Modulation Calculator

Using our modulation calculator, you can obtain the ratio of the modulation signal against the amplitude of the carrier signal, known as the modulation index.

The following article will discuss phase, frequency, and amplitude modulation and share how we calculate the modulation index by formula.

Modulation is converting data into radio waves by adding information from a low-frequency signal to a high-frequency electronic or optical carrier signal.

This carrier signal is a pure wave of constant frequency that can travel long distances but doesn't carry any useful information. Thus, we include information by imposing our high-frequency input signal wave on this carrier wave.

The shape of the carrier wave changes with modulation, i.e., after we encode the sound waves or data information from the input signal to the carrier signal. The base of these changes are the following wave parameters:

1. Amplitude – The peak of the wave;
2. Frequency – Number of waves crossing a point in a given second; and
3. Phase – The offset of a wave from a given point.

Based on these wave parameters, there are three types of modulation techniques for analog carriers, all of which vary according to the unmodulated levels of the message signal:

1. Amplitude Modulation – Varying amplitude of the carrier signal;
2. Frequency Modulation – Varying frequency of the carrier signal; and
3. Phase Modulation – Varying phase shift of the carrier signal.

Calculating the modulation ratio from the message signal to the carrier signal, this numerically expressed degree of modulation is the modulation index.

Different modulation techniques have different signal-to-noise ratios. Check out our signal to noise ratio calculator to learn more about this aspect.

We use the following modulation index equations to find the variation between the message and the carrier signals:

• Amplitude modulation index
  The definition of AM modulation index is the amplitude ratio of the message signal to the carrier signal:

  $\mu_a = A_m / A_c$

• Frequency modulation index
  It is the ratio of frequency deviation of the message signal to the sinusoidal message signal frequency:

  $\mu_f = \Delta f / f_m$

• Phase modulation index
  It is the maximum phase change corresponding to the maximum message signal amplitude:

  $\mu_p = \Delta \theta$

where:

• $\mu_a, \mu_f, \mu_p$ – Modulation indexes for amplitude, frequency, and phase, respectively, also known as modulation factors;
• $A_m$ – Amplitude of the message signal;
• $A_c$ – Amplitude of the carrier signal;
• $\Delta f$ – Peak frequency deviation in the message signal;
• $f_m$ – Highest frequency in the message signal; and
• $\Delta \theta$ – The peak phase deviation.

Below you will find out how simple it is to use the modulation calculator.

Select the wave parameter for calculating its modulation index. For example, by selecting amplitude, we get the following three fields:

1. Message signal amplitude (A_m)
   Here you may enter the amplitude of the message signal, e.g., 40 volts.

2. Carrier signal amplitude (A꜀)
   And here, you may enter the respective amplitude of the carrier signal, e.g., 50 volts.

3. Modulation index (μ_a)
   You'll then get how much the modulated variable varies around its unmodulated levels, i.e., 0.8.

Similarly, if we select frequency as our wave parameter, we have the following fields for calculating the frequency modulation index:

1. Max frequency deviation (Δf)
   Here you enter the peak frequency-deviation of your message signal.

2. Message signal frequency (f_m)
   And here, you may enter the highest frequency of the message signal.

Let's take an FM broadcast station for a modulation index example:

A station has a maximum frequency deviation of 75 kHz, with the highest message signal frequency at 15 kHz. What is its modulation index?

We know that the equation of modulation index for frequency is:

$\mu = \Delta f / f_m$

Placing the values in the formula, we get:

$\mu = 75 / 15$

or:

$\mu = 5$

Thus, the frequency modulation index of our station is 5.

If you want to learn more about the role of modulation in other fields, make sure to check out our baud rate calculator.

Divide the message signal amplitude (A_m) by the carrier signal amplitude (A꜀) to obtain the amplitude modulation index (μ_a). Mathematically, its representation is:

• μ_a = A_m / A꜀

Or divide the max frequency deviation (Δf) by the message signal frequency (f_m) to obtain the frequency modulation index (μf). Mathematically, we represent that as:

• μ_f = Δf / f_m

Amplitude modulation

• The modulation index is between 0 and 1.
• To send data, the carrier wave's amplitude is modified.
• Requires low bandwidth.
• Sound quality is poor.

Frequency modulation

• The modulation index is always greater than 1.
• To send data, the carrier wave's frequency is modified.
• Requires high bandwidth.
• Sound quality is better than AM.

0.2 is the modulation index when the message signal is 20 V with a 100 V carrier.

We obtain this modulation index by dividing the message signal by the carrier signal:

Modulation index = message signal / carrier signal

Altering the amplitude of the carrier signal by combining it with a message signal to transmit information is known as amplitude modulation. It generally requires low bandwidth and is used for broadcasting audio signals.