Frequency Modulation (FM)-The frequency of high frequency

carrier signal is varied according to the instantaneous amplitude

of the modulating signal keeping the amplitude of carrier signal
constant.
𝑣𝑐 = 𝑉𝑐 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + ∅)
𝑣𝑚 = 𝑉𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡
Deviation in frequency from carrier
frequency 𝜔𝑐 (or fc)
𝑓𝑑 ∝ 𝑣𝑚
so 𝑓𝑑 = 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑣𝑚 ............(1)
Frequency of FM wave:
𝑓 = 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑚 𝑡 ............(2)
The instantaneous amplitude of FM wave
𝑣 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 , 𝜃 = 𝑓𝑛(𝜔𝑐 , 𝜔𝑚 )
To find 𝜃,
𝜔 = ⅆ𝜃⁄ⅆ𝑡 or 𝜃= ∫ 𝜔 ⅆ𝑡
where, 𝜔 = 𝜔𝑐 + 𝑘𝜔𝑐 𝑉𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 ..... from (2)

𝜃 = ∫ (𝜔𝑐 + 𝑘𝜔𝑐 𝑉𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡) ⅆ𝑡

𝑘𝜔
= 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜔 𝑐 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑚 𝑡
𝑚

𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
∴ 𝑣𝐹𝑀 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑚 𝑡)
𝑓𝑚
𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝑚𝑓 = modulation index = = 𝛿⁄𝑓
𝑓𝑚 𝑚

where 𝛿 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚

𝛿 → maximum deviation in frequency
In eqn (1), 𝑓𝑑 = 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑣𝑚
𝑓𝑑 = 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 , max. value is for 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 = 1
i.e. 𝑓𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) = 𝛿 = 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
Modulation index in FM is defined as the ratio of maximum deviation in
frequency to the modulating signal frequency.
𝑣𝐹𝑀 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚𝑓 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑚 𝑡)

𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝑣𝐹𝑀 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑚 𝑡)
𝑓𝑚
Bessel Functions -- for analyzing FM signal in frequency domain
sin(𝑥 + 𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑦) = 𝐽𝑜 (𝑏)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 + 𝐽1 (𝑏)[ sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) − sin(𝑥 − 𝑦)] +
𝐽2 (𝑏)[ sin(𝑥 + 2𝑦) + sin(𝑥 − 2𝑦)] + ⋯ ∞
putting 𝑥 = 𝜔𝑐 𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝜔𝑚 𝑡 & 𝑏 = 𝑚𝑓
𝑣𝐹𝑀 = 𝐴{𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 )𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐽1 (𝑚𝑓 )[sin(𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝑚 ) 𝑡 − sin(𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝑚 ) 𝑡 ]
+ 𝐽2 (𝑚𝑓 )[sin(𝜔𝑐 + 2𝜔𝑚 ) 𝑡 + sin(𝜔𝑐 − 2𝜔𝑚 ) 𝑡 + ⋯ ∞}
𝐽𝑛 (co-effs.) – Jacobian Polynomials
𝑚𝑓 2 𝑚𝑓 4
𝑚𝑓 𝑛 1 ( ) ( )
2 2
𝐽𝑛 (𝑚𝑓 ) = ( ) { − + − ⋯ ∞}
2 𝑛! (𝑛 + 1)! 2! (𝑛 + 2)!

𝑛 – order of the Bessel function

𝑚𝑓 2
For 𝑛 = 0, 𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 ) = 1 – ( ) determines the carrier amplitude
2
 Amplitude Spectrum of FM signal
Features of FM signal
• Theoretically, FM signal has infinite number of sidebands and therefore
infinite bandwidth.
• The amplitude of carrier signal is kept constant in frequency modulation,
so the FM signal has constant amplitude. Therefore, the total transmitted
power is constant,
Since, 𝑃 ∝ modulated carrier amplitude (constant) ∝ 𝑉𝑐2
• FM is less affected by noise because FM signal has constant amplitude.
• The modulation index 𝑚𝑓 is not limited.
• Practically, B.W. is determined by significant sideband components

1 or 2% of the carrier

The bandwidth is given by Carson’s Rule,

𝐵. 𝑊 = 2(𝛿 + 𝑓𝑚 ) = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑚𝑓 + 1) ∵ 𝛿 = 𝑚𝑓 𝑓𝑚
Modulation index determines the number of significant sideband components.
(hence B.W)
Eigen values: Values of modulation index for which carrier component
vanishes i.e. becomes zero → 𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 ) = 0

𝑚𝑓 = 2.4, 5.5, 8.6, 11.8, …

𝑚𝑓 ≪ 1 , Then 𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 ) , 𝐽1 (𝑚𝑓 ) have significant amplitudes

FM – Narrowband FM

𝑣 = 𝐴{𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 )𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐽1 (𝑚𝑓 )[𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡 – 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡]}

 𝑚𝑓 2
𝐽𝑜 (𝑚𝑓 ) = 1 – ( ) ≈1 for 𝑚𝑓 < 1
2

Similarly,
𝑚𝑓 𝑚𝑓 𝑚2
𝑓 𝑚𝑓
𝐽1 (𝑚𝑓 ) = ,{ ∵ [1 − ]= }
2 2 4 2

So for NB-FM
𝑚𝑓 𝑚𝑓
𝑣 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐴 ( ) 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡– 𝐴 ( ) 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡
2 2
𝑚𝑉𝑐 𝑚𝑉𝑐
𝑣𝐴𝑀 = 𝑉𝑐 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + ( ) 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡– ( ) 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝑚 )𝑡
2 2
Quadrature Relation between sidebands

𝐵. 𝑊 = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑚𝑓 + 1) , 𝑚𝑓 ≪ 1

= 2𝑓𝑚

𝑚𝑓 > 1 , Wideband FM, 𝐵. 𝑊 = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑚𝑓 )

Analyzing the expression for Bandwidth

𝐵. 𝑊 = 2(𝛿 + 𝑓𝑚 )
𝑖) 𝑓𝑚 → 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 , 𝐵. 𝑊 → 𝛿(𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑓 ) as 𝛿 = 𝑚𝑓 𝑓𝑚
B. W increases with increasing 𝛿 (if 𝑓𝑚 is constant)
𝑖𝑖) 𝛿 is constant 𝐵. 𝑊 → 𝑓𝑚 i.e. B. W increases with increasing 𝑓𝑚
How is FM generated from PM?

Integrate the modulation signal first and then apply phase modulation to get frequency modulation.

How is PM generated from FM?

Differentiate the modulation signal first and then apply frequency modulation to get phase modulation.

Bandwidth Comparison of FM and PM

In general

𝐵. 𝑊 = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑚𝑓 + 1)

In Frequency Modulation
𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝑚𝑓 = modulation index = = 𝛿⁄𝑓
𝑓𝑚 𝑚

𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
so Bandwidth of FM = 2𝑓𝑚 ( +1)
𝑓𝑚

or BW = 2(kfVm + 𝑓𝑚 ) (BW does not increase much with 𝑓𝑚 )

In PM, phase deviation = mp = kpVm

Bandwidth of PM = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑚𝑝 + 1)

or BW = 2𝑓𝑚 (𝑘𝑝𝑉𝑚 + 1) (BW increases linearly with 𝑓𝑚 )

Hence increasing modulating signal frequency has more profound effect on

BW of phase modulation

Application of NBFM
Narrowband FM is widely used for two way radio communications. Although
digital technologies are taking over, NBFM is still widely used and very
effective. Many two way radios or walkie talkies use NBFM, especially those
which conform to the licence-free standards like PMR446 and FRS radio
communications systems.

Many two way radio communications walkie talkies like these PMR446 radios
use narrowband FM. NBFM is ideal for the low cost radio communication
systems, especially those that use small walkie talkies because it can be
implemented with a minimum of amount of circuitry, most of which is low
cost. Although digital technology is becoming much cheaper, narrow band FM
is still very cost effective. These small walkie talkies or other transmitter
receivers providing radio communications, normally have a limited audio
bandwidtth. This is normal for radio communication systems because high
fidelity is not needed - maximum intelligibility is needed along with limited RF
bandwidth. The limited audio bandwidth helps reduce the modulation index,
and hence the bandwidth occupied by the transmission.

Often the distinction between narrow-band FM and wide-band FM in terms of

the modulation index is somewhat arbitrary.
However, most FM signals are either wide-band for high fidelity or narrow-
band for radio communications where bandwidth restrictions are
important. There is normally little in between.

AM & FM
AM Broadcasting → MF(medium freq.) & HF(high freq.)
AM BC Band → Medium wave band → 540 − 1650𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝐵. 𝑊 → 10𝑘𝐻𝑧
FM Broadcasting → VHF(very high freq.) & UHF(ultra high freq.)
FM BC band → 88 − 108𝑀𝐻𝑧
𝐵. 𝑊 → 200𝑘𝐻𝑧 , 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 75𝑘𝐻𝑧
Comparison of AM and FM
AM FM
In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of In frequency modulation, the frequency of
high frequency carrier signal is varied high frequency carrier signal is varied
according to the instantaneous amplitude of according to the instantaneous amplitude of
the modulating signal keeping the frequency the modulating signal keeping the amplitude
of carrier signal constant. of carrier signal constant.
The instantaneous amplitude of AM wave The instantaneous amplitude of AM wave
VAM(t) = A cos ω ct = Vc (1+mcos ω mt)cos ω ct 𝑘𝑓𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝑣𝐹𝑀 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑚 𝑡)
𝑓𝑚
The modulation index in AM is The modulation index in FM is
m = Vm / Vc 𝑚𝑓= 𝛿⁄𝑓
𝑚

The modulation index ,‘m’ is limited to 1 The modulation index , 𝑚𝑓 is not limted

In AM, the information is in amplitude In FM, the information is in frequency

variations so it is more affected by variations and amplitude is constant,
noise. so it is less affected by noise.
If there is any noise, elimination can
be done by limiters
The total transmitted power in AM is
𝑷𝒄 𝒎𝟐
𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝒄 + Total transmitted power is useful
𝟐
There is less useful power, i.e. only
33% for the maximum modulation.
The efficiency, 𝜂 is more (hence FM is
The efficiency, 𝜼 is less
more accurate)

Audio width that can be transmitted is

Audio width is not limited
limited (∵ 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑩. 𝑾)
B.W is large i.e. wider channel width
B.W is small so more channels can be
is required otherwise less number of
accommodated in the band
channels will be accomodated

Simple circuitry Complex circuitry

Large area of reception

The reception is limited to line of sight
∵ MF,HF-sky wave propagation
VHF – Space wave propagation
(ionospheric propagation)
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