CENTRE FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING STUDIES

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

BASIC COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING (ECM241)

EXPERIMENT 2
FREQUENCY MODULATION (FM)

OBJECTIVES
1. To observe the modulated and demodulated signal of FM.
2. To analyze the spectrum of FM in frequency range.

LIST OF APPARATUS
1. MATLAB software
2. PC or laptop

THEORY
Frequency Modulation is the process of varying the frequency of a carrier wave in proportional to the
amplitude of a modulating signal. The amplitude of the carrier is kept constant while its frequency and
rate of change are varied by the amplitude of a modulating signal. Figure 2.1 illustrates the frequency
modulated waveform and the information signal.

Figure 2.1: Frequency Modulated Signal and Information Signal

The maximum change of the instantaneous frequency of FM signal from the carrier frequency, fc is
called frequency deviation f, while modulation index, mf is a ratio between the frequency deviation
and the maximum modulating frequency, fm (mf = f / fm). The highest and lowest frequency of FM
signal can be calculated as follows:

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The highest frequency of FM signal: f max = f c + ∆f

The lowest frequency of FM signal: f min = f c − ∆f

So the total change of FM frequency is called carrier swing, fcs:

f cs =f max −f min = ( f c + ∆f ) − ( f c − ∆f )

Therefore,

f cs = 2∆f

FM Modulator
In producing an FM wave, the frequency of the carrier signal is modulated or changed by the modulating
or the information signal in the FM modulator circuit which produces FM signal. It is then amplified by
the Radio Frequency (RF) amplifier before it is transmitted and broadcasted through a transmitting
antenna. Figure 2.2 shows a simple block diagram of a typical FM transmitter.

Transmitting
Modulating FM Antenna
Signal/ Audio Modulator
Information Amplifier RF Amplifier
Signal

Carrier
Signal

Figure 2.2: FM Modulator

FM Demodulator
The FM demodulator is located in the receiver, to recover the original information signal and pass it on
to the user. It will detect the original information signal y producing an equivalent output voltage which
is proportional to the instantaneous frequency of the input signal (FM signal).

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 Receiving
Antenna

RF
Amplifier
Intermediat
e Demodulator Audio Destination
Mixer FM
Frequency Amplifier
Limiter
Amplifier &

Local
Oscillator

Figure 2.3: FM Demodulator

PROCEDURES

SIMULINK BLOCK DIAGRAM SETUP

a) Go to File > New > Model. A blank window will be opened. Then save the blank window with suitable
name i.e FM_Mod_Demod.
b) Develope the circuit as in Figure 2.4 by using Simulink Library to search the blocks.

Figure 2.4: Frequency Modulation circuit

SIMULATION PARAMETER
By double clicking the function block, the dialog box will appear. Insert the parameters of each function
block as follows:
a) "Signal Generator" block:

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 Figure 2.5: Signal Generator Parameter
b) "Zero-Order-Hold" block:

Figure 2.6: Zero-Order-Hold Parameter

c) "FM Modulator Passband" block:

Figure 2.7: FM Modulator Passband Parameter

d) "FM Demodulator Passband" block:

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 Figure 2.8: FM Demodulator Passband Parameter
RESULT Table 2.1

Wave
Information
signal

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 Frequency
Modulated
Signal (FM)

DISCUSSION / QUESTIONS
1. Explain the function for each of the block used in FM simulation as follows:
a) Zero-Order Hold
Answer:
The Zero-Order Hold block keep its input for the sample period specified. If the input is a vector,
the block holds all elements of the vector for the same sample period.

b) FM Demodulator Passband
Answer:
The FM Demodulator Passband block demodulates a signal that was modulated using frequency
modulation. The input is a passband representation of the modulated signal. Both the input and
output signals are real scalar signals.

2. By using the carrier frequency, fc and the frequency deviation, ∆f values inserted in the FM
Modulator/Demodulator Passband blocks, calculate:
a) the highest/maximum frequency of FM signal, fmax
Answer:
fmax = fc + ∆f
fmax = 500 Hz + 150 Hz = 650 Hz

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 b) the lowest/minimum frequency of FM signal, fmin
Anwer:
fmin = fc - ∆f
fmin = 500 Hz – 150 Hz = 650 Hz.

c) the carrier swing frequency, fcs

Answer:
fcs = fmax – fmin
fcs = 650 Hz – 350 Hz = 300 Hz

3. Discuss the difference between AM and FM Modulation.

Answer:
FM has noise immunity which will make the receivers have limiters that reduce the noise while AM
cannot use this process as removing the noise will remove the overall information.

4. Name the parameter for the carrier signal that varies with the changes of the amplitude of the
modulating signal.
Answer:
Frequency modulation

5. Write the general equations/expressions representing FM modulated wave.

Answer:
𝑉𝐹𝑀 (𝑡) = 𝑉𝐹𝑀 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑚 𝑡))

CONCLUSION
Summarize the main ideas that you have gained from the discussion section.

By conducting this experiment using the Simulink block in Matlab application to run the simulation of
the circuit we constructed, we were able to observe the modulated and demodulated signal of FM.
Also, we learned how to analyze the spectrum of FM in frequency range. Other than that, we were able
to differentiate AM and FM modulation as we have learned the basic theory of both modulations by
now.

REFERENCES
1. Basic Communication Engineering
2. Kennedy, G. & Davis, B. (1993).Electronic communication systems (4th ed.). United States:
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. Tomasi, W. (2004).Electronic Communication system (5th ed.). Singapore: Prentice Hall, In