Need For Modulation
Need For Modulation
In the modulation process, two signals are used namely the modulating signal and the carrier .
The modulating signal is nothing but the baseband signal or information signal while the carrier is a
high frequency sinusoidal signal .
In the modulation process, some parameter of the carrier wave (such as amplitude, frequency or
phase ) is varied in accordance with the modulating signal . This modulated signal is then transmitted
by the transmitter .
The receiver demodultes the received modulated signal and gets the original information signal back
.
In the process of modulation the carrier wave actually acts as carrier which carries the information
signal from the transmitter to receiver .
Need of Modulation
You may be ask, when the baseband signal can be transmitted directly why to use the modulation ?
The answer is that the baseband transmission has many limitations which can be overcome using
modulation . It is explained below .
In the process of modulation, the baseband signal is translated i.e., shifted from low frequency to
high frequency . This frequency shift is proportional to the frequency of carrier.
Advantages of Modulation
4. Multiplexing is possible
For the transmission of radio signals, the antenna height must be multiple of λ/4 ,where λ is the
wavelength .
λ = c /f
The minimum antenna height required to transmit a baseband signal of f = 10 kHz is calculated as
follows :
The antenna of this height is practically impossible to install .
Now, let us consider a modulated signal at f = 1 MHz . The minimum antenna height is given by,
This antenna can be easily installed practically . Thus, modulation reduces the height of the antenna .
If the baseband sound signals are transmitted without using the modulation by more than one
transmitter, then all the signals will be in the same frequency range i.e. 0 to 20 kHz . Therefore, all
the signals get mixed together and a receiver can not separate them from each other .
Hence, if each baseband sound signal is used to modulate a different carrier then they will occupy
different slots in the frequency domain (different channels). Thus, modulation avoids mixing of
signals .
The frequency of baseband signal is low, and the low frequency signals can not travel long distance
when they are transmitted . They get heavily attenuated .
The attenuation reduces with increase in frequency of the transmitted signal, and they travel longer
distance .
The modulation process increases the frequency of the signal to be transmitted . Therefore, it
increases the range of communication.
4. Multiplexing is possible
Multiplexing is a process in which two or more signals can be transmitted over the same
communication channel simultaneously .
The multiplexing allows the same channel to be used by many signals . Hence, many TV channels can
use the same frequency range, without getting mixed with each other or different frequency signals
can be transmitted at the same time .
With frequency modulation (FM) and the digital communication techniques such as PCM, the effect
of noise is reduced to a great extent . This improves quality of reception .