Types of Modulation Schemes Used in Communication Systems Swati Gupta

CASIRJ
Volume 5 Issue 1 [Year - 2014]
ISSN 2319 9202
Types of Modulation Schemes used in Communication Systems

Swati Gupta
Abstract
Communication plays a vital role in our lives, it is impossible to think life without it. So, it is very
important for us to understand the technology behind it which has made our lives so simple and fast.
This paper is about the different types of modulation schemes like AM, FM, PM, PAM, PWM, PPM,
PCM etc used in the communication system and their importance.
1. What is communication?
Communication is the basic process of exchanging information or transferring information from one
place to another.
ex. When we are talking to someone, we exchange the information in form of voice signals; sending
information through computers; talking on phone (mobile communication), radio broadcasting (FM),
television broadcasting etc.
If we talk about the stone age, how the data was exchanged between two points. There was no
television, mobile phone, INTERNET etc. Then how communication was possible? The people in the
ancient time used to send the message by using a pigeon or someone had to carry the physical message
from one place to another. But the biggest disadvantage is speed of transmission of data was very very
slow.
If we see the situation now, you just need to press enter on your computer and the data is transmitted
from one place to another in fraction of seconds.
We are going to discuss the technology behind this. How this communication process has become so
simple and fast.
International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science

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2. Elements of a communication system

information
signal
(input)
Input
transducer
Transmitter
Channel
information
signal
(output)
Output
transducer
Receiver

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Basic Block Diagram of Communication System

a. Information
The data or the message which is to be transmitted from one place to another. Ex. When you make a
call, your voice signal need to be sent from one place to the another. In this case data will be the voice
signal. Ex. When you mail a file from your computer, the information to be transmitted will be the file.
b. InputTransducer
A transducer is a device which converts one form of energy to another. The data which is to be
transmitted may not be in the form suitable for transmission. It needs to be converted to a suitable
format. Hence we need a transducer. Ex. When we speak, the voice signal can not be transmitted
directly. It must be converted to electrical form. This is done with the help of transducer like
microphone which converts sound waves into electrical signals.
c. Transmitter
Main function of the transmitter is to amplify the signal, modulate it with a high frequency carrier and
transmit it. The voice signal which is now electrical in nature (with the help of transducer) has the
frequency range 20Hz-20KHz. This signal is not capable of traveling long distances (which is
explained later). In transmitter, the signal is modulated with a high frequency carrier which is called as
modulation.
d. Communicationchannel
The message travels from one point (transmitter) to another (receiver) through communication channel.
So, channel is the medium through which information is transmitted. Ex. Talking on phone from Delhi
to US, your voice signal need to travel through some channel. So there must be some physical
connection between two points.
Channel can be of three types:
i. Copper wires
Signals are converted to electrical form and they travel through these copper wires.
ii. Free space
Signals are converted to electromagnetic radiations and then transmitted through antennas into
the air. They travel the free space with the speed of light. The signals are received by the
antenna at the receiving end. Ex. Radio broadcasting, TV broadcasting.
iii. Optical fibers
The optical fiber acts as a waveguide and light travels through it. Message signal to be
transmitted is modulated with the light signal which is launched into the fiber with the help of
LED or Laser. Ex. Optical fibers are used for data transfer through internet.
ex. pair of wires that carry voice signals from microphone to a headset.
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e. Receiver
Communication channel adds some noise (unwanted signal) to the transmitted signal. Function of the
receiver is to extract the modulated data first from the noise and then demodulate it to get back the
original data (in electrical form) from the high frequency carrier. This process is called as
Demodulation.
f. OutputTransducer
Since, a transducer converts one form of energy to another, it converts the incoming electrical signal
back to the original form. Ex. A loudspeaker will convert electrical signals back to sound signal.
3. Modulation
Suppose a person wants to travel from India to US. He will travel either by plane or by ship. The
person can be seen as message signal who wants to travel from one place to another and plane or ship
can be seen as the carrier signal which will carry the person.
Hence two signals are involved: the message signal also called as modulating signal and the carrier
signal.
Message signal: which is to be sent from one point to another.
Carrier signal: it is a high frequency signal which carries the message signal along.
Since carrier signal carries the message signal, so some parameter of the carrier signal should be
changed according to the message signal. Hence, either amplitude, phase or frequency of the carrier
signal is varied according to the instantaneous value of the message signal. The resulting signal is
called as modulated signal which is then transmitted through the transmitter.
4. Need of modulation
The message signal cannot be transmitted directly through the communication channel. The message
signal which has low frequency is modulated with the high frequency carrier i.e. the message signal is
shifted to high frequency range.
Reasonsformodulation:
a. Height of Antenna
The message signal has a low frequency. Ex. Voice signal has the frequency from 20Hz-20KHz. We
know that,
c=
where c = speed of light
= frequency
= wavelength
Since frequency of message signal is less, its wavelength will be large.
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Antenna height is given as,

Height = / 4
Therefore, the antenna height will be large which is practically impossible.
After modulation with a high frequency carrier, the frequency will be large. Hence less wavelength and
therefore antenna height will be small.
b. Energy
Since,
E=h
where E = energy
h = Planck's constant
= frequency
Message signal has less frequency. Hence the energy will be less. Therefore, the signals will not be able
to travel long distances. They will die out because of less energy.
After modulation with a high frequency carrier, the frequency will be large. Hence energy will be more.
Therefore, with increase in the frequency, signals can travel longer distance.
c. Mixing of signals
Voice and music signals are in range of audio frequency i.e. 20Hz to 20KHz, if different message
signals are transmitted from the different transmitters,
ex. m1(t) -> 20Hz-20KHz
m2(t) -> 20Hz-20KHz
m3(t) -> 20Hz-20KHz
all the signals will interfere with each other because of the same frequency range. Hence receiver will
not be able to separate the message signals.
To avoid the interference, the information of message signal is converted to different high frequency
band so that they occupy different slots in frequency domain.
d. Multiplexing
Multiplexing means mixing of signals i.e. more than two signals can be transmitted over the same
communication channel simultaneously. Hence many signals use the same channel without any
interference with each other.
5. Classification of Electronic Communication System
Based on the nature of the message signal, the communication system can be classified into two
categories:
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Communication
System
Analog
Communication
Digital
Communication
a. AnalogCommunication
In this technique, message to be transmitted is continuous i.e analog in nature. An analog signal is a
variable signal which is continuous in both time and amplitude. It is modulated by a high frequency
carrier signal. One of the parameters of the carrier signal like amplitude, phase, frequency is varied
according to the instantaneous value of the message signal. It can transmit data including voice, image,
video etc.
b. DigitalCommunication
In this, the message to be transmitted is in the form of digits 0 and 1 with constant amplitude, constant
frequency and constant phase. Both time and amplitude are discrete in nature.

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Depending on these two, we have different types of modulation:

Modulation
Digital modulation
Analog modulation
Continuous wave
modulation
Amplitude
modulation
AM
Pulse modulation
Angle
modulation
FM
PAM
PWM
PCM
PPM
PM

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6. Analog Modulation
6.1 Continuous wave modulation
The carrier signal, used for modulating the message signal, is a sine wave i.e. continuous in nature.
Hence it is called as continuous wave modulation.
6.1.1. Amplitude Modulation (AM)
We have a message signal with frequency fm and a carrier signal (sine wave) with frequency fc
fc >> fm
Role of the carrier signal is used to carry the message signal along.
In case of AM, the amplitude of the carrier signal is varied according to the instantaneous value of the
message signal. Hence the information is contained in its amplitude variation. The frequency of carrier
remains constant.
Message signal
carrier signal
AM wave

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Advantages:
a. Simple circuitry. AM transmitters and receivers are simple to design.
b. AM signals can be transmitted over longer distances.
Disadvantages:
a. One of the biggest disadvantages of AM is noise. Noise always affects the amplitude. Since
amplitude of the carrier wave contains the information, if it is disturbed by the noise it will be difficult
to get the original message back from the modulated signal at the receiver.
Applications:
a. If we check our radio systems, we have AM radio channel. AM is short form of amplitude
modulation. AM radio stations are also called as medium wave stations in some countries. It was the
first technique to broadcast radio signals to the public. AM radio is in a band of 550KHz 1700KHz.
b. In TV broadcasting, AM is used for transmitting the video signals. Since video contains very low
frequency as well as very high frequency components, bandwidth requirement is very high. If we use
FM instead of AM, the circuitry will become very complex.
6.1.2. Frequency Modulation (FM)
fc >> fm
In case of FM, the frequency of the carrier signal is varied according to the instantaneous value of the
message signal. Hence the information is contained in its frequency variation. The amplitude of carrier
remains constant.
Message signal
Carrier signal

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FM wave
Advantages:
a. FM is less prone to noise as compared to AM. Since frequency of the carrier contains the message
information and noise always affects the amplitude, hence it is less prone to noise.
b. It has better sound quality than AM.
c. Power requirement is less as compared to AM.
Disadvantages:
a. Transmitters and Receivers are complex to design as compared to FM
b. It cannot be transmitted over long distances. It can only be used for line-of-site communication.
Applications:
a. We often use the term FM while listening to the radio. This FM is frequency modulation. The music
which we are listening to comes to us using frequency modulation technique. FM radio is in a band of
88MHz 108MHz. All the channels in FM are within this range.
b. FM is used in satellite communication because of less power requirement.
6.1.3. Phase Modulation (PM)
fc >> fm
In case of PM, the phase of the carrier signal is varied according to the instantaneous value of the
message signal. Hence the information is contained in its phase variation. The amplitude and the
frequency of carrier remain constant.
Message signal

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Carrier signal
PM wave
Advantages:
a. Phase modulation and demodulation is easy as compared to frequency modulation.
Applications:
a. Phase modulator is used to determine the velocity of moving target.
6.2. Pulse Modulation
The carrier used to modulate the message signal is a pulse train. Hence it is called as pulse modulation.
Pulse train
6.2.1 Advantages of Pulse modulation over continuous wave modulation

a. Since we transmit the information using a pulse train, we do not need to generate power
continuously. Power is transmitted in short bursts.
b. Since, time between two pulses is free, it can be utilized to send samples of other message signals.
This is called as Time Division Multiplexing.
6.2.2 Disadvantages of Pulse modulation over continuous wave modulation
a. It needs large bandwidth.
6.2.3 Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)
PAM is the simplest form of analog pulse modulation.

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In PAM, the amplitude of the pulse train is varied in accordance to the instantaneous value of the
message signal.
i. PAMusinginstantaneoussampling
The message signal is multiplied with the periodic train of pulses with unit amplitude and width dt->0,
and we get instantaneous sampling.
Disadvantages
a. An instantaneous sample has an infinitesimal energy. When such a sample is transmitted by the
transmitter, because of the very less energy, it will be lost in the background noise.
b. If we see the Fourier transform of an impulse, it has all the frequency components in it. Hence an
instantaneous pulse requires an infinite bandwidth to get transmitted. We can say, transmission
bandwidth is inversely proportional to the width of the pulse. Narrower is the width of the pulse, more
is the bandwidth required.
Hence an instantaneous sampling is hardly feasible and we need to wider the width of the periodic
pulse train.

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ii. PAMusingnaturalsampling
The message signal is multiplied with the periodic train of pulses with unit amplitude and width dt. The
top of the pulse follows the shape of the message signal.
Disadvantages:
a. The top of the pulse follows the shape of the message signal. When transmitted by the transmitter,
communication channel adds some noise to the signal and noise always affects the amplitude. At the
receiver, it will be difficult to detect the shape of the top of the pulse. Therefore, exact amplitude
detection cannot be done.
iii. PAMusingflattopsampling

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Advantages:
a. Since the top of the pulse is flat, noise can be easily removed from the signal.
Disadvantages:
a. Flat top sampling results in distortion of the signal. The high frequency components are lost. But this
can be corrected by using an equilizer.
iv. AdvantagesofPAM
a. Generation and detection of PAM are simple process. Circuitry is simple.
v. DisadvantagesofPAM
a. Noise performance is bad. Noise affects the amplitude and the amplitude of the pulse train carries the
information about the message signal. It cannot be used for long distance transmission.
b. Power depends on the amplitude and the width. All the pulses in a PAM wave differs in amplitude,
therefore power will also differ. Hence transmitter must be able to handle the power required to
transmit pulse having maximum amplitude.
6.2.4 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) or Pulse Duration Modulation (PDM) or Pulse Length
Modulation (PLM)
In PWM, the width of the pulse train is varied in accordance to the instantaneous value of the message
signal.
Hence, the width of the sample contains the information about the message signal.
As the amplitude of message signal increases, the pulse width increases. As the amplitude of message
signal decreases, the pulse width also decreases.

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Advantages:
a. Noise is less as compared to PAM since information is contained in the varying width and not in the
amplitude.
b. If noise affects the amplitude of the pulse, it can be easily removed by using a Schmitt trigger.
Disadvantages:
a. Power depends on the amplitude and the width of the pulse. Since all the pulses in PWM wave
differs in width, therefore power will also differ. Transmitter must be able to handle the power required
to transmit the pulse with maximum width.
b. Time division multiplexing is difficult to achieve because of the varying pulse width. The pulses
from different sample may overlap with each other.
6.2.5 Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)
In PPM, the position of the pulse train is varied in accordance to the instantaneous value of the message
signal.
Advantages:
a. Since amplitude is constant, the noise affect is very less as compared to PAM
b. If noise affects the amplitude of the pulse, it can be easily removed by using a Schmitt trigger. (as in
case of PWM)
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c. Amplitude and width of pulses are constant. Hence power required for transmitting pulses is also
constant.
d. As we know, narrower is the pulse width, more is the band width required. Ex. An impulse needs an
infinite bandwidth because it contains all the frequency components. If we increase the width of the
pulse, bandwidth requirement will be less. Therefore, if bandwidth available is narrow, we will use
wide pulse and if bandwidth available is large, we will use narrow pulse. This is called as bandwidth
optimization.
Disadvantages:
a. Time division multiplexing is difficult to achieve because of the varying pulse positions. The pulses
from different sample may overlap with each other.
6.2.6 Difference between PAM, PWM and PPM
S. No.
PAM
PWM
PPM
Amplitude
of
the
pulses vary according to
the instantaneous value
of the message signal
Width of the pulses Position of the pulses vary

vary according to the according
to
the
instantaneous value of the instantaneous value of
message signal
the message signal
1.
Definition
2.
Analogous to
AM
FM
PM
3.
Noise
Large
Less
Less
4.
Power
Varies
with
the Varies with the width
amplitude of the pulses of the pulses
constant
7. Digital Modulation
Digital transmission
It is the transmittal of digital information in the form of digits 0 and 1 between two or more points in a
communication system. If the signal is analog in nature, it is first converted to digital form and then
transmitted. The digital information can be transmitted by coaxial cables, optical fibers.
7.1 Why going from Analog to Digital?
Now we are shifting from analog modulation technique to digital modulation technique. The reasons
behind this are as follows:
a. The affect of noise is more on analog systems as compared to digital signals.

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When the digital signal is transmitted, at the receiver it is not important to evaluate precise amplitude,
frequency or phase. A pulse during transmission may distort. A simple technique is used. If the pulse is
above reference level, it is taken as 1 and if the pulse is below reference level, it is taken as 0. Affect of
noise is greatly reduced in digital systems.
b. Since affect of noise is less for digital systems, it is suitable for long distance transmission.
c. Digital circuits are easy to handle.
d. Redundant information can be easily removed from digital transmission by using different
techniques.
e. Multiplexing techniques can be implemented in digital system easily.
f. In digital modulation, we make use of repeaters in the communication channel. Communication path
always add noise to the signal. Role of repeater is to remove the noise from the incoming signal and
regenerate a fresh noise less signal. These repeaters are repeatedly spaced in the entire communication
path.
Signal +
Transmitter Noise
(due to
channel)
Regenerator
repeater
signal
Receiver
Communication
Channel
g. In analog modulation, the signal to noise ratio i.e. SNR required at the receiver is 40-60dB for proper
detection of the message signal from the modulated one. In digital modulation, the SNR required is 1012dB. This is the advantage of digital modulation over analog modulation i.e. even if the noise factor is
large in the signal, then also we are able to recover the message signal easily.

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7.2 Pulse Code Modulation

PCM is nothing but analog to digital conversion of the message signal i.e. the analog signal is
converted in the form of 0 and 1 and then transmitted through the communication channel to the
receiver.
A Pulse is used to represent 0 and 1. If pulse is present, it represents 1 and is pulse is absent, it
represents 0. These pulses are of constant width and amplitude.
Message
signal
Transmitter
sampler
Regenerative
repeater
quantizer
encoder
Communication
Regenerative
crhannel
repeater
Receiver
decoder
Hold
circuit
LPF
Message
signal
Steps involved in PCM are

a. Sampling
This is the first step involved in PCM.
Analog signal which is continuous in both time and amplitude, is first converted to discrete time signal
by sampling (continuous in amplitude but discrete in time).
Instead of sending the complete signal, even if we send the samples of signal taken at discrete time then
also we are able to recover the signal from the samples at the receiver.

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For example
The figure above shows if more number of samples are taken in a given signal, the reconstructed signal
will approach more towards the original signal.
b. Quantizer
Once the signal is sampled, it becomes discrete in time. Amplitude is still continuous in nature i.e. it
can have any of the infinite values in a finite range of amplitude and its not important to transmit exact
amplitude of the signal. So, the next step is to convert this infinite range to finite range i.e. to make this
amplitude discrete in nature. For this we use quantizer.

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Continuous
sample
quantizer
Discrete
sample
Quantized signal
The above quantized signal instead of having any value between 0 to 15V, will have only discrete
values ex. 0,1,2,3,4V etc.
c. Encoder
The above signal can have the amplitude from the range 0 to 15. The voltage can have any of these 16
values. But we cannot send these values directly. Before sending it through the communication
channel, it needs to get encoded in form of 0 and 1 which is suitable for the transmission over the
channel.
In above case, we need 4 bits to represent 16 levels.
Voltage level
Bit
0V
1V
2V
0000
0001
0010

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3V
4V
5V
6V
7V
8V
9V
10V
11V
12V
13V
14V
15V
0011
0100
0101
0110
0111
1000
1001
1010
1011
1100
1101
1110
1111
All these amplitude values are represented by the codes. In binary code, we use 0 and 1 and 1 is shown
by presence of pulse and 0 is shown by absence of pulse.
The encoded values for the above signal will be
These encoded signals now will be send through the channel.

d. Regenerative repeater
Role of repeater is to eliminate noise and distortion added by the communication channel and
regenerate a completely fresh noiseless signal. Many repeaters are used in the communication path
spaced closely with each other.
e. Decoder
Role of decoder is opposite that of encoder. It regroups the incoming bits and decodes it into a
quantized signal.
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f. Filtering
This is the final operation in PCM. The signal is passed through a low pass filter and the original signal
is recovered.
7.3 Disadvantages of Pulse Code Modulation
a. Bandwidth requirement is more as compared to analog modulation technique.
b. Transmission noise: Role of repeater is to eliminate the noise added in the signal when it is
transmitted from transmitter to receiver. Since every electronic circuit generates its own noise. Hence
some transmission noise is always present which is random in nature.
c. Quantization noise
Looking at the second sample, the exact value of sample is 10.5 but in quantized signal it is estimated
by 11. The difference between the quantized value and the actual value is called as quantization noise.
8. Digital Carrier Modulation Technique
8.1 Introduction
In case of digital transmission, the message signal is transmitted in the form of 0 and 1's. If the signal is
digital, it is transmitted directly through the physical wires and if the signal is analog, it is first
converted to digital form using PCM and then transmitted through physical wires like coaxial cable or
optical fibers.
But such a message signal cannot be transmitted through free space in from of electromagnetic
radiations. The reason is that the message signal (whether digital or analog) has low frequency and the
required antenna height will be very large which is impractical. Another reason is less energy in the
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message signal because of the less frequency, and it will get lost in the free space noise.
So solution is of course to modulate the digital signal with a high frequency carrier and then transmit
the modulated signal through free space using antennas.
We have different types of modulation techniques:
Digital Carrier
Modulation Techniques
ASK
FSK
PSK
QAM
8.2 Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) or On-Off Keying (OOK)
The digital message signal is modulated with the high frequency carrier. The amplitude of the carrier is
changed according to the message signal. It is similar to AM

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When input = high i.e. at logic 1, output's amplitude is same as high frequency carrier's amplitude.
When input = low i.e. at logic 0, output is 0.
Hence the information of the message signal is contained in the amplitude of the carrier signal i.e. if
input is 1, carrier is on and if input is 0. carrier is off. Therefore, it is also known as On Off keying.
8.3 Frequency shift keying (FSK)
The digital message signal is modulated with the high frequency carrier. The frequency of the carrier is
changed according to the message signal. It is similar to FM
When input = high i.e. at logic 1, carrier frequency is shifted up i.e. frequency increases. When
input = low i.e. at logic 0, carrier frequency is shifted down i.e. frequency decreases. Hence
the information of the message signal is contained in the frequency of the carrier signal.
8.4 Phase Shift Keying
The digital message signal is modulated with the high frequency carrier. The phase of the carrier is
changed according to the message signal. It is similar to PM
When input = high i.e. at logic 1, output wave is in phase with the carrier. i.e. 0 degrees phase
When input = low i.e. at logic 0, output wave is 180 degrees out of phase with the carrier.
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9. Summary
Hence these are the various ways used in the communication systems to modulate the message
signal using high frequency carrier and transmit it from one point to another either through
copper wires, optical fibers or free space. There are other techniques as well like QPSK,
QAM,
DM,
ADM
which
are
not
discussed
here.

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Types of Modulation Schemes Used in Communication Systems Swati Gupta

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CASIRJ

Volume 5 Issue 1 [Year - 2014]

ISSN 2319 9202