What is multiplexing used for?

Multiplexing is used in a wide range of industries to facilitate both analog and digital
communications. It was first introduced in the 1870s to support telegraphy but has since
become a mainstay in telecommunications, such as radio, television, and telephone. It is also
used in computer networks, often to transmit multiple signals across a wide area network
(WAN).

Organizations implement multiplexing on their networks for two reasons:

- to enable network devices to communicate with each other without needing a
dedicated connection between each device pair, although multiplexing still requires
shared media; and
- to better utilize scarce or expensive network resources. For example, multiplexing can
be used to transmit multiple signals across a satellite uplink or on a cable or fiber strand
running between major metropolitan areas.

Types of Multiplexing:
Although there are several types of multiplexing techniques, but today we will be focusing
on:
1. Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
2. Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
FDM HIERARCHY
Frequency division multiplexing is a multiplexing technique in which multiple separate
information signals can be transmitted over a single communication channel by occupying
different frequency slots within common channel bandwidth.
Explanation:
FDM technique is basically used for muxing analog signals.
But what is muxing?
- Multiplexing, or muxing, is a way of sending multiple signals or streams of information
over a communications link at the same time in the form of a single, complex signal.
In Frequency Division Multiplexing, the different message signals are modulated at the different carrier
frequencies. In this way, the modulated signals are separate from each other in the frequency domain.
The modulated signals are combined together to form the composite signal and this signal is sent over
the shared medium or channel. To avoid the interference between the two message signals, some guard
band is also kept between the two message signals.

What is Frequency Division Multiplexing?

Frequency division multiplexing, the message signals, are modulated at the different carrier
frequencies. So, after the modulation, these modulated signals are combined into a single
composite signal, and then they are transmitted over a single channel. So, in this case as you can
see, Three different message signals are modulated at different carrier frequencies. So, after
multiplexing, if you see the composite signal, then here each message signal, is separated into the
frequency domain. Now here, the carrier frequencies of each message signal should be such that
there is no overlapping region between the two message signals. And if there is no overlapping
between the two message signal, then add the receiver, Using the band pass filter, each message
signal can be separated. Now each band passes filter, is tuned to the one particular carrier
frequency, and the bandwidth of the filter should be enough to pass the message signal. But as you
are aware, the actual filters have some gradual roll-off. And to accommodate this gradual roll-off of
the filter, there should be additional space between the two signals. So typically, some guard band
is also kept between the two signals. So now at the receiver, as I said, with the help of the band
pass filters, the individual message signals can be separated. So the output of this each band pass
filter, is demodulated, and this demodulated signal, is then passed through the low pass filter. So, as
you know, after the demodulation, we will get the two spectrums. One spectrum is the baseband
signal, and the one spectrum is the same copy of the message signal, but at the 2fc frequency. So
this low pass filter only passes the baseband signal, and it eliminates the frequency component at
the 2fc. So, in this way, the frequency division multiplex signal can be demultiplexed. And here is the
complete block diagram of the frequency division multiplexing scheme.

Applications of Frequency Division Multiplexing Technique

- AM, FM Radio broadcasting

- Television Broadcasting
- Telemetry
- Telephony System
So, this frequency division multiplexing technique is used in many applications. Like they are used in
the radio, and the television broadcasting. So, in this radio, and the T.V broadcasting, there is no
need to physically multiplex, or de-multiplex the signals. Because as far as the stations agrees to
send the message signal at the different carrier frequency, then the multiplexing is already achieved
in the air. So, this frequency division multiplexing is also used in telemetry, as well as in the
telephony systems. Moreover, the early generation cellular networks were also using the FDM
technique.

Now in this multiplexing technique, as I said earlier, to avoid interference, and the overlapping of
the two message signals, there should be enough separation between the two carrier signals.

So as you are aware, in case of the conventional AM and the DSB-SC, or the double sideband
modulation, the bandwidth of the modulated signal, is twice the bandwidth of the message signal.
And here, if we assume that all the message signals have the same bandwidth, then in case of the
AM and the double sideband modulation, the minimum separation which is required between the
two carrier, is equal to 2B.

That means if message signals are multiplex, and during the multiplexing, if the AM or the double
sideband modulation is used, then in that case to avoid the interference between the two message
signal, the minimum separation between the two carrier signal, should be equal to 2B. On the other
end, in case of the single sideband modulation,

either upper or the lower sideband is transmitted. So in that case, the bandwidth of the modulated
signal is same as the message signal bandwidth. That means if all the signals are single sideband
modulated, then the minimum separation, which is required between the two carrier frequency, is
equal to B.

But as I said earlier, actually some guard band is also kept between the two signals. So during the
frequency division multiplexing, if the message signal is single sideband modulated, then more
number of signals, or more number of users, can be accommodated in the given channel
bandwidth.

And the analog telephone is one such example. Where during the multiplexing, the single sideband
modulation, is used.

Multiplexing Hierarchy in FDM

In FDM hierarchy different levels of the multiplexer are shown in a combined manner. The various
levels are shown below:
Explanation:

Level 1 denotes the “basic group” in which 12 voice channels are multiplexed together. Voice
signals typically contain information from 300 to 3500 Hz. And including some guard band, each
voice signal is assigned a bandwidth of 4 kHz in the telephony system. Each voice channel is
single sideband modulated and then multiplexed. In the first level of multiplexing, 12 voice
signals are multiplexed. The multiplexed signal occupies the band from 60 kHz to 108 kHz or the
total bandwidth of 48 kHz. The carrier frequency of each voice signal is 4 kHz apart from each
other.

Level 2 is the “supergroup” in which 5 basic groups are multiplexed together and as each basic
group has 12 voice channels so in level 2, we have bandwidth of 240 kHz contains total 60 voice
channels.

Level 3 is the “master group” in which 10 supergroups are mixed together and have up to 600
voice channels or voice signals and occupies the total bandwidth of 2.52 MHz.

Level 4 denotes the “jumbo group” which has 6 multiplexed master groups and up to 3600 voice
channels.
 What is Multiplexing? Importance of Multiplexing

So in a broad sense, this is the typical communication link, which consists of the transmitter, receiver,
and the channel. So through this channel, the signal travels from the transmitter side to the receiver
side. So this channel could be a wired link, or a wireless link. But many times, the total channel
resources, or the channeled capacity, is not fully utilized by the transmitted signal. So whenever, the
bandwidth of the transmitted signal is less than the total bandwidth of the channel, then the same
channel can be shared with the multiple users. So in this way, by sharing the channel bandwidth with
the multiple users, the channel bandwidth can be utilized more efficiently, and using the same channel,
multiple users can transmit the signal, at the same time. So this multiplexing is a technique, which
allows the simultaneous transmission of the multiple signals through a single channel. So in a
multiplexing, several signals are combined into a single composite signal, and then they are transmitted
over the shared medium. So at the receiver, these signals are demultiplexed, and then they are
delivered to the individual users. So with the help of the multiplexing, the link or the channel resources
can be utilized more efficiently, and the signals of the multiple users can be transmitted
simultaneously. So now, there are three different types of multiplexing techniques. That is frequency
division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, and the wavelength division multiplexing. And in this
particular video, we will learn about this frequency division multiplexing. So in this frequency