COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT 3: DOUBLE SIDEBAND SUPPRESSED CARRIER (DSBSC) & SINGLE

SIDEBAND SUPPRESSED CARRIER (SSBSC)
A. OBJECTIVES OF EXPERIMENT
1. Investigates the generation and reception of double sideband suppressed carrier waveforms.
2. Investigates the generation and reception of single sideband suppressed carrier (SSB) waveforms

B. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
1.
2.
3.
C.

Emona Telecom Trainers 101

Oscilloscope and Patch leads
Dual Channel Oscilloscope

SUMMARY OF THEORY

In conventional AM (DSB full carrier), two-third or more of the total transmitted power is meant for carrier
power. This is a major drawback because the carrier does not contain any information. It is actually the
sidebands contain the information. Therefore, transmitting the carrier power is a wastage and inefficient.
DSBSC is introduced to suppress (remove) the carrier power, but maintaining the bandwidth. Figure 1
shows the difference between conventional AM and DSBSC in term of power spectrum.

Plsb = 160W

flsb

Power

Power

Pc = 1000W
Pusb = 160W

fc

fusb

Frequency

The total power being transmitted is (1000).(1 + 0.82) = 1320W

2

No Carrier
Plsb = 160W

flsb

Pusb = 160W

fc

fusb

Frequency

The total power being transmitted is now reduced to 320W

Figure 1(a) Conventional AM

Figure 1(b) DSBSC
Figure 1: Power spectrum of conventional AM and DSBSC
Figure 2 shows a simple message signal, an unmodulated carrier and the result of DSBSC. So far, there
doesnt appear to be much difference between AM and DSBSC. The difference can be observed in Figure
3, which illustrates that the alternating halves of the envelope form the same shape as the message signal.
In telecommunications theory, the mathematical model that defines the AM signal is:
DSBSC = (message) x (carrier)

(1)

In comparison to conventional AM, the DSBSC signal does not contain a sinewave at the carrier frequency.
The presence of both sidebands and the absence of the carrier give us the name of DSBSC. So by not
sending the carrier, DSBSC offers a substantial power saving over conventional AM.
As the name implies, the Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier (SSBSC or just SSB) system transmits only
one sideband. In other words, SSB transmits either the sum or difference frequencies but not both. Thus,
SSB requires only half the bandwidth of AM which is a significant advantage.

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Figure 4 below shows a simple message, unmodulated carrier and the resulting SSBSC signals. It is
noticed that the SSBSC signal is the same shape as the carrier but is not the same frequency as either the
message or the carrier.

Figure 2: Message, unmodulated carrier and DSBSC signal

Figure 3: Waveform of DSBSC

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Figure 4 Message, Unmodulated Carrier and SSBSC Signal

There are a few methods used to generate SSB. An increasingly popular method to generate SSB is
called the phasing method. This method uses a technique called phase discrimination to cancel out
one of the sideband at the generation stage. In telecommunications theory, the mathematical model
that defines this process is:
SSB = (message carrier) + (message with 90O of phase shift carrier with 90O of phase shift)
Regardless of the message signals phase shift, when the four signals are added together, two of them
are in phase and add together to produce one sinewave (either carrier + message or carrier message)
and two of the sinewaves are phase inverted and cancels each other. In short, the process produces only
a sum or differential signal (i.e. just one sideband).
Figure 5 below illustrates the block diagram that implements the phasing type of SSB modulator:

Figure 5

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D. PROCEDURE
Part A. Generating an DSBSC signal using simple message
1.

Connect the set up as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Implementing the equation (1)

2.

The setup in Figure 6 can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 7. It implements the
equation: DSBSC = message x carrier. With values, the equation is;
DSBSC = (4Vp-p 2kHz sine) (4Vp-p 100kHz sine)

(2)

Figure 7: Block diagram representing equation (1)

3.
4.
5.

Adjust the scopes Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the Master Signals modules 2KHz
SINE output.
Set the ocilloscope to view the DSBSC signal out of the Multiplier module as well as the message
signal.
Save the Message and DSBSC signal waveforms.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

Part B. Recovering the message using product detector
DSBSC signals are demodulated using a circuit called a product detector. The incoming DSBSC signal
is multiplied by a pure sinewave that must be the same frequency as the suppressed carrier. This
sinewave is generated by the receiver and known as a local carrier.
1.

Connect the setup as shown in Figure 8. This setup can be represented by the block diagram in
Figure 9. Locate the Tuneable Low pass filter and set its Gain control to about the middle of its
travel.

Figure 8: Setup for recovering the message signal using product detector

Figure 9: Block diagram representing the setup in Figure 8

2.
3.

Turn the Tuneable Low pass filter modules soft Cut-off Frequency Adjust control fully clockwise.
Save the demodulated DSBSC signal and the message signal.

Part C. Generating an SSBSC signal using simple message

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

1.

Connect the setup as in Figure 10 below:

Locate the Phase

Shifter module and set
the Phase Change
control to 180O.

Insert the black

plugs of the
oscilloscope leads
into a ground
(GND) socket

Set the Phase

Shifters module
Phase Adjust
control to the
middle of its travel

Set the scope

timebase control to
view two or more
of the two signals
Check that the two
signals are out of
phase of each
other (doesnt
matter the
difference)

Figure 10
3. The setup in Figure 10 is to set up two message signals that are out of phase of each other, and
can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 11 below:

Figure 11
4. Modify the setup as shown in figure 12 below (dotted line shows lead already in place):

Figure 12

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

5. Locate the adder module and set G and g controls to about middle of their travel.
6. Modify the setup as shown in Figure 13 to produce the SSB signal represented by the block diagram
in Figure 14 below:

Figure 13
Figure 14

Message Signal
To Ch. 1

7. Save the Message and SSB signal waveforms.

The next few instructions get you to make fine adjustment necessary to turn the setup into a true SSB
modulator.
8. Turn the modules G control fully anti-clockwise. This removes the signal on the Adder modules
A input from the setups output.
9. Adjust the Adders g control to obtain a 4Vp-p output.
10. Disconnect the patch lead to the Adder modules B input. This removes the signal on the Adder
modules B input from the setup.
11. Adjust the Adders G control to obtain a 4Vp-p output.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LABORATORY

12. Reconnect the patch lead to the Adders B input. The gains of the Adder modules inputs are now
nearly the same.
13. Vary the Phase Shifter modules Phase Adjust control left and right and observe effect on the
envelopes of the setups output..
14. Adjust Phase Shifter modules Phase Adjust control to make the envelopes as flat as possible. The
phase difference between the two messages will now be nearly 90O.
15. Set the timebase of the oscilloscope to 50 s/div. Save the Message signal waveforms.
16. Adjust the Timebase until at least two cycle of the SSB signal waveform is visible. Save the SSB
waveform.
Part D. Using product detector to recover the message
1. Construct the connections to recover the message using product detector.
2. Save the modulated and demodulated SSB waveforms.
3. Save the original message and the demodulated message waveforms.

E.

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

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

Message and DSBSC signal waveforms.

Over-modulated signal waveform.
Modulated and demodulated waveform.
Message and SSBSC signal waveforms before fine adjustments.
Message and SSBSC signal waveforms after fine adjustments.
Modulated and demodulated SSBSC waveforms.
Original and demodulated message waveforms.

F. DISCUSSIONS
1.

Which sideband has been suppressed? Draw frequency spectrum of the SSBSC signal.

2.

Measure the VUSB or VLSB and write the mathematical equation of SSBSC signal.

3.

Explain how product detector recovers the message signal.