4V pk and press the FREQ burton
and set the carrier frequency to 100 kHz.

 Press the MODUL button and select FM as the modulation scheme.

 To set the modulation parameters, press SHIFT then MODUL and set the following FM parameters:

 Modulating wave type (FM FUNC): Sinusoidal.

 Modulating wave frequency(FM FREQ): 5 KHz
 Frequency deviation (FM DEVIA): 30 KHz.

Note that you can scroll through the modulation parameter menu items using the prev << and next >>
buttons on the front panel. Use the << and >> buttons to find a specific parameter then press ENTER
to apply a numeric value or select a setting using UP and DOWN buttons. Press cancel to select
another parameter and ENTER to confirm new selection.

 Switch on the output button and observe the FM waveform on the scope.

Q1) Does the signal vary in frequency? Does it vary in amplitude?

The signal varies in frequency but not in amplitude.

 To clearly observe the frequency variations; reduce the modulating frequency to 1 or 0.5 Hz, and
change the modulating wave to square. You will notice that the FM signal is now switching between
two frequencies spaced by twice the frequency deviation (Δf). Confirm this by measuring the FM
signal minimum and maximum frequencies using the scope:

 Square wave message:

fmin=70.18 KHz fmax=129.9 KHz Δf= (129.9- 70.18)/2 = 29.86 KHz

 Restore the message signal back to sinewave and repeat the same measurements.
 Sinusoidal message:
fmin=70.1 KHz fmax=130 KHz Δf= (130 - 70.1)/2 = 29.95KHz
Q2) What is the effect of the message frequency on the FM signal frequency variations? Does it affect the
frequency deviation?

The message frequency can either increase or decrease the rate of the FM signal frequency
variations. No, the message frequency does not affect the frequency deviation.

Part B: FM Generation using the VCO

In this part, you will use the VCO on the telecoms trainer as a direct FM modulator and measure the
transfer characteristics of the VCO as output frequency Vs input voltage.

 Locate the VCO module on the telecoms trainer and set its controls as follows:

 Frequency range switch: HI (up position)

 Frequency adjust control: Mid position.
 Gain adjust control: Mid position.

 Connect the VDC voltage from the VARIABLE DC VDC module to the VCO INPUT.

 Connect the oscilloscope’s channel one to the VCO INPUT to monitor the input DC voltage which
controls the VCO output frequency. Use the average voltage measurement to read the DC voltage on
the scope.

 Connect the oscilloscope’s channel two to the VCO sine output to measure the output frequency.

 Vary the VDC voltage as in table 1 and measure the output frequency for each input voltage on
channel two.

 Record your measurements in table 1.

2 1.5 1 0.5 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 Input

Voltage (V)
120.5 116.3 112.4 107.5 104.2 99.5 95.2 90.91 97.7 Output
Frequency
(KHz)
Table 1

 Plot the graph of VCO transfer characteristics as output frequency Vs. input voltage.
 Output Frequency (KHz) Vs Input Voltage (V)
140
120
Output Frequency (KHz)

f(x) = 6.99 x + 104.91

R² = 0.91 100
80
60
40
20
0
-2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Input Voltage (V)

Q3) Is the graph linear? Determine the frequency deviation per unit volt of the VCO?

Yes, the graph is practically linear. The frequency deviation per unit volt of the VCO is 6.9923kHz.

 Disconnect the VARIABLE DC from the VCO INPUT and connect the 2 KHZ sinewave message
signal from the MASTER SIGNALS module to the VCO INPUT.

 Observe the output FM signal on the oscilloscope and then display the FM signal on the spectrum
analyzer.

(Spectrum VCO output)

Q4) If the message signal amplitude is 4 Vpp, calculate the FM signal frequency deviation, modulation
index and bandwidth using Carson’s rule?

∆ f =( 6.9923 )( 2 )=13.9846 kHz

BW =2 ( 6.9923+1 )( 2 ) =31.9692 kHz

Part C: FM Spectrum

In this part, the power spectrum of an FM signal generated by the RF generator is measured with the
spectrum analyzer.

 Set the RF generator for the following wideband FM signal using internal modulation :
 Carrier frequency: 100 MHz
 Carrier level: 10 dBm
 Message frequency: 20 KHz.
 Frequency deviation: 200 KHz.

 Display FM signal spectrum on the spectrum analyzer. Set the analyzer’s controls as follows:

 Center frequency: 100MHz

 Frequency span: 1 MHz
 RBW: 3 KHz
 Amplitude (Reference Level): Maximum.
 (FM Spectrum)
Q5) Sketch and fully explain the FM spectrum?

 For each value of frequency deviation shown in table 2 below, measure the transmission bandwidth of
the FM signal by considering the frequency components within the truncated band. Count the number
of side pairs around the carrier frequency within the truncated band and calculate the FM bandwidth
using Carson’s rule. Record your results in table 2.
(20 kHz Deviation)

(40 kHz Deviation)

(60 kHz Deviation)

 (80 kHz Deviation)

The FM spectrum can be represented either in the time domain or in the frequency domain. In the
time domain, the FM spectrum is a function of the Bessel function. In the frequency domain, the
FM spectrum is function with infinite sidebands. The power of the sidebands decreases as their
number increases and that is because their power is determined by the Bessel function. In addition
to the infinite sidebands, the frequency domain has a carrier component.

 For the first two cases; perform the following power measurements, and fill in table 3:

 Measure the power of each frequency component and calculate the total transmitted power (PT).
 Switch the modulation off by changing INT (internal) to OFF inside the FM menu, and measure
the unmodulated carrier power (PC)
 Compare the two values using the percent ratio, i.e. (P T/PC)*100%. Comment on the results.

Q6) How does the number of sideband components change with modulation index?

(+1) specifies the number of sideband components for each modulation index.

Q7) Does the total FM power vary with modulation index? Explain your answer?

Yes. More specifically, the total FM power decreases as the value of the modulation index increases.
The reason for this is because the number of sidebands increases as the value of the modulation
index increases.
 Vary the frequency deviation (and thus the modulation index) in 1 KHz intervals starting at 40 KHz
and determine the modulation index at which the carrier component is minimum. This is the first null
of the zero-order Bessel function. Continue to increase the frequency deviation and find the frequency
deviation corresponding to the second null.

First Null: Δf=____49_______KHz. =__(49/20) = 2.45

Second Null: Δf=_____111______KHz. =_(111/20) = 5.55

Q8) Compare your measurements of the first and second null with the theoretical values obtained from a
table of Bessel functions?

For the first null with modulation index of 2.45, the theoretical value obtained from the table of
Bessel functions is 150kHz. For the second null with modulation index of 5.55kHz, the theoretical
value obtained is 260kHz. Therefore, our measurements agree with the theoretical values.

 Vary the message frequency and explain the effects on the FM spectrum in terms of number of
sidebands, bandwidth and total power.

Modulating Frequency Modulation No of Measured BW Calculated BW

Frequency Deviation index () Significan using Carson’s ( KHz)
(fm) KHz (KHz) t Side Rule (KHz) 2(DF+Fm)
Pairs
20 1 2 80.635 (20+20)*2= 80
40 2 3 120.635 (40+20)*2=
20 120
60 3 4 160 (60+20)*2=
160
80 4 5 200 (80+20)*2=
200
Table 2

Modulating Frequency Total carrier and side Unmodulated (PT/PC )*100

Frequency deviation in bands power, PT (mW) carrier power %
(fm) in KHz KHz PC (mW)
Pc=6.7 8.9 dBm (7.83/7.76)*
100 = ~100%
20 P1st=1.7 PC= 7.76mW

P2nd= -10.1
20
PT =
10^(0.67)+[10^(0.17)*2]
+[10^(-1.01)*2] =
7.83mW
40 Pc= -3.4 (7.82/7.76)*
 100 = ~100%
P1st= 4.2

P2nd= -0.3

P3rd= -9.3

PT = 7.82mW

Table 3

Simulation Assignment

 Use Tutor TIMS simulator to simulate part B in the practical experiment.

 Set the virtual VCO to the same settings used in part B.
 Vary the DC input voltage according to the values in table 4 and measure the VCO output
frequency for each voltage.
 Connect the DC input voltage to Channel A and the VCO’s sinewave output to both of
Channel B of the virtual oscilloscope and the frequency meter to measure the output
frequency.
 Set Channel A (displaying the DC voltage) to 0.5 V/div to change the voltage in one division
steps.

2 1.5 1 0.5 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 Input

Voltage (V)
121.285 115.834 109.673 106.281 101.071 95.456 90.432 85.2 80.54 Output
1 Frequency
(KHz)
(Input Voltage = -2V)
(Input Voltage = -1.5V)
(Input Voltage = -1V)
(Input Voltage = -0.5 V)
(Input Voltage = 0V)
(Input Voltage = 0.5 V)
(Input Voltage = 1V)
(Input Voltage = 1.5 V)
(Input Voltage = 2 V)