Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University

Department of Electrical Engineering Document Number: Version: 1.2

SNU/MAN/EHS/EL/01 Effective Date: 02/01/2023
Title: Communication Engineering Lab Manuals Pages 8

LAB: 04-Part (a)

Frequency Modulation & Demodulation (Hardware)
TITLE: Hardware implementation of Frequency Modulation & Demodulation.

OBJECTIVES:
1. Generation of Frequency Modulation using IC 8038 (VCO).
2. Measurement of Frequency Deviation (Δf), Modulation Index and Bandwidth (BW).
3. Design of Demodulator using IC 565 (PLL) and RC Low Pass Filter.

MATERIALS / COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT: DSO, Function Generator (Dual channel), Resistors,
Capacitors, IC 8038 & IC 565 and Bread-board.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:
Frequency Modulation (FM): It is a process in which the frequency of the carrier is varied in accordance
with the instantaneous value of modulating voltage.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

+10V

-10V
Transmitter Receiver

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IMPORTANT NOTE: To demodulate FM signal using PLL, the center frequencies (fO) of both Modulator
(IC 8038) and Demodulator (IC 565) should be matched.
1) Implement the Modulator circuit (transmitter) on breadboard. Connect +10V & -10V DC power
supply to circuit properly.
2) Observe Centre Frequency (fO) of VCO (IC 8038 at pin 2) & save graphs & record these values in the
given table1.
3) Implement the Demodulator circuit (Receiver) on breadboard. Connect +10V & -10V DC power
supply to circuit properly.
4) Observe Centre Frequency (fO) of PLL (IC 565 at pin 4 or pin 5). Save graphs & record these values
in the given table 1.
5) Cut-off frequency of RC Low Pass Filter: f0 = 1/(2πRC) =………………………..
Table1: VCO& PLL study
Calculated value Measured value
(f0) = 0.33/(RC)
IC 8038 (VCO)
IC 565 (PLL)

OBSERVATIONS:

Where J0 (β) = 1- (β/2)2, Jn (β) = 1/ n! (β/2) n, for n ≠ 1

I. Constant frequency (fm) and varying amplitude (Vm)

1) Keep the frequency of modulating signal constant (e.g. fm = 1 KHz).
2) Vary the amplitude of message signal (Vm) from1 Vpp to 2Vpp and measure fmax & fmin.
3) Detect the modulating signal corresponding to each value of Vm.
4) Calculate all the given parameters and tabulate your results in table2.
Table2: FM generation using VCO, varying Vm.
fm Vm Frequency Modulation Band Width Sidebands Detected Signal Power
(KHz) (Vp-p) Deviation Index (BW)=
(∆f) = (β) = ∆f/ fm 2 (fm + ∆f ) Time Freq.
(fmax−fmin)/2 Domain Domain
No. Amp Freq. Vm fm Vm fm
1.0
1 1.5
2.0

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II. Constant amplitude (Vm) and varying frequency (fm)
1) Keep the amplitude of message signal constant (Vm = 1.5Vp-p).
2) Vary the frequency of message signal (fm) as per the given table and measure fmax and fmin.
3) Detect the modulating signal for each setting of fm.
4) Calculate all the given parameters and tabulate your results in table3.
Table3: FM generation using VCO, varying fm
fm Vm Frequency Modulatio Band Width Sidebands Demodulated signal Power
(KHz) (Vp-p) Deviation n Index (BW)
(∆f)= (β) 2 (fm + ∆f ) Time Freq.
(fmax−fmin)/2 = ∆f/ fm Domain Domain
No. Amp Freq. Vm fm Vm fm
0.5
1.0 1.5
2.0
2.5
Results:

Conclusion:

Hardware Description of ICs

IC 565 (PLL) IC 8038
Frequency range: 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz Frequency Range: 0.001Hz to 300kHz

LM565: A general purpose PLL (Phase Locked Loop) IC designed for demodulation, frequency multiplication and
frequency division. The device mainly consists of two components, one is voltage controller oscillator and other is
phase detector. In which VCO is designed for highly linear operation and PD with good carrier suppression.

ICL 8038: The ICL8038 waveform generator is a monolithic integrated circuit capable of producing high accuracy
sine, square, triangular, saw tooth and pulse waveforms with a minimum of external components.

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LAB: 04-Part (b)

Frequency Modulation & Demodulation using Training Kit

OBJECTIVE(S):

1) Study the generation of Frequency Modulation and determine Modulation Index, Carrier
Swing, Frequency Deviation Δf and Band Width (BW).
2) Study the different types of demodulators and observe the demodulated signal for each
demodulator.
3) Study of Amplitude Limiter.

MATERIALS / COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT: DSO, FM Training Kit and patch chords.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:
1) Frequency Modulator (transmitter)
1a) Varactor Diode Modulator: The Varactor diode is a semiconductor diode that is designed to
behave as a voltage controlled capacitor. If the information signal voltage is applied to the varactor
diode, the capacitance will therefore be increased or decreased in sympathy with the incoming signal.
C1 is a DC blocking capacitor to provide DC isolation between the oscillator and the collector of the
transmitter. L1 is an RF choke which allows the information signal to pass through the varactor but
blocks the RF signals.
The operation of the Varactor modulator:
1. The information signal is applied to the base of the input transistor and appears amplified and
inverted at the collector.
2. This low frequency signal passes through the RF choke and is applied across the Varactor diode.
3. The Varactor diode changes its capacitance in according to the information signal and therefore
changes the total value of the capacitance in the tuned circuit.
4. The changing value of capacitance causes the oscillator frequency to increase and decrease
under the control of the information signal. The output is therefore a FM signal

1b) Reactance Modulator:

Operation of the Reactance Modulator:
1. The oscillator and tuned circuit provide the un-modulated carrier frequency and this frequency is
present on the collector of the transistor.
2. The capacitor and the resistor provide the 90° phase shift between the collector voltage and
current. This makes the circuit appear as a capacitor.

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3. The changing information signal being applied to the base has the same effect as changing the bias
voltage applied to the transistor and, this would have the effect of increasing and decreasing the value of
this capacitance.

Expected Graph of FM output:

2) FM DETECTORS:
(a) Quadrature Detector
(b) Phase Locked Loop Detector
(c) Ratio Detector

3) AMPLITUDE LIMITER:
FM amplitude exceeds the upper and lower levels, due to noise or interference. The amplitude limiter removes
these amplitude variations (amplitude of FM wave doesn’t contain the information) from the FM output signal,
so that the input signal to the quadrature detector has constant amplitude.

EXPERIMENT:

1(a). Frequency Modulation using VCO

Procedure:
Before we start the study of Varactor/ reactance modulation techniques we shall study a simple
VCO circuit.
1) Simply connect the audio output to the socket labeled VCO modulation in and observe the FM
modulated waveform on the Oscilloscope at the VCO modulation out terminal.
2) Keep the amplitude of audio output to approximately 4 Vpp and frequency 2 KHz approximately.
Observe a stable FM modulated waveform on DSO.
3) Complete the given table 4.

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Observation Table: Free running frequency of VCO = ………………………
Table4: FM generation using Kit
Vm fm Frequency Modulation Band Demodulated signal
Deviation Index Width
(∆f) (β) = ∆f/ fm (BW)
(fmax−fmin)/2 2 (fm + ∆f ) Time Domain Freq. Domain
Vm fm Vm fm
2Vp-p 1KHz
2Vp-p 2KHz
4Vp-p 2KHz
Modulation index is more sensitive to Vm or fm?

1(b). Frequency Modulation using Varactor modulator

Procedure:
1) Ensure that the following initial conditions exist on the Kit.
a. All Switched Faults in ‘Off’ condition.
b. Keep Amplitude potentiometer (in mixer amplifier block) in fully clockwise position.
c. VCO switch (in phase locked loop detector block) in ‘Off’ position.
2) Connect the output socket of the audio oscillator block to the audio input socket of the modulator
circuit’s block and keep amplitude to zero volts.
3) Set the reactance / varactor switch to the varactor position.
4) Put the varactor modulator’s carrier frequency potentiometer in its midway position, and then
examine TP34. Note that it is a sine wave of approximately 1.2 Vpp, centered on 0V. This is FM
carrier.
5) Now, set the amplitude and frequency of modulating signal as per the given table4 and examine
the FM output at mixer/amplifier block (TP34).
6) Observe the effects of varying the amplitude and frequency of modulating signal; record in given
table4.

1(c). Frequency Modulation using Reactance modulator

Procedure:
1) Ensure that the following initial conditions exist on the Kit.
a. All Switched Faults in ‘Off’ condition.
b. Amplitude potentiometer (in mixer amplifier block) in fully clockwise position.
c. VCO switch (in phase locked loop detector block) in ‘Off’ position.
2) Connect the output socket of the audio oscillator block to the audio input socket of the modulator
circuit’s block and keep amplitude to zero volts.
3) Set the reactance / varactor switch to the Recatance position.
4) Put the Reactance modulator’s carrier frequency potentiometer in its midway position, and then
examine TP34. Note that it is a sine wave of approximately 1.2 Vpp, centered on 0V. This is FM
carrier.
5) Now, set the amplitude and frequency of modulating signal as per the given table and examine the
FM output at mixer/amplifier block(TP34).
6) Observe the effects of varying the amplitude and frequency of modulating signal.

[Link] Detection/Demodulation:

2(a). Quadrature Detector

Procedure:
1) Check the Quadrature Detector block on the FM receiver kit.

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2) Connect FM O/P to I/P of this block and observe the Detector output together with modulating signal. Save
these graphs.
3) Now, connect the output of Detector to Low Pass Filter and examine and observe the output of LPF together
with Detector output. Save these graphs.
4) Observe the FFT of detected signal.

2(b). Ratio Detector

Procedure:
1) Check the Ratio Detector block on the FM receiver kit.
2) Connect FM O/P to I/P of this block and observe the output together with modulating signal. Save these
graphs.
3) Now, connect the output of Ratio Detector to Low Pass Filter and examine and observe the output of LPF
together with Ratio Detector output. Save these graphs.
4) Observe the FFT of detected signal.

(a) Ratio Detector (b) PLL Detector

2(c). Phase Locked Loop Detector (PLL)
Procedure:
1) Check the PLL Detector block on the kit.
2) Connect FM O/P to I/P of PLL block. Keep VCO switch in ‘On’ position and observe the output together
with modulating signal. To observe proper output, tune the “frequency adjust knob”. Save these graphs.
3) Now, connect the output of PLL Detector to Low Pass Filter and examine and observe the output of LPF
together with PLL Detector output. Save these graphs. Note how the quality of the detector's output signal
has been improved by low pass filtering.
4) Observe the FFT of detected signal.

3. Study of Amplitude Limiter:

Investigation of the effect of noise on FM system.
To reduce the effect of amplitude variations, an amplitude limiter block is connected between the FM output
and the input to the quadrature detector.
Procedure:
1) Set the function generator for a sinusoidal output of amplitude 100m Vpp, and frequency 2 KHz, this will
be our 'noise' input.
2) Connect the output of the function generator to the noise input socket in modulator circuit’s block.
Monitor the noise input (at TP5) and the FM output (at TP34). Note that the FM signal is now being
amplitude-modulated by the 'noise' input, in addition to being frequency-modulated by the audio input
from the audio oscillator block. Save these graphs.
3) Connect FM output to the I/P of quadrature detector circuit and examine the output of detector together
with modulating signal.
4) Connect the FM output to the I/P of Amplitude limiter and observe the O/P of limiter together with FM.
Save these graphs. Note that the amplitude variations now removed by amplitude limiter.
5) Now, connect amplitude limiter output to the I/P of quadrature detector circuit and examine the output
of detector together with modulating signal.

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6) Compare the observations of step 3 and step 5.

Results:

Conclusion:

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