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Question

Which of the following techniques are used to generate frequency modulated signal :

1. Armstrong
2. Foster-Sealy Discriminator
3. Balanced Modulator
4. Reactance Modulator

Which one of the following is true ?

This question was previously asked in
UGC NET 2014 Paper 1 Question Paper (28-Dec-2014)
The correct answer is

1 and 4

 Sort the four by what they actually do — only two of them generate FM.

TechniqueFunctionGenerates FM?
Armstrong methodIndirect FM: phase-modulate a crystal carrier, then multiply✓
Foster-Seeley discriminatorDemodulates FM✗
Balanced modulatorProduces DSB-SC for amplitude modulation✗
Reactance modulatorDirect FM: varies an oscillator's tank reactance✓

So 1 and 4 — option 4.

The two generation methods represent the two families.

The reactance modulator is direct FM. A transistor or FET is connected across the oscillator tank so that it presents an effective reactance proportional to the modulating voltage, pulling the oscillation frequency directly:

\(f_{i}(t)=f_{c}+k_{f}\,m(t)\)

It gives large deviation easily, but since the oscillator must be free-running to be pullable, its centre frequency drifts — so an AFC loop is usually added.

The Armstrong method is indirect FM. The message is first integrated and then used to phase-modulate a highly stable crystal oscillator; integrating beforehand converts phase modulation into frequency modulation. Frequency stability is excellent, but the phase deviation obtainable linearly is tiny, so chains of multipliers and mixers are needed to build it up to broadcast deviation.

Foster-Seeley is the deliberate trap — it is an FM circuit, but at the receiving end. It uses a tuned transformer to convert frequency shifts into phase shifts and then into amplitude, and it must be preceded by a limiter because it responds to amplitude as well. Its close relative, the ratio detector, is inherently amplitude-insensitive and needs no limiter.

The balanced modulator belongs to AM entirely: by cancelling the carrier it produces double-sideband suppressed-carrier output, the first stage of an SSB transmitter.

Hence, the FM generation techniques are 1 and 4.

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Similar Questions

  1. In FM

  2. Consider the following :

    ST1 : F.M. signal produces more side bands than A.M.
    ST2 : The carrier in a F.M. signal can never be dropped to zero amplitude.

    Which of the following is valid ?

  3. Which of the following is true ?

  4. The FM transmitters have the following blocks as per the following correct sequence :

    (A) Crystal Oscillator
    (B) Antenna
    (C) Frequency multiplier
    (D) Phase modulate / Audio source
    (E) Power amplifier

    Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

  5. Consider an FM signal

    \(s(t) = 10\sin\left(4\pi \times 10^6 t + 9\cos\left(2\pi \times 10^3 t\right)\right)\)

    the frequency deviation and bandwidth of FM wave are

  6. In case of wideband FM, the modulation index value is :

  7. A high frequency signal is frequency modulated by n number of modulating signals. The ideal number of sidebands in the modulated signal will be :

  8. The approximate rule for transmission of an FM signal generated by a single-tone modulating signal of frequency fm, modulation index β and maximum frequency deviation Δf, is defined as :

  9. Assertion (A) : The FM radio broadcast of analog signals provides higher fidelity.

    Reason (R) : FM uses significantly larger channel bandwidth for signal transmission.

    Select your answer using the codes given below :

  10. What bandwidth is needed for an FM signal that has a peak deviation of ± 3 KHz and handles audio signals from 200 Hz to 5 KHz ?


Important Questions from Frequency Modulation

  1. Which of the following statements is true for FM?

  2. What is the modulation index in a frequency modulated signal with a modulating frequency of 500 Hz and frequency deviation of 10 kHz?

  3. Which of the following rules states that the bandwidth required to transmit an angle modulated wave is twice the sum of the peak frequency deviation and highest modulating signal frequency?

  4. If f mis modulating frequency and m fis modulation index, then by the Carson's rule, the bandwidth of an FM signal at the input of a conventional discriminator will be:

  5. In FM, "M" stands for

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