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BIBECHANA
A Multidisciplinary Journal of Science, Technology and Mathematics
ISSN 2091-0762 (Print), 2382-5340 (0nline)
Journal homepage: http://nepjol.info/index.php/BIBECHANA
Publisher: Research Council of Science and Technology, Biratnagar, Nepal

Design and development of low-range frequency modulated signal

(F.M.) transmitter
Abhishek Shrivastava
Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, NOIDA, Uttar
Pradesh, India.
*
Email: [email protected]
Article history: Received 20 September, 2017; Accepted 28 October, 2017
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v15i0.18279
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Abstract
Frequency Modulated (FM) signal transmitter is a small device that can transmit Frequency Modulated signal
over short range. [1] This document consists of most simple and economical technique for building a FM
transmitter using basic electronic components like resistor, capacitor, inductor etc. The FM transmitter receives
human voice signals though microphone. It further amplifies it, modulate it over carrier and finally transmit it.
Assuming favorable conditions, output of transmitter can be received by anyone who tunes it in frequency of
our transmitter. Here, I have described Circuit diagram, its working, components required, uses of various
components in our circuit, its practical applicability. The design is simulated using NI Multisim and is further
implemented on bread-board. This design is capable of transmitting signal for distance of radius 20m, tuned at
97.1 MHz One could clearly hear sound produced at microphone of transmitter.

Keywords: Inductor; LC oscillator; Telescopic antenna; 2N3904 bipolar transistor.

1. Introduction
FM transmitter is an electronic device, which produces frequency-modulated waves with the help of an
antenna. A transmitter generates FM waves for various purposes such as communication, broadcasting a
message etc. Furthermore, FM signals are less prone to interference as compared to AM signals due to
higher bandwidth. Also, it is less susceptible to noise [1,2]. The signal transmitted has a limited range for
its reception, as we increase our distance from source, the signal received is merged with noise and further
more noise component dominates signal transmitted and hence message cannot be received successfully
after certain distance due to obstacles. The source of power is 9v dc battery, which starts discharging after
constant power supply for around 6 hours [3]. The information that is provided to the transmitter is in the
form of an electronic signal. This includes audio from a microphone. The transmitter combines the
information signal that is to be carried with the RF signal (the carrier). This is called modulation. In an FM
transmitter, the information is added to the radio signal by slightly varying the radio signal's frequency.

2. Materials & Methods

The components used in our design are easy to find and easy to implement. The circuit designing and
implementing part can also be done using breadboard but as it is not suitable high frequency circuits.
Further Components are shown in Table 1.
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Table 1:

Part Name Quantity Value Description

M1 1 12-3 db Microphone
R1 1 470Ω Resistor
R2 1 4.7kΩ Resistor
C1 1 4.7pF Capacitor
C2 1 20nF Capacitor
C3 1 50pF Capacitor
C4 1 0.01uF Capacitor
C5 1 0.1uF Capacitor
L1 1 0.05uH Inductor
Q1 1 2N3904 General Purpose Transistor
V1 1 9V DC power Supply

Microphone: Microphone is a transducer, which converts sound energy to electric energy. The
microphone used in our design is ‘Electret Condenser microphone’[4] It consists of parallel plate
capacitor which has one plate as fixed and other plate being movable. The movable plate is called
diaphragm. When sound strikes diaphragm it starts moving, thus in turn changing capacitance of
capacitor, which in turn results in flow of variable current.
Transistor (2N3904): Transistor 2N3904 is a medium gain general-purpose transistor. It is widely
used for low power amplification. It has transition frequency of around 300 MHz with a minimum
current gain of 100. The Circuit Diagram is shown in Figure 1, which was stimulated in NI Multisim
10.

Fig.1: Circuit diagram.

Discription of Circuit
The circuit basically operates in 4 steps. Firstly a condenser microphone takes input, then amplifier
does amplification, the amplified signal is modulated with frequency being generated by LC oscillator
and finally antenna transmits the signal. The inductor L1 and capacitor C3 forms an oscillating tank
circuit along with the transistor 2N3904. As long as the current exists across the inductor coil L1 and
the capacitor C3, the tank circuit will oscillate at the resonant carrier frequency for FM modulation.
Whereas Capacitor C1 acts as a negative feedback to the oscillating tank circuit. The modulated signal
from the antenna is radiated as radio waves at FM frequency band. Antenna is nothing but a simple
copper wire of 20 cm or more long.
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Input Stage:
Inside the microphone, a capacitive sensor diaphragm is present. It vibrates according to the air
pressure changes and generates AC signals. The capacitor C4 and C5 can be thought of as a
frequency-dependent resistor (called reactance). The Capacitor C5 separates microphone from
transistor. Speech consists of different frequencies and the capacitor impedes them. The net effect is
that C4 modulates the current going into the transistor. Using a large value for C4 reinforces bass (low
frequencies) while smaller values boost treble (high frequencies). The input stage of Multisim circuit
is shown in Figure 2. Here we used an A.C. voltage source instead of microphone for simulation
purpose.

Amplification Stage:
The sound signal converted by microphone to alternating signal has very low power, hence if we
modulate it directly over the carrier and transmit it, it would not be possible to demodulate it and
retrieve the original signal from it. The resistance R1 and R2 are used to bias the BJT, it is being
illustrated in Figure 3.

Fig.2: Input Stage. Fig. 3: Amplification Stage.

Tank Circuit: The Inductor and capacitor together form an oscillating tank circuit or a resonant
circuit oscillating at frequency given by,
1
f=
√2∗𝜋∗𝐿∗𝐶

where, L & C are values of Inductor and Capacitor forming tank circuit respectively. Here L1 and C3
forms an oscillating tank circuit with frequency = 97.1 MHz. It is further displayed in Figure 4.
Final Transmission of FM signal
Now, the signal after amplification by BJT is further modulated with carrier signal generated by tank
circuit. After successful modulation the wave is transmitted using Antenna. It is displayed in Figure 5.
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Fig. 4: Tank Circuit. Fig. 5: Transmission using Antenna.

3. Results and Discussion

Simulation using NI Multisim 10
FM transmitter can be simulated using tools from Multisim. This circuit is simulated using NI
Multisim 10. Firstly, circuit is created using Multisim, using the tools and parts from library,
dedicated for circuit designing. The main purpose of using Multisim to simulate the design is to affirm
that values of inductor capacitor, etc. are under the bounds. After the circuit is designed it is further
simulated and analyzed using Spectrum Analyzer and virtual oscilloscope present in Multisim. Also,
applying probes at antenna shows the values of various parameters at output of circuit. The results of
simulation are illustrated in Figure 6.

Fig. 6: Results of Simulation.

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Interpretation by Oscilloscope
As it can be seen in Figure 6, the oscilloscope displays the output waveform of FM signal that is
transmitted through antenna. The output wave can be clearly seen through oscilloscope. As our design
is very basic, the effect of noise can be seen in output as well. Clearly it can be noted that the output
waveform has time period of 10.4 ns which is approx. 97 MHz. Slight variations are observed due to
effect of noise.

Interpretation by Spectrum Analyzer

The spectrum of output waveform can be analyzed using Spectrum Analyzer. It can be clearly
observed from the graph of spectrum analyzer of Figure 6, the peak of spectrum (bandwidth) is at
96.663 MHz, approximately 97 MHz. Also the effect of noise can be observed as the spectrum is not
idle as it is expected to be of a sinusoidal wave.

Interpretation by Probe Marker

Using the Probe marker placed at output during simulation, the frequency of output signal can be
clearly seen from Figure 6 as 97.0 MHz., along with various other parameters such as current, voltage
etc.
Implementation and Testing
Implementation
Further after all the simulation results are achieved as per desired, we further implement circuit
designed on breadboard first. All the components listed in Table-1 are further arranged and assembled
in circuit as per design requirement of our FM transmitter. Implemented circuit on bread board is
shown in Figure-7, along with battery source.

Fig. 7: Practical implementation.

Testing
The implemented circuit is further tested. To test the transmitter, the tank circuit is tuned properly so
that frequency generated can be easily modulated with message signal. Now, Both FM transmitter and
receiver are switched on. The receiver is tuned to 97.1 MHz and voice signal is being transmitted.
Instantly the voice signal is heard clearly at the receiver. Furthermore, to check the range of
transmitter, a constant voice signal is applied at input and receiver is moved away from the transmitter
slowly. As distance increased, the impact of noise started dominating our message signal. Also, as our
transmitter is producing a low power signal, output can be obtained clearly in a radius of 20m around
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transmitter. The Figure 8 shows output of our design being verified using Digital Storage
Oscilloscope (DSO).

Fig. 8(a)

Fig. 8(b)

4. Conclusion
The human voice transmitted, was received at output on 97.1 MHz frequency, provided conditions are
favorable for wireless transmission. For extending the range and power of FM transmitter, one can
apply another level of Amplification after Second stage, that would in turn further amplify the signal
and then it can be transmitted, the more the power of signal transmitted, greater is its range and more
noise immune it becomes. Also, to improve efficiency one may check the voltage of source applied
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and assure it is 9 V for above circuit. Furthermore, one should implement the design on PCB board as
bread-board is not preferred for high frequency circuits.

References
[1] R.L. Boylestad, Introductory Circuit Analysis, Eleventh Edition, Prentice Hall, 2007.

[2] N. Braga, Pirate Radio and Video: Experimental Transmitter Projects, Newnes Butterworth-Heinemann
Publishing, 2001..
[3] B.P. Lathi., Modern Analog and Digital Communication Systems, Third edition, Oxford University Press.
1998.
[4] T. L. Floyd, Principles of Electric Circuits, Eighth Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007.