Transmission bandwidth of FM signals

• Theoretically, an FM signal consists of infinite number of side

frequencies so the bandwidth required to transmit such signals is
infinite

• Practically, the FM signal is limited to finite number of side frequencies

with specified amount of distortion
 Carson’s rule
• Carson rule gives the approximate value of transmission bandwidth of
FM signal irrespective of the modulation index
1
BT  2f  2 f m  2f (1 )

 Transmission bandwidth of FM signals
Bandwidth in WBFM:
• WBFM contain  sidebands (spectral components).
• Max. theoretical bandwidth in WBFM =  (Max. Practical BW = 200 KHz
with 20 KHz guardbands).
• In WBFM, carrier power 𝑃C and sideband power 𝑃SB are dependent on
modulation index β.
• In WBFM, only significant sidebands are transmitted.
• A significant side band have amplitude  1% of unmodulated carrier
amplitude.
𝑆𝑓 𝐴c
𝐽
2 0β

1% of A c 𝐽0 β
⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 2

—𝑓c 𝑓c →𝑓
 Universal curve for evaluating the 1% bandwidth of FM wave
• Carlson’s rule is simple to use, but it does not always provide a good estimate
of the bandwidth

• Define the transmission bandwidth as up to the band which is greater than

1% of the carrier amplitude.

• The transmission bandwidth is defined as

BT  2nmax f m

• nmax is the largest value of n that satisfies |Jn(β)>0.01|

• The value of n varies with the modulation index and can be determined
from the tabulated values of Bessel function
Universal curve for evaluating the 1% bandwidth of FM wave

Bandwidth in WBFM:
1% Bandwidth:
In this method of BW measurement, the no. of spectral components included
in WBFM signal is such that the amplitude of last spectral components is at
least 1% amplitude of the carrier signal.

𝐴c
𝐽
2 0β

1% of A c 𝐽0 β
⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 2

1% BW

• The transmission bandwidth is defined as

BT  2nmax f m
Universal curve for evaluating the 1% bandwidth of FM wave

Bandwidth in WBFM:
1% Bandwidth:
In this method of BW measurement, the no. of spectral components included in WBFM
signal is such that the amplitude of last spectral components is at least 1% amplitude of
the carrier signal.
Bessel table (n vs β)
Universal curve for evaluating the 1% bandwidth of FM wave
Using the table in the previous page, we can draw the universal curve
which normalizes the bandwidth with respect to the frequency deviation.
 Deviation ratio and Percentage modulation
• Deviation ratio is defined as the ratio of the maximum frequency
deviation Δf to the maximum modulating signal frequency fm

fmax
D
f mmax

• Percentage modulation is defined as the ratio of the actual frequency

deviation Δfact to the maximum frequency deviation Δfmax.

f actual
% mod ulation 
fmax
 Problems
• (a). Determine the peak frequency deviation and modulation index for
the FM modulator with a deviation sensitivity 5 KHz/V and a modulating
signal Vm(t)=2cos(2πХ2000t)
• (b). Determine the peak phase deviation and modulation index for the
FM modulator with a deviation sensitivity 2.5 rad/V and a modulating
signal Vm(t)=2cos(2πХ2000t)
 Problems
• (a). Determine the peak frequency deviation and modulation index for
the FM modulator with a deviation sensitivity 5 KHz/V and a modulating
signal Vm(t)=2cos(2πХ2000t)
• (b). Determine the peak phase deviation for the FM modulator with a
deviation sensitivity 2.5 rad/V and a modulating signal
Vm(t)=2cos(2πХ2000t)

f  k f vm  10KHz   k p v m  5rad

f
 5
fm
 Problems
• An FM wave is represented by the equation
6 4
VFM (t)  10sin[810 t  6sin 310 t]

• Calculate the modulating frequency, carrier frequency, modulation index,

frequency deviation
 Problems
• An FM wave is represented by the equation
6 4
VFM (t)  10sin[810 t  6sin 310 t]
• Calculate the modulating frequency, carrier frequency, modulation index,
frequency deviation
• Comparing with the standard FM equation

VFM (t)  Ac cos[2f ct   sin 2f mt]

f m  4.77KHz

f c  1.27MHz

 6
f  28.62KHz
 Problems
• A sinusoidal modulating waveform of amplitude 5 V and a frequency of 2
KHz is applied to FM generator, which has a frequency sensitivity of 40
Hz/volt. Calculate the frequency deviation, modulation index, and
bandwidth.
 Problems
• A sinusoidal modulating waveform of amplitude 5 V and a frequency of 2
KHz is applied to FM generator, which has a frequency sensitivity of 40
Hz/volt. Calculate the frequency deviation, modulation index, and
bandwidth.
f  k f vm  200Hz
f
  0.1
fm

NBFM , BW  2 f m  4KHz
 Problems
• An FM wave is represented by the equation

VFM (t)  20cos[8 106 t  9sin 2 103 t]

• Calculate the frequency deviation, bandwidth and power

 Problems
• An FM wave is represented by the equation

VFM (t)  20cos[8 106 t  9sin 2 103 t]

• Calculate the frequency deviation, bandwidth and the average power

f  fm  9KHz

BW  2(f  f m )  20KHz
Vc2
P  200W
2R
 Problems
• In India, the maximum value of frequency deviation is fixed at 75 KHz for
commercial FM broadcasting by radio. If we take modulating frequency
is 15 KHz, which is typically the maximum audio frequency of interest in
FM transmission, find the deviation ratio and compare the bandwidth
obtained using Carson rule and universal curve method.
 Problems
• In India, the maximum value of frequency deviation is fixed at 75 KHz for
commercial FM broadcasting by radio. If we take modulating frequency
is 15 KHz, which is typically the maximum audio frequency of interest in
FM transmission, find the deviation ratio and compare the bandwidth
obtained using Carson rule and universal curve method.
fmax
D 5
f m max
BT  2f  2 f m  180KHz

BT  2nmax fm = 16 * 15 KHz = 240 KHz

• The typical bandwidth required is 200 KHz for each FM transmitter. So,
Carson rule underestimates the bandwidth by 10%
Bessel table (n vs β)