LAB MANUAL/AC

Experiment No.1

AIM: AM Generation (DSB-FC): Calculation of modulation index by graphical method, Power

of AM Wave for different modulating signal.
PRE LAB: Basics of signal representation and analysis, Amplitude Modulation, Modulation
index, Power relation.
HARDWARE REQUIRED: Scientech 2201 board, CRO Probes, DSO, Spectrum Analyzer etc.

OBJECTIVES:
1) Calculate different modulation index from Modulated wave.
2) Calculate different modulation index from Trapezoidal pattern.
3) Observe spectrum and find Bandwidth.
4) Measure power of AM wave for different modulating signal.

PRINCIPLE/THEORY:
In communication the term baseband is used to designate the band of frequencies of the signal
delivered by the source or the input transducer. In telephony the baseband is the audio band of 0
to 3.5 kHz. In television the baseband is the video band occupying 0 to 4.3 MHz.
In baseband communication baseband signals are transmitted without modulation that is without
any shift in the range of frequencies of the signal. Because the baseband signals have sizable
power at low frequencies, they cannot be transmitted over a radio link but are suitable for
transmission over a pair of wires, coaxial cables or optical fibers.
In analog communication, message is analog and the carrier is sine wave, which is also analog in
nature. The modulation techniques in analog communication can be classified into amplitude
modulation (AM) and angle modulation techniques. The amplitude of the carrier signal is varied
in accordance with the message to obtain modulated signal in case of amplitude modulation. In
AM information signal is used to control the amplitude of the carrier wave. As the information
signal increases in amplitude, the carrier wave is also made to increase in amplitude. Likewise, as
the information signal decreases, then the carrier amplitude decreases.

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Figure 1: Modulator

Time Domain Representation of the AM Wave:

Consider a sinusoidal carrier wave c(t) defined by
c(t) = Ac cos(2πfc t)
Let m(t) denote the baseband signal that carries the specification of the message signal. Am wave
may be described in the following form

Where Ac is carrier wave amplitude, fc is carrier frequency & s(t) is modulated wave.

𝑠(𝑡) = Ac [1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡)] cos(2πfc t)

We can observe that envelope 𝑠(𝑡) has same shape as that of baseband signal.

Figure 2: Time domain representation of AM

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Vm Vmax − Vmin
m= =
Vc Vmax + Vmin

Frequency spectrum of AM wave:

The frequencies present in the AM wave are the carrier frequency and the first pair of sideband
frequencies, where sideband frequencies are defined as
fSB = fc + nfm
Fourier transform of AM wave is given by
Ac k a Ac
S(f) = [δ(f − fc ) + δ(f − fc )] + [M(f − fc ) + M(f + fc )
2 2
This spectrum consists of two delta functions weighted by the factor Ac/2 and occurring at +-fc,
and two versions of the baseband spectrum translated in frequency by +- fc and scaled in
ka Ac
amplitude by
2

Figure 3: Spectrum of Baseband Signal

S
Figure 4: Spectrum of AM Wave

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1. As a result of modulation process, the spectrum of the message signal m(t) for negative
frequencies extending from –W to 0 becomes completely visible for positive (i.e, measurable)
frequencies, provided that the carrier frequency satisfies the condition fc > 𝑊; herein lies the
importance of the idea of “negative” frequencies.
2. For positive frequencies, the portion of the spectrum of an AM wave lying above the carrier
frequency fc is referred to as the upper sideband, whereas the symmetric portion below fc is
referred to as lower sideband. For negative frequencies, the upper sideband is represented by
the portion of the spectrum below -fc and the lower sideband by the portion above -fc . The
condition fc > 𝑊 ensures that the sidebands do not overlap.
3. For positive frequencies, the highest frequency component of the AM wave equals fc + 𝑊,
and the lowest frequency component equals fc − 𝑊. The difference between these two
frequencies defines the transmission bandwidth B𝑇 from an AM wave, which is exactly twice
the message bandwidth W. that is, B=2W

Figure 5. AM Transmitter System

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PROCEDURE:

Objective 1: Calculate different modulation index from Modulated wave.

1. Turn on power to the Scientech 2201 board.

2. Observe the output of ‘Audio Oscillator’ block at ‘Audio Signal Output’ test Point.
Amplitude and Frequency of this audio signal can be varied using the respective
Amplitude and Frequency control pots. The amplitude varies from 0 to 2vpp approx and
frequency varies from 300Hz to 3KHz approx.
3. This is the audio frequency sine wave which will use as modulating signal input to
Balanced Modulator and Band Pass Circuit 1.
4. 1 MHz Crystal Oscillator Block generates a sine wave of 1 MHz frequency and 120mV pp
amplitude approx, which is used as a carrier input to Balance Modulator and Band Pass
Filter Circuit 1.
5. Balanced Modulator and Band Pass Filter Circuit 1 use to perform ‘Double Side Band
Amplitude Modulation’. Balance pot is used to vary the depth of modulation AM
waveform. Initially turn the pot to its maximum position and observe the DSB AM output
together with the modulating Audio Signal output l.
6. The output from the balanced modulator & band pass filter circuit 1 block is a double-
sideband AM waveform, which has been formed by amplitude modulating the 1MHz
carrier sinewave with the audio-frequency sine wave from the audio oscillator.
7. To determine the depth of modulation, measure the maximum amplitude (Vmax) and the
minimum amplitude (V min) of the AM waveform.

Objective 2: To calculate modulation index of DSB wave by trapezoidal pattern.

8. Connect modulated waveform to the CH1(Y) input of the Oscilloscope and the modulating
audio signal to the CH2(X) input of the Oscilloscope.
9. Press the XY switch, and observe the waveform. Find modulation index.
10. Observe common trapezoidal patterns for different modulation indices.

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Objective 3: Observe spectrum and find Bandwidth.

11. Observe spectrum on spectrum Analyzer/DSO
12. Measure Bandwidth & Power.

Objective 4: Measure power of AM wave for different modulation index.

13. Measure power.

OBSERVATION TABLE:

fm = ---------------------- fc = ---------------

Vm= ------------------- Vc=----------------

A) Measurement of Modulation Index

Sr. 𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏

%𝒎 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
No.
Vmax Vmin 𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏

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B) Measurement of Modulation Index by Trapezoidal method

𝑨−𝑩
Sr. A B %𝒎 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
No. 𝑨+𝑩

c) Power Measurement

Sr. PTotal
m Pc PSB
No.

OUTCOME:
1) After performing experiment of amplitude modulation, the students will be able to
appreciate that an AM wave is made of a number of frequency components having a Specific
relation to one another.
2) The students will be able to identify the fundamental concepts and various components of
analog communication systems.
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CONCLUSION:

POST LAB:
Connect the module's output to the external audio input on the Scientech 2201 board, and put the
audio input select switch in the external position. The input signal to the audio input module may
be taken from an external microphone or from a cassette recorder, by choosing the appropriate
switch setting on the module. Observe the Modulated Output.

VIVA QUESTIONS:
1) What is modulation?
Modulation is the process of varying characteristics of a periodic waveform, called the
carrier signal, with a modulating signal that typically contains information to be transmitted.
2) What is Radio Communication?

Radio communication uses electrical energy to transmit information. Radio transmitter

converts audio (sound) signals to electrical signals that are sent over wires or through space.
A radio receiver converts the electromagnetic waves so that the information can be found
out.

3) Why frequency modulation is better than amplitude modulation?

Modulation is better as it provide more resistance to noise as compared to demodulation.

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4) What is the difference between detector and demodulator?

A detector is a device that recovers information of interest contained in a modulated wave.
Demodulation is updated form of detector which extracts the original information from a
modulated carrier wave.

5) What is Modulation index?

Modulation index (m) is the ratio between the amplitude of the message signal to the
amplitude of the unmodulated carrier signal.

6) What is depth of modulation?

It refers to the ratio of the unmodulated carrier amplitude to the amplitude deviation for
which the modulated carrier wave reaches its minimum value.

7) Explain the need of modulation and demodulation?

Modulation is required to send the information over long distances as low frequency signals
are not able to cover large area.
While demodulation is required to get back the information sent at the receiving side.

8) What is the range of frequency in commercial AM broadcasting?

540 Hz to 1600 KHz has a 10 KHz bandwidth.

9) Range of frequency in AM baseband?

100 KHZ to 5 KHz.

10) What is baseband?

It is a band of frequencies occupied by a message signal.

11) What you mean by frequency translate?

It is the process of displaying the frequency contents of a signal to another place in the
frequency spectrum.
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