ELE 361L: Communications Lab

Lab #5: Phase Modulation

Fall 2020

American University of Sharjah

Imad Khalid 67076

Ahmad Akbar 70439

Abdelrahman Sabet 70903

Due Date: 12/10/20

 Abstract

In this week’s lab experiment, implemented a narrow band PM modulator (Armstrong’s

Modulator), investigated the phase modulated signal in both the time and frequency domains. We

also measured the phase modulation signal power and bandwidth using the spectrum analyzer.

Lastly, using the TutorTIMS software, we simulated the PM modulator. In the first part of the

experiment, we implemented a narrow band PM modulator by first generating a DSBSC signal,

adding the carrier to the DSBSC signal, then adjusting the setup for quadrature so that the carrier

has a 90 degrees phase shift relative to the suppressed carrier and finally converting the

modulated signal to PM using a limiter to remove the amplitude variations. In the second part of

the experiment, using a spectrum analyzer, we measured the power and bandwidth of the PM

signal. As part of the report, we also simulated all of the PM modulator on the TutorTIMS

software.
Procedure

Part A: Narrow Band PM Modulator (Armstrong’s Modulator)

In this part, you will generate a narrow band PM signal by adding a quadrature carrier to a DSBSC signal
(Armstrong’s modulator).

1. Generating a DSBSC signal

The first part gets you to generate a DSBSC signal using a 2 KHz sinewave message and a 100 KHz
sinewave carrier.

 Connect the set-up shown in figure 1 below.

 Adjust the oscilloscope time base to 100 µs/div and channel 2 vertical attenuation to 2 V/div
 Sketch both the message and the DSBSC signals as shown on the scope.

Figure 1

2. Adding the carrier to the DSBSC signal

Part2 gets you to add the carrier to the DSBSC signal using the Adder module.

 Locate the adder module and set its G and g controls to about the middle of their travel.
 Locate the phase shifter module and set its phase change control to the 0° position and the phase adjust
control to about the middle of its travel.
 Modify the set-up as shown in figure 2 below.

Note: Dotted lines show leads already in place.

 Observe the adder module’s output using the scope. Notice that the signal looks like an AM signal
with an unusual envelope. Sketch the signal as shown on the scope.

Figure 2
3. Adjusting the setup for quadrature using the scope.

For this set-up to be turned into a phase modulator, the inserted carrier must have 90 ° of phase shift
relative to the suppressed carrier of the DSBSC signal. In other words, it must be in quadrature with the
suppressed carrier. Part3 gets you obtain this phase relationship.

 Disconnect the wire to the Adder module’s A input. This removes the DSBSC signal from the output.
 Adjust the g control for an output of exactly 4 Vpp
 Reconnect the wire to the Adder module’s A input.
 Disconnect the wire to the Adder module’s B input. This removes the added carrier from the output.
 Adjust the G control for an output of exactly 4 Vpp.
 Reconnect the wire to the Adder module’s B input.

Note: Once done, you will probably find that the envelopes have peaks of alternating height. There should
also be twice as many peaks as the message signal.

The amplitude of the inserted carrier and the DSBSC signals are now the same but the adjustment for
quadrature is not quite complete.

 Carefully adjust the phase shifter module’s phase adjust control to obtain alternating peaks on the
upper (or lower) envelope that are at the same height.

 Sketch the Adder module’s output signal.

Q1) What type of modulation is the modulated signal at this stage?

The type of modulation the modulated signal is at this stage is the Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation.
Q2) Compare the Adder’s output signal envelope with the input message? Are they the same?

The Adder’s output signal envelope is twice the frequency of the input message.

4. Converting the modulated signal to PM.

The modulated signal at the adder module’s output has amplitude as well as phase variations. The
(narrow band) PM must have only phase variations. Therefore, a limiter is used to remove the
amplitude variations.

 Add the comparator and channel BPF to the setup as shown in figure 3a below. The block diagram of
the complete set-up is shown in figure 3b. The channel BPF is used to remove the additional spectral
components that the limiter adds.

 Set the scope time base to 5 µs/div and connect channel one to view the inserted carrier (at the phase
shifter output) and channel two to view the PM signal at the output. (see figure 3b)

Once done, you should see the inserted carrier and the phase modulated carrier.

 Sketch both signals as shown on the scope.

 Reduce the effective size of the message signal to zero by turning the G control fully anti-clock wise.
You should notice there is no phase variation in the PM signal.

 Increase the effective size of the message by turning the G control clockwise while observing the
effect on the PM signal.

Q3) How does the phase deviation change as the message signal amplitude is increased?

As the message signal amplitude is increased, the phase deviation increases.

Q4) Explain the purpose of the comparator and BPF in the setup?

The purpose of the comparator and BPF is to get rid of the excess spectral components added by
the limiter.
 Figure 3a

Figure 3b.

Part B: PM signal Spectrum

 Set up the programmable synthesizer to generate a PM signal with the following settings:
 Press the frequency button and set the carrier frequency to 100 MHz.
 Press the level button and set the carrier power to 10 dBm.
 Press the modulation button and set the modulation to internal PM with:
 Modulating waveform … Sinusoidal
 Modulating frequency… 20 KHz.
 Phase Dev … 10 rad.

 Display the PM signal spectrum on the spectrum analyzer.

 Set the analyzer center frequency to 100 MHz, span to 1 MHz and resolution bandwidth (BW) to 3
KHz. (you may change the span as the PM signal bandwidth changes for better clarity of the spectrum
display).
 Q5) Describe and sketch the PM spectrum as shown on the spectrum analyzer.

The PM spectrum shown on the spectrum analyzer has a high frequency deviation and a
carrier frequency. The high frequency deviation results in a multiplicity of sidebands.

 For each phase deviation listed in Table 1, Measure the PM signal bandwidth and total power by
considering only (Dp +1) pairs of side bands about the carrier.
 Compare the total power with the plain carrier power.
Record your measurements in table 1.
Modulating Phase Dev. Measured Total Power Plain PTotal
Frequency (Dp) in rads Carrier ×100 %
BW (KHz) PC
(fm) in KHz PTotal (mW) Power PC
(mW)
All in dBm

120.6 PCarrier= -5.9 dBm 8.9 dBm 7.657

P1st pair= 4 dBm
∗100
7.762
P2nd pair= 0.2 dBm
P3rd pair= -8.5 dBm ¿ 98.65 %
PCarrier = 0.257 mW PC = 7.762
2 P1st pair = 2.512 mW mW
P2nd pair = 1.047 mW
P3rd pair = 0.141 mW

PTotal =
0.257+[2*(2.512+1.047+0.
141)] = 7.657 mW
160.6 PCarrier= -1.7 dBm 7.612
∗100
P1st pair= -1.9 dBm 7.762
P2nd pair= 2.6
P3rd pair= -0.8 ¿ 98.07 %
P4th pair= -7.7

3 PCarrier = 0.676 mW
P1st pair = 0.646 mW
20 KHz P2nd pair = 1.820 mW
P3rd pair = 0.832 mW
P4th pair = 0.170 mW

PTotal = 7.612 mW
200.6 PCarrier= 0.4 dBm 7.594
P1st pair= -8.7
∗100
7.762
P2nd pair= -1.2
P3rd pair= 1.6 ¿ 97.84 %
P4th pair= -1.4
P5th pair= -7.3

PCarrier = 1.096 mW
4
P1st pair = 0.135 mW
P2nd pair = 0.759 mW
P3rd pair = 1.445 mW
P4th pair = 0.724 mW
P5th pair = 0.186 mW

PTotal = 7.594 mW

Table 1
Q6) What do you conclude from the above results? Do the measurements confirm the validity of Carson’s
rule in approximating the PM bandwidth?

From the above results, we can conclude the the measurements confirm the validity of Carson’s
rule in approximating the PM bandwidth.

Q7) Why the calculated total power is almost constant regardless of the change in the phase deviation?

The calculated total power is almost constant regardless of the change in the phase deviation
because it should be equal to the plain carrier power.

Simulation Assignment

 Use Tutor TIMS Simulator to simulate the narrow band PM modulator in figure 3b.
 Adjust the Adder’s gains and the Phase Shifter’s phase shift to obtain the correct QAM signal at the
Adder output as shown below.
 (Our Simulation of the Adder Output)

 Complete the diagram and display the PM carrier signal at the channel output along with the original
(reference) carrier as shown below. Observe how the PM carrier phase is varying relative to the original
carrier by using fast data display mode.
(Our Simulation for the PM Carrier Signal)