Amplitude Modulation:: Amplitude Modulation (AM) Is A Technique Used in Electronic Communication

Amplitude Modulation:
Amplitude modulation (AM) is a technique used in electronic communication,

most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works
by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information
being sent. For example, changes in the signal strength can be used to specify
the sounds to be reproduced by a loudspeaker, or the light intensity of television
pixels. (Contrast this with frequency modulation, also commonly used for sound
transmissions, in which the frequency is varied; and phase modulation, often
used in remote controls, in which the phase is varied)
In the mid-1870s, a form of amplitude modulation—initially called "undulatory

currents"—was the first method to successfully produce quality audio over
telephone lines. Beginning with Reginald Fessenden's audio demonstrations in
1906, it was also the original method used for audio radio transmissions, and
remains in use today by many forms of communication—"AM" is often used to
refer to the mediumwave broadcast band.
SHAFAULLA FA08-BEE-118
Applications of Amplitude Modulation
AM BROADCAST:
AM radio technology is simpler than Frequency Modulated (FM) radio, Digital

Audio Broadcast (DAB), Satellite Radio or HD (digital) Radio. An AM receiver
detects amplitude variations in the radio waves at a particular frequency. It then
amplifies changes in the signal voltage to drive a loudspeaker or earphones. The
earliest crystal radio receivers used a crystal diode detector with no amplification.
In North American broadcasting practice, transmitter power input to the antenna

for commercial AM stations ranges from about 250 watts to 50,000 watts.
Experimental licenses were issued for up to 500,000 watts radiated power, for
stations intended for wide-area communication during disasters including
Cincinnati station WLW, which used such power on occasion before World War
II. WLW's superpower transmitter still exists at the station's suburban transmitter
site, but it was decommissioned in the early 1940s and no current commercial
broadcaster in the US or Canada is authorized for such power levels. Some other
countries do authorize higher power operation (for example the Mexican station
XERF formerly operated at 250,000 watts). Antenna design must consider the
coverage desired and must direct the transmitted signal so as not to interfere
with other stations operating on the same or adjacent frequencies.
An example of the difference in range of an A.M. radio signal at different times.
Medium-wave and short-wave radio signals act differently during daytime and
nighttime. During the day, AM signals travel by groundwave, diffracting around
the curve of the earth over a distance up to a few hundred miles (or kilometers)
from the signal transmitter. However, after sunset, changes in the ionosphere
cause AM signals to travel by skywave, enabling AM radio stations to be heard
much farther from their point of origin than is normal during the day. This
phenomenon can be easily observed by scanning an AM radio dial at night. As a
result, many broadcast stations are required as a condition of license to reduce
their broadcasting power significantly (or use directional antennas) after sunset,
or even to suspend broadcasting entirely during nighttime hours. Such stations
are commonly referred to as daytimers. In Australia AM stations are not required
to reduce their power at night and consequently stations such as the 50,000-watt
3LO can be heard in some parts of New Zealand at night.
CB Radio:
Cb radio work on the principle of AM .Citizens' Band radio (often shortened to CB
radio) is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications
between individuals on a selection of 40 channels. The CB radio service is
distinct from FRS, GMRS, MURS, or amateur ("ham") radio. In many countries,
CB does not require a license and, unlike amateur radio, it may be used for
business as well as personal communications. Like many other two-way radio
services, Citizens' Band channels are shared by many users. Only one station
may transmit at a time. Other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel
to be available.
Walkie-talkie:
A walkie-talkie (more formally known as a handheld transceiver) is a hand-
held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second
World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred
J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola. Similar designs were created for
other armed forces, and after the war, walkie-talkies spread to public safety and
eventually commercial and jobsite work. Major characteristics include a half-
duplex channel (only one radio transmits at a time, though any number can
listen) and a "push-to-talk" (PTT) switch that starts transmission. Typical walkie-
talkies resemble a telephone handset, possibly slightly larger but still a single
unit, with an antenna sticking out of the top. Where a phone's earpiece is only
loud enough to be heard by the user, a walkie-talkie's built-in speaker can be
heard by the user and those in the user's immediate vicinity. Hand-held
transceivers may be used to communicate between each other, or to vehicle-
mounted or base stations.
Military:
Military organizations use handheld radios for a variety of purposes. Modern units such
as the AN/PRC-148 Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR) can communicate on a
variety of bands and modulation schemes and include encryption capabilities.
Amateur radio:
Walkie-talkies (also known as HTs or "handheld transceivers" ) are widely used
among amateur radio operators. While converted commercial gear by companies
such as Motorola are not uncommon, many companies such as Yaesu, Icom,
and Kenwood design models specifically for amateur use. While superficially
similar to commercial and personal units (including such things as CTCSS and
DCS squelch functions, used primarily to activate amateur radio repeaters),
amateur gear usually has a number of features that are not common to other
gear, including:
• Wide-band receivers, often including radio scanner functionality, for

listening to non-amateur radio bands.
• Multiple bands; while some operate only on specific bands such as 2
meters or 70 cm, others support several UHF and VHF amateur
allocations available to the user.
• Since amateur allocations usually are not channelized, the user can dial in
any frequency desired in the authorized band.
• Multiple modulation schemes: a few amateur HTs may allow modulation
modes other than FM, including AM, SSB, and CW,[4][5] and digital modes
such as radioteletype or PSK31. Some may have TNCs built in to support
packet radio data transmission without additional hardware.

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Amplitude Modulation:

Amplitude modulation (AM) is a technique used in electronic communication,

In the mid-1870s, a form of amplitude modulation—initially called "undulatory

AM radio technology is simpler than Frequency Modulated (FM) radio, Digital

In North American broadcasting practice, transmitter power input to the antenna

An example of the difference in range of an A.M. radio signal at different times.

• Wide-band receivers, often including radio scanner functionality, for

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