AM Calculations

Amplitude Modulation
• Definitions (Again):
• The process of changing the Amplitude of a relatively high
frequency carrier signal in proportion with the instantaneous value
of the modulating signal (information)
• A process of translating information signal from the low band
frequency to high band frequency
• Amplitude of the carrier signal varies with the information signal
• The modulated signal consists of CARRIER SIGNAL, UPPER
SIDEBAND and LOWER SIDEBAND signals
ITU Radio Emissions Types
• The International Telecommunications Union uses an agreed set of
codes or designations to easily describe a format and modulation for
a radio transmission.
• The ITU radio emission designations define many aspects of the
signal: the type of modulation, bandwidth and the type of
information being carried.
Radio emission types designators
format
BBBB 123 45
Where:
BBBB are characters that define the bandwidth
Character "1" is a letter indicating the type of modulation
Character "2" is a digit that indicates the type of modulating signal
Character "3" is a letter indicating the type of information being
transmitted
Character "4" is an optional letter indicating the practical details of the
transmitted information
Character "5" is an optional letter indicating details about any
multiplexing, if used.
Radio emission types designators
format
A1B
Where:
Character “A" is a letter indicating the type of modulation
Character “1" is a digit that indicates the type of modulating signal
Character “B" is a letter indicating the type of information being
transmitted
Character 1- Type of Modulation
N Unmodulated carrier
A Double-sideband amplitude modulation (e.g. AM broadcast radio)
H Single-sideband with full carrier
R Single-sideband with reduced or variable carrier
J Single-sideband with suppressed carrier (e.g. Shortwave utility and amateur stations)
B Independent sideband (two sidebands containing different signals)
C Vestigial sideband (e.g. NTSC)
F Frequency modulation (e.g. FM broadcast radio)
G Phase modulation
D Combination of AM and FM or PM
P Sequence of pulses without modulation
K Pulse amplitude modulation
L Pulse width modulation
M Pulse position modulation
Q Sequence of pulses, phase or frequency modulation within each pulse
V Combination of pulse modulation methods
W Combination of any of the above
X None of the above
Character 2 – Type of Modulating
Signal
0 No modulating signal
1 One channel containing digital information, no subcarrier
2 One channel containing digital information, using a subcarrier
3 One channel containing analog information
7 More than one channel containing digital information
8 More than one channel containing analog information
9 Combination of analog and digital channels
X None of the above
Character 3 – Type of
Transmitted Information
N No transmitted information
A Aural telegraphy, intended to be decoded by ear, such as Morse code
B Electronic telegraphy, intended to be decoded by machine
C Facsimile (still images)
D Data transmission, telemetry or telecommand (remote control)
E Telephony (voice or music intended to be listened to by a human)
F Video (television signals)
W Combination of any of the above
X None of the above
ITU Designations
Designation Description
A3E Double sideband full carrier – the basic Amplitude
Modulation scheme
R3E Single sideband reduced carrier
H3E Single sideband full carrier
J3E Single Sideband suppressed carrier
B8E Independent sideband emission
C3F Vestigial sideband
Lincompex Linked compressor – expander (a submode of any of the
above ITU emission modes
The AM Envelope
• AM Double Sideband Full Carrier (AM DSBFC) is the most commonly
used and the oldest form of AM modulation
• The outline of the positive and negative peaks of the carrier
frequency re-create the exact shape of the modulating signal known
as envelope
• The repetition rate (frequency) of the envelope is equal to the
frequency of the modulating signal
The Generation of AM Envelope
Modulation index (Coefficient of
Modulation/Modulation
Factor/Degree of Modulation)
• Used to describe the amount of amplitude change present in an AM
waveform

𝟏
𝑬𝑴 = (𝑽𝑴𝑨𝑿 − 𝑽𝑴𝑰𝑵)
𝟐

𝟏
𝑬𝑪 = (𝑽𝑴𝑨𝑿 + 𝑽𝑴𝑰𝑵)
𝟐
Modulation index (Coefficient of
Modulation/Modulation
Factor/Degree of Modulation)
• What is the degree of modulation required to establish a desirable
AM communication link?

Answer: maintain a modulation index m<1.0

• For a successful retrieval of the original transmitted information at

the receiver end
Modulation Index
• If the modulating signal is pure, single frequency sine wave and the
process is symmetrical, then the modulating index can be derived as
follows:
1
(𝑉𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝑉𝑀𝐼𝑁)
𝑚= 2
1
(𝑉𝑀𝐴𝑋 + 𝑉𝑀𝐼𝑁)
2

𝑽𝑴𝑨𝑿 − 𝑽𝑴𝑰𝑵
m=
𝑽𝑴𝑨𝑿+ 𝑽𝑴𝑰𝑵
AM Frequency Spectrum and
Bandwidth
• An AM modulator is a Non linear device
• Nonlinear mixing results in a complex output envelope consisting of
the carrier frequency (fc) and the sum (fc + fm) and difference (fc – fm)
frequencies called (cross products)
AM Frequency Spectrum and
Bandwidth
• The frequency spectrum of AM waveform contains 3 parts:
• A component at the carrier frequency fc
• Upper sideband whose highest frequency component is at fc + fm
• Lower sideband whose highest frequency component is at fc - fm

• Note:
• Sideband – component above and below the center frequency,
contains all the original message but not the carrier
Power Calculations
• In any electrical circuit, the power dissipated is equal to the voltage
squared (rms) divided by the resistance.
• The power in an unmodulated carrier is:

𝑽𝑪𝟐
𝑷𝑪 =
𝟐𝑹
• Where:
• PC = Peak carrier power (watts)
• VC = Peak carrier voltage (volts)
• R = load resistance (ohms)
Power Calculations
• The upper and lower sideband powers
𝑚𝑉𝐶 2
( ) 𝑚2𝑉 2
𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵 = 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 = 2 =
𝐶
2𝑅 8𝑅

𝒎𝟐
PLSB = PUSB = 𝑷𝑪
𝟒
Where:
PLSB = Lower sideband power (watts)
PUSB = Upper sideband power (watts)
PC = Carrier power (watts)
m = modulation index
Power Calculations
• Total power in an AM wave

𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝑪 + 𝑷𝑼𝑺𝑩 + 𝑷𝑳𝑺𝑩
• In terms of carrier power

𝒎𝟐 Since carrier power in

𝑷𝑻 = 𝑷𝑪 𝟏 + modulated wave is the same

as unmodulated wave, the
𝟐 carrier power is unaffected by
modulation process
Power Spectrum for AM wave
Current Calculations

𝒎𝟐
𝑰𝒕 = 𝑰𝒄 𝟏+
𝟐
Where:
It = Total output current (amperes)
IC = Carrier current (amperes)
m = modulation index
Simultaneous Modulation
• When several frequencies simultaneously amplitude modulate a
carrier:

𝒎𝒕 = 𝒎𝟏𝟐 + 𝒎𝟐𝟐 + 𝒎𝟑𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝒎𝒏𝟐

Where:
m1,m2,m3 = modulation index in different inputs
mt = total modulation index
Standard Amplitude Modulation
• Advantages – simple with proven reliability and low cost
• Two drawbacks – wasteful power and bandwidth
• Sidebands contain the same information therefore occupy large bandwidth
• The carrier contains no information
Other Types of AM
• Double Sideband, Full Carrier
• Double Sideband, Suppressed Carrier
• Single Sideband, Suppressed Carrier
Double Sideband Full Carrier
(DSBFC)
𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝑪 + 𝑷𝑼𝑺𝑩 + 𝑷𝑳𝑺𝑩

𝒎𝟐
𝑷𝑻 = 𝑷𝑪 𝟏 +
𝟐
 Double Sideband Suppressed
Carrier (DSBSC)
Carrier suppressed

𝑷𝒄𝒎𝟐
𝑷𝑻 = 𝑷𝑪 +
𝟐
sidebands

𝑷𝒄𝒎𝟐
Transmitting both the sidebands 𝑷𝑻 =
without the carrier hence improved 𝟐
power efficiency
 Single Sideband Suppressed
Carrier (SSBSC)

𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝑪 + 𝑷𝑼𝑺𝑩 + 𝑷𝑳𝑺𝑩

𝑷𝒄𝒎𝟐 𝑷𝒄𝒎𝟐
𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝑪 + +
𝟒 𝟒
Further improved by sending only 𝑷𝒄𝒎𝟐
one sideband – less power and only 𝑷𝒕 =
half of the BW is used 𝟒
Percent Power Savings
• DSBSC
𝑷𝑫𝑺𝑩𝑭𝑪 − 𝑷𝑫𝑺𝑩𝑺𝑪
%𝑷𝑺 = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑷𝑫𝑺𝑩𝑭𝑪
• SSBSC

𝑷𝑫𝑺𝑩𝑭𝑪 − 𝑷𝑺𝑺𝑩𝑺𝑪
%𝑷𝑺 = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑷𝑫𝑺𝑩𝑭𝑪
AM - SSB Applications
• Systems which require minimum bandwidth – telephone multiplex
system
• Point to point communications at frequencies below 30MHz – mobile
communications, military, navigation radio
AM – Vestigial Sideband
• VSB is a type of AM transmission where the carrier, one sideband and
a part of the other sideband is being transmitted

• Application – TV broadcasting for video transmission

• Audio Signal – transmitted by FM
• Video Signal – transmitted by VSB