ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Principles of Communications/Communications 1 Manual

ACTIVITY 5: Frequency Modulation Generation

1.1 Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Activity

a. ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve engineering problems
b. ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyse and interpret data
c. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams

1.2 Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this activity, the student shall be able to:
a. Sketch the time domain of an FM signal.

1.3 Objectives of the Activity

The objectives of this activity are to:
a. Be able to explain the basic principle of Frequency Modulation.
b. Be able to distinguish the characteristics of an FM signal in time domain.

1.4 Principle of the Activity

In FM, the carrier amplitude remains constant while the frequency is changed by the
instantaneous value of the amplitude of the modulating signal. As the amplitude of the
modulating signal increases, the center frequency increases as well. As the amplitude of the
modulating signal decreases, the center frequency decreases as well. The amount of change in
the center frequency is referred to as frequency deviation.

The frequency of the modulating signal determines the frequency deviation rate, or how
many times per second the carrier frequency deviates above and below its center frequency.

The equation of a sinusoidal voltage waveform is given by:

v = Vmax sin (wt + ø)

where:
v is the instantaneous voltage
Vmax is the maximum voltage amplitude
w is the angular frequency
ø is the phase

A steady voltage corresponding to the above equation conveys little information. To

convey information the waveform must be made to vary so that the variations represent the
information. This process is called modulation.

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 1

 From the above equation, the basic parameters of such a waveform are:

its amplitude, Vmax

its frequency, w (or f)
its phase, ø

Any of these may be varied to convey information. Impressing an information signal on

a carrier by changing its frequency produces FM. Varying the amount of phase shift that a carrier
experiences is called Phase Modulation (PM). Varying the phase shift of a carrier also produces
FM. FM and PM is called Angle modulation. FM is widely used because of its advantages over
AM.

1.5 Materials/Equipment

FM Modulator Power Supply

FM Demodulator DMM
Spectrum Analyzer Bridging Plugs and cable pairs
Frequency Counter Analog Oscilloscope
Frequency Generator

1.6 Circuit Diagrams / Figures / Source Codes (if Applicable)

Figure 1. Experiment set-up

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 2

1.7 Procedure/s

1. Connect the input of the FM modulator to the ground using a connecting lead. Let the
FM modulator warm-up approx. 5 minutes. Remove the connecting lead after
warming up. [For analog transmitter only]
2. Set the frequency controller of FM modulator to far left limit and measure fmin =
________ using the oscilloscope/DMM.
3. Set the frequency controller to far right limit and measure fmax = ________.
4. Now set, the frequency controller to the mean frequency, f0, using f0=(fmin+fmax)/2.
5. Use the function generator to feed a DC voltage U1 into the input of the FM
modulator. Record the modulator characteristic by varying the DC voltage in the
range from -10 to 10 V and determine the corresponding output frequency. Record
and plot. Notice that the frequency is varying, record the mean frequency. Plot the
DC voltage vs. Frequency.
6. Now, set f0 = 20 kHz and feed a sinusoidal signal into the input of the FM modulator
with 1.0 kHz frequency. Vary the amplitude of the modulating signal from 0 to 10 V.
Observe the FM waveform. What happens to the frequency?
7. Now select a square-wave signal with amplitude of 10 V. Observe the FM waveform.
What happens to the frequency?
8. Sketch the output signal of the FM modulator at number 6 and number 7 (f0 = 20
kHz, fm = 1 kHz and Vm = 10 V).

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 3

1.8 Activity Report

Section: Date Performed:

Course Code: Date Submitted:
Course Title:
Instructor:
Group No.: Activity No.:

Group Members: Signature:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

1.8.1 Data and Results

Plot 1. Procedure 5

The modulator characteristic of FM

DC Voltage, V Frequency, kHz
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 4

 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

--10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Plot 2. Procedure 6

Plot 3. Procedure 7

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 5

 1.8.2 Calculations

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 6

 1.8.3 Observations and Conclusion/s

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 7

 1.8.4 Rating

Pre-initiation Initiating Implementing Refining Sustaining

Criteria 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5

1. Activity Member does Member follows Member follows Member follows Member follows
Conduct not follow good good and safe good and safe good and safe good and safe
and safe laboratory laboratory laboratory laboratory practice
laboratory practice some of practice most of practice at all at all times in the
practice in the the time in the the time in the times in the conduct of activity
conduct of conduct of conduct of conduct of and encourages
activity. activity. activity. activity. others to do the
same.
2.Equipment Member is Member is able Member is able Member is able Member is able to
Operation unable to to operate to operate to operate the operate the
and Material operate the equipment and equipment and equipment and equipment and
Handling equipment and instrument with instrument with instruments with instruments with
instruments. much supervision. ease and with ease and without
supervision. minimum supervision.
supervision.
3. Data The group has The group has The group has The group has The group has
Collection presented presented presentedrelevan presentedrelevan presentedrelevant
mostly relevant but t partial but t andalmost complete and
irrelevant data. incompleteandin accurate and complete but accurate data.
accurate data. relevant data. accurate data.
4. Data There are many There are some Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is correct.
Analysis and inaccuracies in inaccuracies in partially correct. correct. The The group
Evaluation analysis. The analysis. The The group group recognized recognized some
group did not group didattempt recognized some some errors and errors and
attempt to make to make some errors and inaccuracies in inaccuracies in the
some links to links to prior inaccuracies in the processed, processed,
prior knowledge. the processed, manipulated and manipulated and

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 8

 knowledge. manipulated and presented data. presented data. The
presented data. The group is able group is able to
The group is able to make some relate presented data
to make some links to prior to other knowledge.
links to prior knowledge.
knowledge.
5. Results The group has The group has The group has The group has The group has clear
Interpretatio no vague clear and logical clear and logical and logical
n interpretation of interpretation of interpretation of interpretation of interpretation of data
data and has data and data and/ data and is able and is able to draw
invalid conclusion is attempts to to draw some suitable accurate
conclusion. fundamentally identify trends conclusions from conclusions from the
flawed. from the data. the data. data

Total Score

Mean Score = (Total Score / 5)

Percentage Score = (Total Score / 25) x 100%

Other Comments/ Observations:

Evaluated by:

Printed Name and Signature of Faculty Member Date

ACTIVITY 5: FREQUENCY MODULATION GENERATION 9