Faculty of Computing,

Engineering & Technology

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK
Communications
COMMS (CE700038-2)
Alison L Carrington
C203
A.L.Carrington@staffs.ac.uk
www.fcet.staffs.ac.uk/alg1
2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Overview
Why is modulation is needed?
What is modulation?
Digital modulation & demodulation techniques
Obtain SNR of system by:
Signal Power
Noise Power

Determine the performance of different Digital

Mod/Demod techniques with different amounts
of noise

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Introduction

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Often send information in a digital form

As binary words, bits represented by 1s & 0s
Could be from a keyboard, characters encoded as
1s & 0s
Or a microphone (speech)
Or a temperature sensor
converted to binary form by A/D converter.

Why do we need to modulate?

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Why modulate?
The purpose of a communication system is to
transfer information from a source to a
destination

Problems arise in baseband transmissions:

Noise
external & circuit noise reduces the signal-to-noise (S/N)
ratio at the receiver, (Rx) reducing the quality of the
output.

Not able to fully utilise the available bandwidth:

telephone quality speech has a bandwidth 3kHz
co-axial cable has a bandwidth of 100's of Mhz.
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

What is Modulation? #1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

A message signal containing information is used to

control parameters of a carrier signal
i.e. the information is embedded onto the carrier

The message can either be:

Analogue m(t)
Digital d(t), sequence of 1's and 0's
When message is
analogue = Analogue Modulation
digital = Digital Modulation

The carrier could either a 'sinusoidal wave' or a 'pulse

train
At the destination the carrier+message must be
demodulated so that the message can be Rxd
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

What is Modulation? #2

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

If the message d(t) controls

amplitude = AMPLITUDE SHIFT KEYING ASK.
Frequency = FREQUENCY SHIFT KEYING FSK
Phase
= PHASE SHIFT KEYING PSK.

d(t) is a binary or 2 level signal representing 1's and 0's

This is binary or 2 level, e.g. Binary FSK, BFSK, BPSK,

etc. or 2 level FSK, 2ASK, 2PSK etc.
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

What is Modulation? #3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Multiple Levels:

A message signal could be multi-level or m levels

each level represents a discrete pattern of 'information' bits.
For example, m = 4 levels

Why increase M?
As the number of levels increase the amount of information
transmitted increases but the probability of receiving an
error also increases
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Baud Rate #1
The baud rate of a data communications
system is the number of symbols per second
transferred.
As a symbol may have > 2 states, it may
represent > 1 binary bit (a binary bit always
represents exactly two states).
Therefore the baud rate may not equal the bit
rate

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Baud Rate #2

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

A Bell 212A modem uses QPSK modulation

each symbol has one of four phase shifts (of 0(deg), 90(deg),
180(deg), or 270(deg))
two bits represent four states (00, 01, 10, and 11),
the modem transmits 1,200 bits/s of information, using a
symbol rate of 600 baud.

Usually the baud rate of a modem will not equal the bit
rate and is of no interest to the end user--only the data
rate, in bits per second.
As modems transfer signals over a telephone line

the baud rate is limited to a maximum of 2400 baud.

This is a physical restriction of telephone lines
Higher data throughput achieved with 9600 or higher baud
modems is accomplished by using sophisticated phase
modulation, and data compression techniques
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

10

Baud Rate #3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is

used for Broadband Internet access
Allows faster data transmission over copper telephone lines
than a conventional voiceband modem
By using the frequencies that are not used by a voice
telephone call using Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM).

A splitter - or microfilter - allows a single telephone

connection to be used for both ADSL service and voice
calls simultaneously
As phone lines vary in quality and were not originally
engineered with DSL in mind, it can generally only be used
over short distances, typically less than 4km.

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

11

Baud Rate #4

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Data
+ve
Bi polar
NRZ
-ve
+ve
Bi polar
RZ
-ve

+ve
Bi polar
Bi Phase
-ve
Bit rate=1/B

Baud rate=1/E

1
B

Baud rate=1/E=1000Baud

E
Baud rate=1/0.5m=2000Baud

E
Baud rate=1/0.5m=2000Baud

E
Advantage of a transition in every bit self checking
e.g. if B=1ms, Bit rate=1000bps
COMMS (CE700038-2)

2008/9

12

System Block Diagram

(S/N)
Channel
BW

MOD

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

d(t)

MODULATOR
ASK
FSK
PSK

Noise
vn(t)

B Hz p0

CHANNEL
EG. Txn line
radio
satellite

Filter
Bn

DEMOD

Noise
bandwidth

DEMODULATOR

Decision
Detector

d(t)
prob of
error
p

DETECTOR/
DECISION

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Amplitude Shift Keying, ASK

13

Different amplitudes of carrier

Usually, one amplitude is 0

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

i.e. presence and absence of carrier is used

Susceptible to sudden gain changes

Inefficient, up to 1200bps on voice grade lines
Used over optical fiber due to low error

source
V1
V0

Amplitude
Shift Keying
ASK

T
0

destination
0

digital
signal
On off Keying,
OOK

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

14

ASK Modulation of data sequence d(t)

Amplitude Shift Keying

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Analogue Multiplier
d(t)
V(t)=d(t).VCcos(Ct)
ASK/OOK

d(t)=1 for 1
d(t)=0 for 0

Carrier
VCcos(Ct)

Analogue Gate (4066)

Carrier: VCcos(Ct)

V(t)=d(t).VCcos(Ct)

d(t)=1 for 1
d(t)=0 for 0
0V
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

15

Phase Shift Keying, PSK

Phase of carrier signal is shifted data
Binary PSK: Two phases represent two binary
digits
Differential PSK: Phase shifted relative to
previous transmission rather than some
reference signal

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

16

PSK Modulation of data sequence, d(t)

d(t)

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Phase Shift
Keying

V(t)=d(t).VCcos(Ct)

d(t)= 1
d(t)= 0

Carrier
VCcos(Ct)

(+1).VCcos(wCt)
(-1).VCcos(wCt)

d(t) 1 or 0
Osc

in-phase
or
phase inverted

VCcos(Ct)

+VCcos(Ct)

-1

or
-VCcos(Ct)

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Frequency Shift Keying, FSK

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

17

Two binary values represented by two different

frequencies (near carrier)
Less susceptible to error than ASK
Applications: Up to 1200bps on voice grade lines, High
frequency radio, even higher frequency on LANs using
co-ax
source
V1
V0

Frequency
Shift Keying
FSK

T
0

destination
0

digital
signal
Various types:
OFSK, FFSK
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

18

FSK Modulation of d(t)

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Frequency Shift Keying

VIN
d(t)

fOUT
FSK

V/F

Osc
f1

f1=fC+V
f0=fC

fC
1
t

d(t) 1 or 0

VIN

f1 or f0

Osc
f0

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

19

System Block Diagram model for analysis

(S/N)
Channel
BW

MOD

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

d(t)

MODULATOR
ASK
FSK
PSK

Noise
vn(t)

B Hz p0

CHANNEL
EG. Txn line
radio
satellite

Filter
Bn

DEMOD

Noise
bandwidth

DEMODULATOR

Decision
Detector

d(t)
prob of
error
p

DETECTOR/
DECISION

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

20

Channel - Impairments
When signals are transmitted they are subject to noise
Signal y = cos(x)

Amplitude (V)

2
0
-2
-4

3
time (s)

3
time (s)

4
Amplitude (V)

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

2
0
-2
-4

Noise is assumed to be

ADDITIVE, WHITE, GAUSSIAN, AWGN mean of zero

infinite bandwidth hence a bandlimiting filter is required
p0 is the noise power spectral density (Watts/Hertz)

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

21

System Block Diagram model for analysis

(S/N)
Channel
BW

MOD

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

d(t)

MODULATOR
ASK
FSK
PSK

Noise
vn(t)

B Hz p0

CHANNEL
EG. Txn line
radio
satellite

Filter
Bn

DEMOD

Noise
bandwidth

DEMODULATOR

Decision
Detector

d(t)
prob of
error
p

DETECTOR/
DECISION

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

ASK & PSK Demodulator

22

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Optimum Demodulator, based on correlation:

Signal
+
Noise
p0

i.e. how similar is the received signal to one of the

possible transmitted signals:
(S/N)IN

VIN

Bn
cos(Ct)
carrier

1
T

VINdt

I&D

, ND

VREF -

Integrate & Dump,

T is the bit duration

ck
Data
Clock

d(t)
prob of
error
p

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

23

Demodulator FSK

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Optimum Demodulator, based on correlation:

Signal
+
Noise
p0

1
T
(S/N)IN

cos(1t)

dt

I&D
+

Bn

1
T
cos(0t)

dt

I&D

, ND

VREF -

ck
Data
Clock

d(t)
prob of
error
p

A requirement to receive the

carrier C or 1 & 0 & the
2008/9
bit rate COMMS
clock (CE700038-2)
- DATA CLOCK

24

Demodulator Circuit A/P/FSK

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

I&D
pulse

SIN
S+N

VIN

Bn
p0

NIN=p0Bn

cos(Ct)
carrier

VREF

+V

, ND

-V

Input signal + bandlimited noise NIN=poBN

multiplied by a carrier
Cos(ct) for ASK/PSK
Cos(0t) & Cos(1t) for FSK

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

25

PSK demodulation ex #1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

If d(t) is a 1, input is d(t)VCcos(Ct)

VIN=V1=d(t)VCcos(Ct)*cos(Ct)+Noise
VIN=d(t)VCcos2(Ct)+Noise

d(t)
d(t)
VIN =
VC +
VC cos(2 C t) + Noise
2
2
If d(t) is a 0, input is -d(t)VCcos(Ct)
VIN=-d(t)VCcos2(Ct)+Noise

d(t)
d(t)
VIN =
VC
VC cos(2 C t) + Noise
2
2

VIN
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

26

PSK demodulation ex #2
The Integrate & Dump performs the function

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

where T is the duration of a bit

1
T

T
VIN dt

T
The Integrator
VOUT

1 RC
=
VIN dt

0
RC

Design RC=T

VIN

R
0V

+V

VOUT

-V (CE700038-2) 2008/9
COMMS

PSK demodulation ex #3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

27

I&D pulse shown, allows the integrator to integrate for

a time T, after which the integrator is cleared or
dumped by shorting out C & the integration recommences
T

I&D
Volts
VREF

VOUT

Decision
1 or 0

COMMS (CE700038-2)
1
1

2008/9

28

PSK demodulation ex #4

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Integrate & Dump Output:

Input

VIN

1
T

VINdt

VOUT=

1
T

VINdt

I&D

cos(Ct)

Input = d(t)VCcos(Ct)
1 T
2
d
(
t
).
V
cos
( C t)dt
C

0
T
V d(t)
= C
2

VOUT =
VOUT

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

29

V0
VREF
V1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

VREF

ck
Data
Clock

d(t)
prob of
error
p

V0 is the voltage when a 0 was transmitted

V1 is the voltage when a 1 was transmitted
The peak-to-peak input to the comparator is
Change in Volts = V0-V1
This difference between a 1 & a 0
The reference VREF is set midway between V1 & V0.

VREF

V1 + V0
= V0 = V1 + =
2
2
2

A HALF LEVEL THRESHOLD DETECTOR

If V1=10V, V0=5V: =2.5 & VREF=7.5VCOMMS (CE700038-2)

2008/9

PSK demodulation ex #6

30

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Integration in presence of Noise

i.e.

Comp
output

which is clocked at the Data Clock Rate

This makes a final decision if a 1 or a 0 is received

1
Noise

Noise

Volts
VREF
Noise
causes
this

Data
CLK
Q output

0, error

Noise causes the integrator to fluctuate & causes errors

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

31 Modulation & Demodulation

FSK
f
f
f
f

V1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

V0

V1

d(t)
fOUT
f1

MOD

V0
DEMOD

V/F

F/V

VOUT

gdt= KHz/V

V1

gdt=K V/KHz

fC
V0

f0
VIN

VDC

TB

f0

f1

fIN

1
0
V0

V1

K is usually designed to be 1/

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

32

FSK Demodulation #2
gdt= KHz/V

fOUT

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

fC

f0

VDC

TB

1
0

t
V1
V0
Bit rate=Baud rate

f1=fC+V1
Peak-to-peak deviation =f1-f0
fC=VDC
y=mx+c
f0=fC-V0 (V0 is ve)
fOUT=VIN+f0
VIN
VIN=VDC+d(t)
VIN=VDC+V1 for 1s
VIN=VDC+V0 for 0s
f1=VDC+V1+f0 for 1s
fC=VDC, TC=1/fC

Normalised frequency Deviation ratio, h =

f1 f 0
Rb

Rb=1/B
i.e. modulus of f1-f0

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

33

FSK Demodulation #3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

The spectrum of the FSK signal depends on h.

Waveforms
V1
V0

Bit rate=Baud rate

1 Rb=1/B

VDC

TB

t
Frequency
Shift Keying
FSK

f1

f0

f1

f0

f1
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

34

System Block Diagram model for analysis

(S/N)
Channel
BW

MOD

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

d(t)

MODULATOR
ASK
FSK
PSK

Noise
vn(t)

B Hz p0

CHANNEL
EG. Txn line
radio
satellite

Filter
Bn

DEMOD

Noise
bandwidth

DEMODULATOR

Decision
Detector

d(t)
prob of
error
p

DETECTOR/
DECISION

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

35

Performance of Digital Systems #1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Performance of Digital Data Systems is

dependent on the bit error rate, b.e.r.*
i.e. the probability of a bit being in error
p=

no. of errors, E
as N
Total no. of bits N

p depends on several factors

The
The
The
The

modulation type: ASK, FSK or PSK

demodulation method
noise in the system
signal-to-noise ratio

*p is a prediction of how the system will perform

b.e.r. is a measure of how the system actually performs

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

36

Performance #2

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Obtain the received

Signal Power
Noise Power

Calculate the SNR based on a particular

modulation method
Predict the theoretical performance using Error
Function Tables

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

37

Performance #3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

(S/N)IN
Filter
Bn

DEMOD

, ND
VREF

ck

d(t)
prob of
error
p

Data
Clock

Find , ND in terms of SIN & NIN

p as a function of (S/N)IN
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

38

Performance #4 - Signal Power, SIN

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Usually assume an un-modulated carrier

i.e. a signal=VCcos(Ct) - ALWAYS

VC

Normalised Average Power=(VRMS)2

VC

VRMS =

Vpeak
2

VC
2
2

Normalised Average Power=(VRMS)2= VC = VC = S IN

2
2
2

S IN

VC
=
Watts
2

Similarly for FSK & PSK

VC
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

39

Performance #4 - Noise Power, NIN

Channel
BW
vn(t)

Signal
+
Noise

B Hz

VIN

Bn

p0

Peak value of noise,

Normalised Average Noise Power,

NIN=p0Bn

vn(t)IN

= 2p0 B

N IN

VINdt

Dec
Det

I&D

cos(Ct)
carrier

N pk
=
2

1
T

Contrived to be
equivalent to
noise power

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

40

Performance #5 SNR & p

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

SIN/NIN

S IN
2

N pk

S IN VC
=
/
N IN
2
2

VC
=
Watts
2

N IN

N pk
=
2

S IN
VC
=
N IN N pk 2

VC
=
2
N pk

Substitute into the correct equation to obtain p

B - ASK
OOK
B FSK
B PSK
PRK

S IN
1
p = 1 erf
2
2 N IN
S IN
1
p = 1 erf
2
N IN
COMMS (CE700038-2)
1
p = 1 erf
2

S IN
4 N IN

2008/9

41

Performance #6

B - ASK
OOK

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

B FSK
B PSK
PRK

1
p = 1 erf
2

S IN
1
p = 1 erf
2
2 N IN
S IN
1
p = 1 erf
2
N IN
S IN
4 N IN

1
10-1
p

PSK is best performance

FSK is next
ASK is worst

10-2
10-4
10-5

PSK FSK ASK

5dB

(S/N)IN dB
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Error Function

42

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

The "error function" encountered in integrating the normal distribution (which is a

normalized form of the Gaussian function).
It is an entire function defined by :

erf ( z ) =

e t dt
2

erfc( z ) = 1 erf ( z )

x
erf(x)
erfc(x)

0
0.000
1.000

0.1
0.112
0.888

0.2
0.223
0.777

0.3
0.329
0.671

0.4
0.428
0.572

0.5
0.520
0.480

0.6
0.604
0.396

0.7
0.678
0.322

0.8
0.742
0.258

0.9
0.797
0.203

1
0.843
0.157

1.1
0.880
0.120

1.2
0.910
0.090

1.3
0.934
0.066

x
erf(x)
erfc(x)

1.4
0.952
0.048

1.5
0.966
0.034

1.6
0.976
0.024

1.7
0.984
0.016

1.8
0.989
0.011

1.9
0.993
0.007

2
0.995
0.005

2.1
0.997
0.003

2.2
0.998
0.002

2.3
0.999
0.001

2.4
0.999
0.001

2.5
1.000
0.000

2.6
1.000
0.000

2.7
1.000
0.000

x
erf(x)
erfc(x)

2.8
1.000
7.50E-05

2.9
1.000
4.11E-05

3
1.000
2.21E-05

3.1
1.000
1.16E-05

3.2
1.000
6.03E-06

3.3
1.000
3.06E-06

3.4
1.000
1.52E-06

3.5
1.000
7.43E-07

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

43

Tutorial 1: find SNRdB for each case

Case B

Case A
Signal y = cos(x)

Signal + Noise: mean=0 & variance=0.1

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

2
0

-2

-4
0

Case C

-2

SNR = ?
1

-4
0

Case D

Signal + Noise: mean=0 & variance=0.5

Signal + Noise: mean=0 & variance=1.0

Npk = 1.76V

-2

-2

Npk = 3.16V

-4
0

Npk = 0.302V

Npk = 0V

-4
0

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

44

Solution 1
SNR for case A:

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

S IN
VC
1
=
= =
2
0
N IN N pk
SNR for case B:

S IN
1
=
= 10.96
2
N IN (0.302 )

Sin

SNRdB = 10 log10
N in
SNRdB = dB
SNRdB = 10 log10 (10.96)
SNRdB = 10.40dB

SNR for case C: -4.91dB

SNR for case D: -10.00dB
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

45

Tutorial 2
With Reference to the following equations and
error function tables, what is the performance
of Binary ASK, FSK & PSK at 0, 4 & 8dB?
Plot your results on logarithmic / linear paper
Comment on the performance at 4dB, rank the
modulation schemes and comment

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

Solution 2

SNR (dB)
0

10

1.E+00
probability of error, p

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

46

1.E-01
1.E-02
1.E-03
1.E-04
1.E-05
1.E-06
ASK

FSK

PSK COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

47

Tutorial 3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

Explain what is meant by Baud Rate

If data signal is represented as
h(t) = +V for 1s
= -V for 0s

h(t)

v(t)

cos(Ct)

i) What modulation scheme is this?

ii) Sketch the output waveform, v(t)
iii)Obtain Vout(t) stating any assumptions
h(t)[cos(Ct)]

LPF

cos(Ct)

VOUT(t)
COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9

48

Solution 3

Digital modulation:
ASK, FSK, PSK

i) Phase reversed keying

ii)

iii) Vout(t) :
VOUT (t ) = h(t ) cos( C t ). cos( C t )
VOUT (t ) =

h(t )
cos(0 ) +
2

h(t )
cos(2 C t )
1244244
3

use LPF to filter out this component

VOUT (t ) =

h(t )
2

COMMS (CE700038-2) 2008/9