EXPERIMENT 3:

Single Sideband Transmission

Submitted by: Reyes, Arvin Christian P.

Submitted to: Engr. Melchizedek Alipio

ECE141L – A22

July 18, 2017

Amplitude Modulation plays an important role in radio technology. It is used in various

applications like broadcast transmissions, air band radio, single sideband, and quadrature amplitude

modulation. In broadcast transmissions, AM is simple to demodulate which means the cost and

production of the radio receivers are feasible. In air band radio, AM is used to ground air radio

communications and serves as two way radio links. For single sideband, AM is still used for HF links by

using a lower bandwidth and giving more use of power.

However, AM Modulation involves transmitting power, which is just mainly wasted on the

carrier. This is disadvantageous since the message you want to convey is located in the sideband

frequencies and not on the carrier. This is where Single Sideband Modulation takes place. Single

Sideband is a form of modulation where only one sideband is used for an audio path in providing signal.

It has high efficiency compared to the usual AM Modulation. The SSB is also widely used in electronic

communications which can be seen in analog televisions.

Figure 1: The derivation of the Single Sideband Modulation.

The aim of this experiment is to describe how a balanced modulator creates a DSB signal,

identify the output of the LSB filter and the process involved, and recognize the power consumption and

bandwidth of the SSB. In measuring these parameters, certain equipment will be used. This equipment is
the oscilloscope which displays the output and input signal with measurements. The waveforms will be

observed in every procedure in observing the behavior of the Balanced Modulator and LSB Filter. These

two circuit blocks will be differentiated by identifying their performance and how it affects the whole

circuit. Output waveforms will be observed in suppressing the carrier and varying the amplitude and

frequencies of the sideband frequencies.

b. Methodology

In this experiment, the ANALOG COMMUNICATIONS circuit board was used. The AM/SSB

TRANSMITTER circuit block is where the experiment will be conducted. Channel 1 probe was

connected to the input of the message signal. The amplitude and frequency of this signal were adjusted to

a 300mVpk-pk, 3kHz sine wave using a function generator. Channel 2 probe was connected to the carrier

signal. The knob on the VCO-LO was adjusted to a 100mVpk-pk amplitude of the carrier signal. The

frequency of the carrier signal was modified in the NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob for a frequency less than

452kHz. The potentiometer knob was turned fully CCW. Then, the channel 2 probe was connected to the

output of the MODULATOR. The potentiometer knob was turned clockwise slowly until the waveform

appears overmodulated. In observing this procedure, the frequencies present in the DSB signal were

identified.
 Figure 2: The output waveform of the AM modulated wave seen as overmodulated.

For the second procedure, an LSB Filter was made by filtering the LSB signal in producing an

SSB signal. The LSB Filter was connected to the MODULATOR using two-post connection, this time

with switch 1 in the ON position. The message signal was again modified to a 300mVpk-pk, 3kHz signal

using the VCO-LO circuit block and the function generator. The channel 2 probe was connected to the

output of the LSB Filter while channel 1 was connected to input M of the MODULATOR. The

NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob was set to a full CCW. The carrier signal was increased by slowly turning the

knob on the CW position.

Figure 3: LSB FILTER output when the carrier signal was increased using the VCO-LO block.
 The output signal at the LSB FILTER shown in channel 2 was measured. Channel 2 was also

triggered and sweeped to a 1μs/DIV until the signal appears like a sine wave. The amplitude of the 3kHz

message signal was varied by adjusting the AF LEVEL knob to know if the 455kHz also varies with

respect to the 3kHz signal. This information was used in determining the amount of the message signal in

the SSB signal. A graph was identified in observing the relationship of the attenuation curve of the filter

present in LSB and USB frequencies. The NEGATIVE SUPPLY knob was slowly turned CW again until

an output signal is seen at the LSB FILTER to know what type of signal and frequencies are present.

Figure 4: The output signal of the LSB FILTER sweeped to a 1μs/DIV.

The oscilloscope was used in observing the carrier, sideband signals, and the AM modulated

wave. It provided the information needed in observing each characteristic of each signal. It displays

measurements such as amplitudes and frequencies which are helpful when modifying a certain parameter

of a signal. Observations were enhanced through the use of volts/division, time/division, and probe

settings.
 Figure 5: The Tektronix Oscilloscope TDS 1001B was used in observing the signals.

c. Results and Discussion

PROCEDURE A – BALANCED MODULATOR: CONVERT THE CARRIER AND MESSAGE

SIGNALS TO A DSB SIGNAL

In this procedure, a DSB signal was produced in a balanced modulator by modulating the carrier with a

message signal. In producing such signal, the difference between the DSB signal and a 100% modulated

AM signal was identified. The output at the balanced modulator is the sum and difference of the

frequencies. The carrier was suppressed using the null potentiometer present at the modulator.

8. The modulated signal on channel 2 appears to be over modulated.

9. The frequencies present in the spectrum of the DSB signal are 449kHz (LSB), 452 kHz (fc), and

455kHz (USB).

PROCEDURE B – LSB FILTER: PRODUCE AN SSB SIGNAL BY FILTERING THE LSB

SIGNAL

In this procedure, the properties of the SSB signal was observed by filtering the LSB signal from the DSB

signal. The frequencies in the bandwidth are identified which are in the passband and which are

attenuated. The frequency onto which the output is seen at the LSB filter is to be identified also.
13. The LSB FILTER’S output signal shown on channel 2 is 100mV.

15. The amplitude of the 455kHz signal varies with the amplitude of the 3kHz message signal.

16. The SSB signal contains 100% of the message signal.

17. The graph of Figure 4-14 (a) shows the relationship of the filter’s attenuation characteristic curve to

the present LSB and USB frequencies being input to the USB FILTER.

18. The type of signal is the LSB FILTER’S output is the Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier.

19. The frequencies in the LSB filter output are from 452 – 458 kHz.

20. The signal in the LSB FILTER’S output is a Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier.

22. The graph of Figure 4-17 (a) represents the sideband frequencies in relationship to the filter’s

attenuation characteristic curve.

d. Conclusion

Single Sideband is a form of modulation where only one sideband is used for an audio path in

providing signal. It has high efficiency compared to the usual AM Modulation. The SSB is also widely

used in electronic communications which can be seen in analog televisions. Single Sideband Modulation

can still be seen as AM Modulation, but with components suppressed or removed. SSB Modulation starts

with the usual AM waveform, which shows a complete signal with the carrier and the sidebands. The
sideband is divided into the lower and upper sidebands. The two signals appear to be mirrored of each

other when modulated properly. However, this signal consumes high power and is limited on the

frequency spectrum. To solve this problem, the carrier is reduced and one of the sidebands is removed

from the signal.

There are different forms of Single Sideband Modulation namely: the single sideband suppressed

carrier, the single sideband reduced carrier, the single sideband full carrier, the single sideband vestigial

carrier, and the independent sideband. This experiment focused on the SSBSC which signal only contains

one sideband. Because not having a carrier, this signal is reinserted in the receiver and slight changes in

the pitch of the audio can be noticed. This form of SSB Modulation is widely used for communications

application on the high frequency portion of the radio spectrum.

Figure 6: The Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier.

In reducing the carrier, a balanced modulator mixes the signal and the radio frequency carrier,

leaving the signal with the two sidebands. The output of this modulator is a DSBSC or a double sideband

suppressed carrier signal, which still holds the information without the carrier. AM Modulation can still

take place by taking the output of this modulator and adding the carrier once again. An LSB filter

attenuates the frequencies in the bandwidth. This is also called as the narrow-bandwidth filter which is
used to produce an SSB signal. This signal is still useful in transmitting information since each sideband

contains the complete intelligence of the message signal.

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