COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

Principles of Communication Systems

Lab Report No 03

Voltage Control Oscillator on LabVolt: VCO-LO and VCO-HI

Semester & Section

BEE-5B

Submitted by:

M Muzammil Nadeem
FA17-BEE-051

Submitted to:

Sir Dr. Moazzam Islam Tiwana

Submission Date:

September 30, 2019

Objectives
At the completion of this exercise, you will be able to
• Generate the low and high frequency signals using VCO-LO and VCO-HI modules of the LabVolt
• Use an oscilloscope to make signal measurements.

Pre Lab
The two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) on the circuit board are the VCO-LO circuit block (452 kHz or 1000 kHz)
and the VCO-HI circuit block (1455 kHz). These oscillators provide the high frequencies that are necessary for
transmitting and receiving the low-frequency message signal.

PROCEDURE A -OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT BLOCKS :

In this PROCEDURE section, you will examine and use the VCO-LO and VCO-HI circuit blocks. The
VCO-LO circuit block is an oscillator circuit that performs three functions: it can output a 1000 kHz signal, a 452
kHz signal, or an FM signal. The VCO-HI circuit block outputs a signal in the 1455 kHz range.
1. Locate the VCO-LO circuit block on the ANALOG COMMUNI- CATIONS circuit board. Insert a two-post connector
in the 1000 kHz terminals.
2. On the VCO-LO circuit block1 set the potentiometer knob completely counter clockwise (CCW). Does this pot
adjust the VCO- LO frequency or the VCO-LO amplitude?
When we set the potentiometer knob completely counter clockwise it adjust the VCO-LO amplitude while it
does not have any effect on the VCO-LO frequency.
3. Set the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob on the left side of the base unit completely CCW. Does the NEGATIVE SUPPLY
knob adjust the VCO-LO frequency or the VCO-LO phase?
When we set the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob completely counter clockwise it adjust the VCO-LO frequency while
it does not have any effect on the VCO-LO amplitude.
NOTE: To avoid confusion, you might want to write VCO-LO and VCO-HI on labels made from masking tape. Place
the labels below the NEGATIVE SUPPLY (VCO-LO) and POSITIVE (VCO- HI) SUPPLY knobs.
4. Set the oscilloscope channel 1 to 100 mV/DlV and set the sweep to 0.5 µs/DIV. Connect the channel 1 probe to
OUT on the VCO-LO circuit block, and connect the probe ground clip to a ground terminal on the circuit board.
NOTE: Whenever you make oscilloscope measurements or observations, be sure to connect the probe's ground
clip to a ground terminal on the circuit board.
5. With channel 1 set to 100 mV/DIV, how many vertical oscilloscope graticule divisions will equal a 300 mVpk-pk
signal?
With channel 1 set to 100 mV/DIV, 3 DIV vertical oscilloscope graticule divisions will equal a 300 mVpk-pk signal.
6. Slowly turn the VCO-LO potentiometer knob clockwise (CW) until the output signal on channel 1 is
300 mVpk-pk·

NOTE: To adjust the VCO-LO frequency, adjust the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob on the base unit
7. While observing the signal on channel 1, slowly turn the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob about a quarter turn CW. Use
the top portion of the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob for fine adjustments, and use the bottom portion for coarse
adjustments. Did the VCO-LO frequency increase or decrease?
When we slowly turn the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob about a quarter turn clockwise. And use the top portion of
the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob for fine adjustments, and the bottom portion for coarse adjustments it will increase
the VCO-LO frequency.
8. With a sweep setting of 0.5 µs/DIVI how many horizontal oscilloscope graticule divisions equal one cycle of a 1000
kHz signal?
With a sweep setting of 0.5 µs/DIVI 2 DIV horizontal oscilloscope graticule divisions equal one cycle of a 1000
kHz signal.
9. Adjust the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob so that the VCO-LO output frequency is 1000 kHz
10. Remove the two-post connector from the 1000 kHz terminals and insert it in the 452 kHz terminals.
Adjust VCO-LO potentiometer knob to set the output signal on channel 1 to 200 mVpk-pk·

11. With a sweep setting of 0.5 µs/DIV, how many horizontal oscilloscope graticule divisions equal 1 cycle of a 452
kHz signal?
Divisions = 1/frequency/sweep setting
F = 344KHz
Sweep setting = 0.5 µs
Division = 1/344KHz/0.5µs = 5.81 DIV
12. Adjust the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob so that 1 cycle of the channel 1 signal equals 4.425 divisions, which sets
the VCO-LO frequency at 452 kHz. Your oscilloscope should look like Figure 2.
F = 452KHz
Sweep setting = 0.5 µs
Division = 1/452KHz/0.5µs = 4.4 DIV
 Figure 2
13. Locate the VCO-HI circuit block on the ANALOG COMMUNI- CATIONS circuit board, and set the potentiometer
knob, which adjusts the amplitude completely CCW(Figure 3)

Figure 3

NOTE: To adjust the VCO-HI frequency, adjust the POSITIVE SUPPLY knob on the base unit.
14. Set oscilloscope channel 1 to 100 mV/DIV and set the sweep to 0.5 µs/DIV. Connect the channel 1 probe to
OUT on the VCO-HI circuit block, and connect the probe ground dip to a ground terminal on the circuit board.
15. Slowly turn the VCO-HI potentiometer knob CW until the output signal on channel 1 is 300 mVpkpk·
16. While observing the signal on channel 1, slowly turn the POSITIVE SUPPLY knob about a quarter turn CW. Use
the top portion of the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob for fine adjustments and the bottom portion for coarse
adjustments. Did the VCO-HI frequency increase or decrease?
When we slowly turn the POSITIVE SUPPLY knob about a quarter turn clockwise. And use the top portion of the
NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob for fine adjustments and the bottom portion for coarse adjustments the VCO-HI
frequency decreases.
17. Set the oscilloscope sweep to 0.2 µs/DIV. How many horizontal oscilloscope graticule divisions equal one cycle
of a 1455 kHz signal?
Divisions = 1/1,455,000/(0. 2 x 10-6).
F = 1399KHz
Sweep setting = 0.2 µs
Division = 1/1399KHz/0.2µs = 3.57 DIV
18. Adjust the POSITIVE SUPPLY knob so that one cycle of the channel 1 signal covers 3.436 divisions. This
adjustment set the VCO-HI frequency at 1455 kHz.
F = 1455KHz
Sweep setting = 0.2 µs
Division = 1/1455KHz/0.2µs = 3.43 DIV
Critical Analysis:
In this lab I have learnt understand and used a new instrument call voltage control oscillator. The two
voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) on the circuit board are the VCO-LO circuit block (452 kHz or 1000 kHz)
and the VCO-HI circuit block (1455 kHz). These oscillators provide the high frequencies that are necessary
for transmitting and receiving the low-frequency message signal. in this lab with the help of this device I have
generated the low and high frequency signals using VCO-LO and VCO-HI modules of the Lab-Volt. And use
an oscilloscope to make signal measurements. Oscilloscope is a device which show the wave form of the
different circuits.