EEE 107 Introduction to Communication Systems 1

Module 2: Measurements
Objectives:
1. Measure signal power using TIMS and determine its accuracy.

2. Measure and analyze the spectra of dierent signals.

3. Describe the time-domain and frequency-domain eects of dierent types of lters on a signal.

4. Incorporate other simulation and measurement equipment with TIMS.

5. Investigate the eect of transmission system bandwidth on signals.

1 Power Measurements
1.1 Preparation

Basic Modules: ADDER, AUDIO OSCILLATOR, MULTIPLIER

Equipment: OSCILLOSCOPE, RMS VOLTMETER
This experiment is concerned with the measurement of the power in modulated signals. It uses an RMS
voltmeter to make the measurements, each of which can be conrmed by independent calculation, and
indirect measurement using the oscilloscope.
The measurement of absolute power is seldom required when working with TIMS.
More often than not you will be interested in measuring power ratios, or power changes. In this case an
rms volt meter is very useful. You will nd that the accuracy of this meter is more than adequate for
measurements of all signals met in the TIMS environment.
If the magnitude of the voltage V appearing across a resistor of `R' ohms is known to be Vrms Volts,
then the power being dissipated in that resistor is, by denition:

2
Vrms
P ower = W att
R

Table 1 gives some examples which you should check analytically. During the experiment you can conrm
them with TIMS models and instrumentation. Assume that the resistance is normalized to 1Ω.

1.2 EXPERIMENT

You will now model the signals in Table 1, and make some measurements to conrm the calculations
shown there.
For each signal it will be possible to measure the individual component amplitudes with the oscilloscope,
by conveniently removing all the others, and then to calculate the expected rms value of the composite
signal.
Then the rms value of the signal itself can be measured, using the RMS meter. In this way you can
check the performance of the voltmeter against predictions.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

University of the Philippines, Diliman
EEE 107 Introduction to Communication Systems 2

1.2.1 Single Tone

T1 Model the signal #1 of Table 1. Use the AUDIO OSCILLATOR module. It is assumed that you
can measure the amplitude `V' on your oscilloscope. It is also assumed that you agree with the calculated
magnitude of the rms voltage as given in the Table. Check the RMS voltmeter reading.
√
The two readings should be in the ratio 2 : 1. If this is not so you should either determine a calibration constant to apply
to this (and subsequent) oscilloscope reading, or adjust the oscilloscope sensitivity. This correction (or adjustment) will
ensure that subsequent readings should have the expected relative magnitudes. But note that their absolute magnitudes
have not been checked. This is not of interest in this experiment.

1.2.2 Two Tone

T2 Model the two-tone signal #2 of Table 1. Use the 2kHz MESSAGE signal in the MASTER
SIGNALS module for the second tone. You can combine the two in an ADDER, and thus examine and
measure each one independently at the ADDER output (as per the previous module). Compare the
reading of the RMS voltmeter with predictions.
T3 Adjust the amplitudes of the signal examined in the previous Task to equality. Conrm that
the peak-to-peak amplitude, as measured on the oscilloscope, can lead directly to a knowledge of the
individual amplitudes V1 and V2 . Show this to your instructor before proceeding.

1.2.3 Modulated
T4 Model the signal #3 of Table 1. Use the 2kHz MESSAGE signal in the MASTER SIGNALS
module for the second sinusoid. The frequency of the rst sinusoid should be a multiple of the second.
Compare the reading of the RMS voltmeter with predictions.

Table 1: Common message signals

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

University of the Philippines, Diliman
EEE 107 Introduction to Communication Systems 3

2 Spectral Measurements
2.1 Preparation

Basic Modules: ADDER, AUDIO OSCILLATOR, MULTIPLIER, TUNEABLE LPF

Equipment: OSCILLOSCOPE
A spectrum analyzer is a device used to examine the frequency spectra of signals. A spectrum analyzer
may be implemented either in analog or digital.

(a) Principle (b) Practical

Figure 1: Spectrum analyzer block diagram

The principle of an analog spectrum analyzer is illustrated in Figure 1a. The bandpass lter has a tunable
center frequency. This center frequency is swept through the range of frequencies to be measured. When
the input signal has a component located at the center frequency of the bandpass lter, an output
registers. The frequency resolution of the instrument is determined by the lter bandwidth.
The above implementation of a spectrum analyzer is not practical since tunable bandpass lters are very
hard to manufacture. An alternative approach uses the principles of a superheterodyne receiver (which
will be discussed in more detail in later lecture classes), as shown in Figure 1b.
Instead of using a tunable bandpass lter, the input signal is mixed (multiplied) with the output of a
tunable oscillator. Recall that multiplying a signal with a sinusoid shifts the frequency components of
the signal up and down by the sinusoid's frequency. As an example, multiplying two sinusoids with
frequencies of 9 KHz and 10 KHz results in a signal with frequency components at 1 KHz (10 KHz 
9 KHz) and 19 KHz (10 KHz + 9 KHz). The shifted component of interest here is that shifted down.
If the input signal has a component at the same frequency as the tunable oscillator, an output signal is
produced. The lowpass lter is needed so that only the components shifted down are extracted.
On the other hand, a digital spectrum analyzer uses the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), a mathematical
process that separates a signal into its frequency components. The signal to be analyzed may be sent
to a computer, and computer programs can easily apply the necessary transforms to extract the desired
information.

2.2 Experiment

2.2.1 Generate a test signal

T5 Set an AUDIO OSCILLATOR to output a sinusoid with a frequency of 1 kHz. You may check the
output frequency using the FREQUENCY COUNTER or an oscilloscope.

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University of the Philippines, Diliman
EEE 107 Introduction to Communication Systems 4

T6 For the second sinusoid, the 2kHz MESSAGE signal from the MASTER SIGNALS module will be
used. This is useful for generating subsequent 2 kHz signals or any arbitrary low frequency signal.
T7 Using an ADDER, add the two sinusoids. Set the gain of the 1 kHz sinusoid to produce a 2V
peak-to-peak sinusoid, and the gain of the 2 kHz sinusoid to produce a 1V peak-to-peak sinusoid. Use
the oscilloscope to accurately set the gains for the two sinusoids. The output of the ADDER is the test
signal we will be analyzing.

2.2.2 Makeshift Spectrum Analyzer

T8 Display the test signal in the oscilloscope. Set the trigger control to either CH1 or CH2. Set the
oscilloscope to display MATH mode, then select FFT mode to see the spectrum of the test signal. This
oscilloscope feature will be our makeshift spectrum analyzer. You can adjust the center frequency and
frequency resolution by using the oscilloscope controls. Show the magnitude spectrum to your instructor.
For the experiments to be conducted using TIMS, the absolute amplitudes of the frequency components are not important.
More value is placed on knowing the relative amplitudes of the frequency components we are examining.

T9 Observe the ratio of the amplitudes of the 2 kHz and 1 kHz signals as displayed in the magnitude
spectra. Verify that your makeshift spectrum analyzer works acceptably. Try modifying the ADDER
gain and observe if the magnitude spectrum is aected.
T10 Produce a new test signal by multiplying two sinusoids with equal amplitudes and frequencies of
5 kHz and 2 kHz. Analyze this new signal as before using your makeshift spectrum analyzer. Show the
magnitude spectrum to your instructor.

2.2.3 Eects of Filters on Signals

T11 You will rst analyze the 3kHz LPF which is contained within the HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
module. Set the LPF SELECT switch to IN. Take the output of the AUDIO OSCILLATOR and use it
as the input to the HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER. Using your oscilloscope, observe the output amplitude
of the lter when the input sinusoid is: 1 kHz, 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 9 kHz. Tabulate the gain (in dB) for
each frequency.
T12 Devise a method to nd the -3dB frequency of the 3 kHz LPF .
T13 You will now analyze the TUNEABLE LPF. Set the FREQUENCY RANGE SELECT switch
to WIDE. Turn the TUNE knob fully clockwise. Input a 1 kHz sinusoid and display the lter output
on the oscilloscope. Adjust the gain of the TUNEABLE LPF so that the passband gain is 0dB. Set the
cut-o frequency of the lter to 5 KHz.
T14 Add a 2 kHz sinusoid and a 9 kHz sinusoid. Use this as the input to the LPF. Observe the output
using an oscilloscope.
T15 Display the magnitude spectra of the input and output of the TUNEABLE LPF. Show your plots
to your instructor.
The AUDIO OSCILLATOR is capable of producing a TTL output. This output has two levels: 0V and
5V. This TTL output is compatible with the TUNEABLE LPF input. (Note that not all analog inputs
can accept TTL-level signals or vice versa. Ask your instructor rst before performing these types of
connections.)
T16 Produce a 1 kHz square wave using the TTL output of the AUDIO OSCILLATOR . Use this as
the input to the TUNEABLE LPF .
T17 Observe the time-domain eect of the LPF on the square wave using your oscilloscope.
T18 Plot the magnitude spectra of the ltered square wave. Show this to the instructor.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

University of the Philippines, Diliman