Department of Electrical Engineering

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Course/Section: BEE 13 Semester: Spring 2024

EE-351 Communication Systems

Lab3: AM Transmission, Amplitude Modulation, RF Amplifier

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Lab 3: AM Transmission, Amplitude Modulation, RF Amplifier
Exercise Objective:

 Our learning objective for this lab is to get ourselves familiarized with the
process of transmission in the communication system and to go through
different circuit parts involved in process.
 First, we will modulate the signal and go through the calculation of their
modulation indexes, waveforms.
 Then we will learn the RF power amplifier applications and its role in
transmission.
 The AM/SSB transmitter part of the circuit board will be thoroughly covered.
 We will learn RF power amplifier applications and its role in transmission.

 The AM Transmitter part will be completed with understanding the role of RF power
amplifier applications

Introduction:
As we looked at the balanced modulator in the last lab today we are going to bring it to use to
generate amplitude modulated signal and look its modulation index, envelope form and other

characteristics.

Amplitude Modulation:
The modulating data is in the form of signal components consisting of frequencies either higher
or lower than that of the carrier. The signal components are known as sidebands and the sideband
power is responsible for the variations in the overall amplitude of the signal.

The amplitude modulator shifts the frequency of the message signal to that of the carrier signal.
The resulting envelope on the modulated signal is the copy of message signal. Its waveform
match with that of carrier signal.

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Modulation Index:
Modulation index is the parameter which quantifies the peaks in the AM signal. Modulation
index is the ratio of amplitude of the message signal to that of carrier signal amplitude.

The method of determining it form of waveform is shown below:

m= (A-B)/(A+B)

To calculate the percentage it should be multiplied by 100.

If the message signal have too much variation we can have a trapezoid representation AM signal.
In practical scenarios the voice is such kind of signal which has a lot of variations, one cannot
determine the index from the envelope form of the AM signal.

Since the message signal is transmitted over long distances, its power should be increased so that
it is able to reach the destination. For this purpose we have RF power amplifier in the
communication circuit board. It consists of power amplifier and an antenna matching network.

Power amplifier is a common emitter amplifier. The purpose of Antenna matching circuit is to
ensure maximum power transfer to low impedance antenna. It works on the principle of
maximum power transfer theorem which states “the transfer of power is maximum when the
source and load impedances are equal”. Antenna network does match the impedances to
maximize power transmission.

The gain of power amplifier was very high in the range of 1000s.

Discussion:
1. The AM signal has the same shape and frequency as the message signal.
2. Modulating index and percentage of modulation are parameters that quantify the peaks
and valleys in the AM signal envelope.
3. Using the trapezoidal method on an oscilloscope, you can determine the modulation
index from the message and AM signals when the message varies in frequency and
amplitude.

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 4. An AM signal with over 100% modulation is not desirable because it causes receiver
distortion and interference with other stations.
5. The modulation index is used to determine the transmission efficiency which is the ration
of sideband power to total signal power
6. You can calculate RF Amplifier input power from the product of input voltage and input
current,
7. You can calculate RF amplifier output power from the output voltage squared and
divided by output impedance.
8. RF power amplifier gain is typically in thousands.
9. The modulation index relate the carrier power to the total signal power.
10. With a 100% modulated signal, 33% of the total signal power is contained in the
sidebands: the sideband power is 50% of the carrier power.

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