Modulation

Techniques in
wireless Systems
What is Modulation?
• Modulation is a process of changing the characteristics of the wave to be transmitted by superimposing the message signal on the high-frequency
signal. In this process video, voice and other data signals modify high-frequency signals. This carrier wave can be DC or AC or pulse chain depending
on the application used. Usually, a high-frequency sine wave is used as a carrier.
Why Modulation is Used in Communication?
• In the modulation technique, the message signal frequency is raised to a range so that it is more useful for transmission. The following points describe
modulation’s importance in the communication system.
• In signal transmission, the signals from various sources are transmitted through a common channel simultaneously by using multiplexers. If these
signals are transmitted simultaneously with a certain bandwidth, they cause interference. To overcome this, speech signals are modulated to various
carrier frequencies in order for the receiver to tune them to the desired bandwidth of his own choice within the range of transmission.
• Another technical reason is antenna size; the antenna size is inversely proportional to the frequency of the radiated signal. The order of the antenna
aperture size is at least one by a tenth of the wavelength of the signal. Its size is not practicable if the signal is 5 kHz; therefore, raising frequency by
modulating process will certainly reduce the height of the antenna.
• Modulation is important to transfer the signals over large distances since it is not possible to send low-frequency signals for longer distances.
• Similarly, modulation is also important to allocate more channels for users and to increase noise immunity.
Modulating Signal
• This signal is also termed as a message signal. It holds the data
that has to be transmitted and so this termed as message signal.
It is considered as the baseband signal where it undergoes a
modulation process to get broadcasted or communicated.
Because of this, it is the modulating signal.
Carrier Signal
• This is the high range of frequency signal which is with specific
amplitude, frequency, and phase levels, but it does not hold any
data. So, it is termed as carrier signal as it is an empty one. This
is simply utilized to transmit the message to the receiver section
after the process of modulation.
Modulated Signal
• The consequential signal that is obtained after the procedure of
modulation is called a modulated signal. This is the product of
both the carrier and modulating signals.
Different Types of Modulation

Analog Modulation
• In this modulation, a continuously varying sine
wave is used as a carrier wave that modulates
the message signal or data signal. The
Sinusoidal wave’s general function is shown in
the figure below, in which, three parameters
can be altered to get modulation – they are
mainly amplitude, frequency, and phase, so
the types of analog modulation are:
• Amplitude modulation (AM)
• Frequency modulation (FM)
• Phase modulation (PM)
• In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the carrier wave is
varied in proportion to the message signal, and the other factors
like frequency and phase remain constant.
• Frequency modulation (FM) varies the frequency of the carrier
in proportion to the message or data signal while maintaining
other parameters constant.
• In phase modulation, the carrier phase is varied in accordance
with the data signal.

Digital Modulation
The main advantages of digital modulation over analog modulation
include permissible power, available bandwidth, and high noise
immunity. In digital modulation, a message signal is converted from
analog to digital message and then modulated by using a carrier
wave.
• The types of digital modulation are based on
the type of signal and application used such as
Amplitude Shift Keying, Frequency Shift Keying,
Phase Shift Keying, Differential Phase Shift
Keying, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying,
Minimum Shift Keying, Gaussian Minimum Shift
Keying, Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing, etc
• The technology behind the Global System for
Mobile communication (GSMTM) uses Gaussian
Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation a
variant of Phase Shift Keying (PSK) with Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signalling over
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) carriers.
Common Modulation Techniques for Wireless

• Over the years a major transition has occurred from simple analog
Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency/Phase Modulation (FM/PM) to
new digital modulation techniques. Examples of digital modulation include •
QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) • FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) • MSK
(Minimum Shift Keying)• QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) Another
layer of complexity in many new systems is multiplexing.
• Two principal types of multiplexing are TDMA (Time Division Multiple
Access) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). These are two different
ways to add diversity to signals allowing different signals.
• There are only three characteristics of a signal that can be changed over
time: amplitude, phase, or frequency. However, phase and frequency
are just different ways to view or measure the same signal change In
AM. The amplitude of a high-frequency carrier signal is varied in
proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating message
signal.
• Frequency Modulation (FM) is the most popular analog modulation
technique used in mobile communications systems. In FM, the
amplitude of the modulating carrier is kept constant while its frequency
is varied by the modulating message signal. Amplitude and phase can
be modulated simultaneously and separately, but this is difficult to
generate and especially hard to detect. Instead, in practical systems the
signal is separated into another set of independent components: I (In
phase) and Q (Quadrature). These components are orthogonal and do
not interfere with each other.
MSK (minimum-shift keying):
• Minimum Shift Keying (MSK) is derived from OQPSK by
replacing the rectangular Pulse in amplitude with a half-cycle
sinusoidal pulse.
• The MSK signal is defined as:S(t) = d(t) cos (°t/2T) cos 2°ft +
d(t) sin (°t/2T) sin 2°ft The MSK modulation makes the phase
change linear and limited to ±€ (°/2) over a bit interval T. This
enables MSK to provide a significant improvement over
QPSK. Because of the effect of the linear phase change, the
power spectral density has low side lobes that help to
control adjacent-channel interference. However the main
lobe becomes wider than the quadrature shift keying.
GMSK (Gaussian MSK):
• In MSK we replace the rectangular pulse with a sinusoidal pulse.
A Gaussian-shaped impulse response filter generates a signal
with low side lobes and narrower main lobe than the
rectangular pulse. Since the filter theoretically has output
before input, it can only be approximated by a delayed and
shaped impulse response that has a Gaussian – like shape. This
modulation is called Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK).
• The relationship between the premodulation filter bandwidth, B
and the bit period, T defines the bandwidth of the system. GSM
designers used a BT = 0.3 with a channel Data rate of 270.8 kbs.
This compromises between a bit error rate and an out-of-band
Interference since the narrow filter increases the inter symbol
interference and reduces the signal power.
GMSK Modulation:
• There are two methods to generate GMSK. One is
Frequency shift keyed modulation and the other is
Quadrature phase shift keyed modulation.
Bi-Phase Shift Keying (BPSK):
One of the simplest forms of digital modulation is binary
or Bi-Phase Shift Keying (BPSK). One application where
this is used is for deep space telemetry. The phase of a
constant amplitude carrier signal moves between zero
and 180 degrees. The symbol rate is one bit per symbol.
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK):
one more common type of phase modulation is
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK). It is used most
commonly in applications including CDMA (Code Division
Multiple Access) cellular service, wireless local loop,
Iridium (a voice/data satellite system) and DVB-S (Digital
Video Broadcasting – Satellite).
• Quadrature means that the signal shifts between phase
states which are separated by 90 degrees. These points
are chosen as they can be easily implemented using an
I/Q modulator. Only two I values and two Q values are
needed and this gives two bits per symbol.
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM):
• Another member of the digital modulation family is Quadrature
Amplitude Modulation (QAM). QAM is used in applications
including microwave digital radio, DVB-C (Digital Video
Broadcasting-Cable), and modems. In 16-state Quadrature
Amplitude Modulation
• (16QAM), there are four I values and four Q values. This results
in a total of 16 possible states for the signal. It can transition
from any state to any other state at every symbol time.
• Quadrature amplitude modulation can be used with a variety of
different formats: 8QAM, 16QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, 256QAM,
but there are performance differences and trade-offs
 QAM bits per symbol

• The advantage of using QAM is that it is a higher

order form of modulation and as a result it is able to
carry more bits of information per symbol. By
QAM FORMATS & BIT RATES COMPARISON
selecting a higher order format of QAM, the data rate
of a link can be increased.
MODULATION BITS PER SYMBOL SYMBOL RATE

BPSK 1 1 x bit rate

QPSK 2 1/2 bit rate

8PSK 3 1/3 bit rate

16QAM 4 1/4 bit rate

32QAM 5 1/5 bit rate

64QAM 6 1/6 bit rate

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