ABSTRACT
Modulation is the process whereby message information is embedded into a radio frequency carrier. Message information can be transmitted in the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the carrier, or a combination thereof, in either analog or digital format. Analog modulation schemes include amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). Analog modulation schemes are still used today for broadcasting AM/FM radio, but all other communication and broadcast systems now use digital modulation. Digital modulation schemes transmit information using a finite set of waveforms and have a number of advantages over their analog counterparts. Digital modulation is a natural choice for digital sources, for example, computer communications. Source encoding or data compression techniques can reduce the required transmission bandwidth with a controlled amount of signal distortion. Digitally modulated waveforms are also more robust to channel impairments such as delay and Doppler spread, and cochannel and adjacent channel interference. Finally, encryption and multiplexing is easier with digital modulation schemes.
