AMA 454

Topic 2

FNU School of Aviation 1

Introduction
Compared to AM receivers, SSB receivers require more
complex demodulation circuitry as the carrier needs to be
reinserted.
Normal AM detector cannot detect it since a received SSB
signal has no carrier.
If there is some carrier present e.g. 'Pilot', then extra
circuitry is required to direct it to AGC and /or AFC circuits.
If there is no carrier, SSB detection requires the addition of a
locally-generated carrier frequency which is applied to the
detector simultaneously with the received modulated signal.
If the frequency of the locally-generated carrier is correct in
relation to the received signal,
then demodulator outputs the original modulating signal.

FNU School of Aviation 2

Some receivers use diode detection in conjunction with a Beat
Frequency Oscillator (BFO) .
Demodulation is accomplished by using either a Product Detector
or a Balanced Demodulator circuit;
In conjunction with sharp-cut-off IF sideband filters to select the
desired sideband from the received signal.
Since both the incoming signal and the local carrier signal must
remain closely synchronised in frequency (to avoid severe
distortion), stability in both the final demodulating oscillator and
frequency tracking control (AFC) in the first oscillator is essential.
Because of the density of the number of SSB signals being used in
the frequency spectrum, good adjacent channel selectivity is also
important.
Double conversion is commonly used in SSB receivers to combat
the problem of adjacent channel interference.
The second mixer oscillator is usually crystal-controlled, providing
the primary frequency source for the final demodulator through
multipliers or dividers.
FNU School of Aviation 3
SSB Receiver Block Diagram
The signal transmitted by a SSB transmitter contains
only one sideband.
The carrier frequency has been suppressed before
transmission, and one sideband has been filtered out.
For this SSB signal to be detected, the carrier frequency
has to be re-inserted.
This is achieved by the beat frequency oscillator (BFO)
(which will be discussed later in this topic)

FNU School of Aviation 4

FNU School of Aviation 5
Front end SSB receiver
The incoming signal is selected and amplified by the
RF stage and fed into the mixer.
It uses the superheterodyne principle of mixing the
two frequencies.
Depending on the type of receiver, the IF amplifier
may include a number of amplification stages.
The local oscillator frequency needs to be very stable.

FNU School of Aviation 6

The incoming signal is selected and amplified by the RF stage and fed into
the mixer.
superheterodyne principle of
mixing the two frequencies.

local oscillator frequency needs to be very stable

FNU School of Aviation 7

SSB detector or second mixer
A product detector is a common detector used in SSB
receivers.
It produces an audio output which is proportional to
the product of the amplitude of the incoming signal
and the re-inserted carrier oscillator.
This produces the audio at the output.
The SSB transmitter only transmits one sideband.
For the SSB receiver to detect this signal, the carrier
has to be re-inserted.
To achieve detection, the simple detector we looked
at in an AM receiver is now replaced by an additional
mixer and oscillator.
FNU School of Aviation 8
Product detector produces an audio output which is
proportional to the product of the amplitude of the
incoming signal and the re-inserted carrier oscillator.

The Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO)

inserts the carrier frequency back into the
detector circuit.

FNU School of Aviation 9

The Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO) inserts the
carrier frequency back into the detector circuit.
So the BFO simulates the transmitted signal carrier
frequency which is filtered out before transmission.
The second mixer operation is the same as the first
mixer, only the frequencies are different.
The BFO needs to be very stable; any frequency drift
will cause distortion.
We will consider some frequencies and show you
where they occur at the different stages.

FNU School of Aviation 10

SSB Receiver Operation
If the SSB transmitter had a carrier location of 7 MHz and
a modulating frequency of 2 kHz.
The first Local Oscillator and RF Amplifier are manually
tuned in two switched bands Upper Side Band (USB) and
Lower Side Band (LSB).
If the lower sideband signal was transmitted, the receiver
would receive a signal of 7 MHz minus 2 kHz or 6998 kHz.
The SSB receiver would need to be tuned to 7 MHz.
The local oscillator frequency required would be 7 MHz
minus 455 kHz or 6545 kHz.

FNU School of Aviation 11

LSB =7 MHz-2 kHz=6998 kHz
6545 kHz  6998 kHz = 453 kHz.

frequency adjustment
to compensate for
carrier oscillator
frequency errors
frequency is 455 kHz
between the transmitter
local oscillator frequency is and receiver
7 MHz -455 kHz = 6545 kHz.

FNU School of Aviation 12

The resultant IF would be 6545 kHz  6998 kHz or 453
kHz.
The carrier oscillator frequency is 455 kHz.
When the IF and the carrier oscillator frequencies are
mixed in the second mixer, the resultant audio reproduced
is the 2 kHz required.
The second IF Amplifier is followed by two filters, (one for
each sideband) each with a bandpass of 2.7 kHz.
The desired sideband is selected by a switch (not shown)
and forms the other input to the Product Detector.
A clarifier is sometimes used to provide the local oscillator
or the carrier reinsertion oscillator with a small amount of
frequency adjustment to compensate for frequency errors
between the transmitter and receiver.

FNU School of Aviation 13

SSB Receiver Circuits
Conventional AM receivers use a diode detector but since
an SSB signal has no carrier, a simple diode detector is no
longer adequate.
In a SSB receiver, we don’t have a carrier so we need to
make one.
The oscillator that makes the carrier in a SSB receiver is
called a Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO).
A BFO is just an RF Oscillator which reproduces the
carrier.
The function of the BFO is to provide an Injection
frequency corresponding to the suppressed carrier (or
carrier reinsertion), which enables demodulation to take
place;
It is frequency-adjustable by the operator and may be used
to audibly tune to an AM or pilot carrier transmission.
FNU School of Aviation 14
FNU School of Aviation 15
A Clarifier provide
Local Carrier Oscillator with a small amount of frequency
adjustment (fine tune), compensating for frequency errors
between the transmitter and receiver.
The purpose of a clarifier is to make the output signal
more intelligible.
If a carrier is present in the received signal, and the
BFO is not at exactly the same frequency as the
carrier, an audible tone is produced at the output of
the demodulator.
As the BFO is tuned towards the incoming carrier
frequency, the frequency of the audible tone decreases.
Although this diode detector/BFO circuit produces the
desired output, SSB receivers generally use some kind of
Product Detector or Demodulator for added frequency
stability.
FNU School of Aviation 16
Product Detector/Demodulator
The basic SSB demodulation device is the product
detector, which is similar to an ordinary mixer.
The Product Detector circuit is so-named because it
multiplies two inputs together, the result being the
production of Sum and Difference frequencies;
The original inputs are not present at the output.
An advantage of the product detector is that is has very
low intermodulation distortion even with a low value of
inserted carrier;
Also it uses active devices, unlike the Diode Ring, and so
provides signal gain.
The output of the Product Detector is proportional to the
product of the inserted carrier and the SSB signal,

FNU School of Aviation 17

It contains: the original modulating signal or band of
frequencies
a band of RF frequencies, a DC component
Its output is passed through a low-pass filter and
capacitor, which removes the unwanted RF signal and
the DC component.
Providing that the circuit is operating linearly there
should be minimum distortion.
The output voltage is developed across the load by
the audio component of the waveform and
The RF components are bypassed to ground.

FNU School of Aviation 18

Typical Product Detector/Demodulator
The product demodulator /detector is a mixer with audio
output.
It can detect SSB and all other forms of AM.
The input SSB signal is fed to the base via a fixed-frequency IF
transformer
The signal from a crystal oscillator (carrier reinsertion
oscillator) is applied to the un-bypassed emitter.
The frequency of this oscillator is either equal to the nominal
carrier frequency or derived from the pilot frequency, as
applicable

FNU School of Aviation 19

Product Demodulator

300 to 3000 Hz

from 455.3 to 458.0 kHz Output is

Sum and Difference
low-pass filter
frequencies
All other signals will be
blocked by the low-pass filter

455 kHz

FNU School of Aviation 20

In a standard double-conversion receiver, the IF fed to the
product detector will be 455 kHz.
If the USB is being received, the signal will cover the
frequency band from 455.3 to 458.0 kHz.
Similarly, if the LSB is being received, the signal will cover
the frequency band from 452 to 454.7 kHz.
This signal is mixed with the output of the carrier
reinsertion oscillator, at 455 kHz.
Several frequencies will result in the output, including the
difference frequencies.
These range from 300 to 3000 Hz and are the wanted audio
frequencies.
All other signals present at this point will be blocked by the
low-pass filter consisting of capacitors CF and resistor RF.
It is seen that the circuit has recovered the wanted
intelligence from the input signal and is therefore a suitable
SSB demodulator.
FNU School of Aviation 21
Diode Balanced Demodulator
The local crystal oscillator output is fed into T1, and the SSB signal
is fed into T3.
The balanced modulator now acts as a nonlinear resistance and,
as in the product detector; sum and difference frequencies appear
at the primary winding of the AF transformer.
This transformer does not pass RF and therefore acts as a low-
pass filter, delivering only the audio frequencies to T2 output.
So, this circuit recovers the information from the SSB signal as
required, its operation being very similar to a product detector.

FNU School of Aviation 22

Diode Balanced Demodulator
sum and difference frequencies
appear at the primary winding of the
AF transformer.

This transformer acts as a

low-pass filter, does not
pass RF and pass only the
audio to T2 output.

FNU School of Aviation 23

Diode Ring Demodulator
The Diode Ring Modulator, which has been previously
discussed, acts as a mixer where the difference frequencies
produced fall within the audio band and represent the
original modulating signals.
The Demodulator 'translates' the modulated signal into
the audio band.
In addition to audio frequencies, unwanted RF SUM
frequencies are produced and are removed by a low-pass
filter.
The inputs to the demodulator,shown are:
1. the modulated IF frequency and
2. a locally-generated carrier.

FNU School of Aviation 24

Diode Ring Demodulator

FNU School of Aviation 25

The principle of operation of this circuit is identical to that of
a balanced/ring modulator, which has been previously
discussed, and is as follows:
The message signal input is `switched` through the output
transformer, at the carrier frequency.
The amplitude of the carrier input must be approximately
ten times greater than the signal input for correct circuit
operation.
The resultant output waveform contains Sum and Difference
frequencies, the original inputs being suppressed.
The Balance Control is adjusted to minimise the carrier at
the output with the carrier only applied to the input.
The resistor compensates for differences in conduction
between the switching diodes by equalising the currents in
each half of the output transformer T2.

FNU School of Aviation 26

Detailed Theory of Operation
Consider the operation of the circuit when only the
carrier output is applied.
The carrier is applied to the circuit via transformer T3
and appears `in phase` at the top and bottom of
transformer T1 and, hence, at the anodes of diodes
D1/D4 and the cathodes of diodes D2/D3.
Diode pairs D1/D4 and D2/D3 conduct on alternate half
cycles of the carrier signal from T3.
Assume that the left hand side of transformer T3 is
positive at some instant in time.

FNU School of Aviation 27

Current flows from the negative side of transformer T3
through each winding of output transformer T2
through diodes D1/D4.
Diodes D2/D3 are reversed biased.
Current flows in opposite directions through T 2
primary and the resultant secondary voltages cancel
each other and produce nil net output, in theory.
In reality, diodes D1/D4 cannot be perfectly matched
and a small amount of carrier appears at the output.
On the opposite half cycle, diodes D2/D3 conduct and
diodes D1/D4 are reverse biased.
Again, the currents flowing in the primary of the
transformer T2 are in opposite directions and produce
nil output on the secondary.
FNU School of Aviation 28
FNU School of Aviation 29
Assume that a single tone modulated SSB signal
appears at the primary of transformer T1 as shown in
Figure 2.9.
You should be able to see that the output contains an
AUDIO component which is generated by the beating
together of the local carrier and incoming SSB signal.
Unwanted RF frequencies are also present at the
output, these being removed by a low-pass filter.
The filtered output represents the original
modulating signal.

FNU School of Aviation 30

AGC
An ideal receiver produces an undistorted output of constant
volume, regardless of input signal strength variations.
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuitry within a receiver virtually
eliminates the distortion caused by strong signals and maintains a
constant level of audio output as the input signal strength varies.
A SSB signal contains virtually no carrier power; a receiver designed
to receive such a signal has no reference from which to generate an
AGC voltage.
Therefore, detection of either the IF or audio signal generates the
AGC voltage, since the amplitude of either signal represents the
strength of the received signal.

Note: The AGC voltage in a SSBSC receiver is not derived from

the demodulator (Product Detector) due to the Beat
Frequency Oscillator having a signal (carrier) source present.

FNU School of Aviation 31

There are two types of AGC Detectors,
1.The Intermediate or Radio Frequency detector
2.The Audio detector.
Radio Frequency (RF) Detector - AGC
Block diagram of a typical SSB receiver.

FNU School of Aviation 32

Detection of the IF signal is derived from the output of the
IF amplifier.

This type of detector is RF derived.

An 'envelope' or AM detector performs this function.

The AGC voltage is DC and is proportional to the amplitude

of the IF signal, which is dependent on the strength of the
incoming signal.


FNU School of Aviation 33

Audio Frequency (AF) Detector – AGC
Detection of the Audio signal is from the output of the
product detector stage.
Therefore, this type of detector is Audio derived.
Again, an 'envelope' or AM detector performs this
function.

FNU School of Aviation 34

Purpose of AGC
The purpose of the AGC voltage is to:
1. maintain a constant level of audio output for varying
levels of signal input from the antenna.
2. minimise overdriving of the RF and IF amplifier stages
when a strong signal is being received.
3. 'mute' or shut-off the audio stage when the signal level
drops below a given threshold.
The AGC voltage is applied to :
1. the squelch circuit
2. RF amplifiers
3. IF amplifiers

FNU School of Aviation 35

When amplitude of the AGC voltage increases, the RF
and IF amplifier gain is reduced.
This maintains a constant output level and prevents
distortion of the signal caused by overdriving the
amplifiers.
The AGC voltage must have a 'fast attack, slow decay'
response –
fast attack to prevent swamping of the amplifiers by
strong signals;
slow decay to allow for loss of signal caused by gaps
in speech.

FNU School of Aviation 36

Envelope Detectors
The AGC detector is simply an AM or envelope detector, as shown in
Figure 2.12 below.

FNU School of Aviation 37

A standard AM detector produces an AC voltage that
represents the 'envelope' of the input waveform.
It is an AC signal and is therefore unsuitable for use
as an AGC voltage.
The output from a standard AM detector requires
filtering to remove the AC component, as we only
require the DC component.
A low pass filter removes the AC component of the
signal.
The output from the filter will be DC

FNU School of Aviation 38

Figure 2.13 illustrates the function of the low pass filter.

FNU School of Aviation 39