INTRO TO COMMS, NOISE AND dB MEASURMENTS

1. The theory of radio waves was originated by:

Ans. Maxwell * 31. A diode noise generator is required to produce a 10 uV of noise in a
receiver with an input impedance of 75 ohms, resistive, and a noise
2. The first person who sent the first radio signal across the Atlantic ocean: power bandwidth of 200 kHz. What must be the current through the
Ans. Marconi * diode be?
Ans. 276 mA
3. The transmission of radio waves was first done by:
Ans. Hertz *

4. When two or more signals share a common channel, it is called:

Ans. Multiplexing * 32. Two noise-source resistors R1 and R2 connected in series at different
temperatures, 300˚K and 400˚K respectively. If R1 = 100Ω, R2 = 200, find:
5. “Man-made” noise can come from: A. the total noise voltage
Ans. equipment that sparks * B. the noise power at the load with RL = 300Ω, over a BW = 100 kHz.
Ans. A. 779 nV; B. 0.506 fW
6. Thermal noise is generated in:
Ans. transistors and diodes, copper wire, and resistors *

7. Shot noise is generated in:

Ans. transistors and diodes *

8. The power density of “flicker” noise is: 33. A receiver produces a noise power of 200mW with no signal. The output level
Ans. greater at low frequencies * increases to 5W when a signal is applied. Calculate (S+N)/N as a power
ratio and in decibels.
9. So called “1/f” noise is also called: Ans. 25, 14 dB
Ans. pink noise *

10. “Pink” noise has:

Ans. equal power per octave *

11. Noise figure is a measure of:

34. The signal power at the input to an amplifier is 100 uW and the noise power is 1
Ans. how much noise an amplifier adds to a signal *
uW. At the output, the signal power is 1W and the noise power is 30
mW. What is the amplifier noise figure, as a ratio? In dB?
12. Resistor that generates the lowest thermal noise:
Ans. 3; 4.77dB
Ans. wire-wound *

13. Resistor with typical voltage range of

Ans. metal film*
14. Reference for noise temperature in ˚C:
Ans. 17 *
35. The signal at the input of an amplifier has an S/N of 42 dB. If the amplifier has a
15. Standard test tone connected on audio equipment? noise figure of 6 dB, what is the S/N at the output in decibels?
Ans. 1.0 kHz tone * Ans. 36 dB

16. Reference standard test tone normally used is indicated in:

Ans. dBm *
36. An amplifier has a noise figure of 2 dB. What is the equivalent noise
17. Power lost in device, due by the path of energy flow.
temperature?
Ans. insertion loss *
Ans. 170 K
18. The noise generated with semiconductor devices.
Ans. shot noise *

19. Bandwidth is approximately _____ the highest baseband frequency. 37. A three-stage has stages with the following specifications: First stage with power
Ans. 2 times * gain and noise figure of 10 and 2 respectively, 25 and 4 for the second
stage and 30 and 5 for the third stage. Find the noise temperature.
20. Flicker noise in radio communications is also known as. Ans. 382 K
Ans. pink noise *

21. What determines the BW of a transmitted signal?

Ans. the highest frequency component of modulating signal *

22. What formula is used to calculate the overall noise performance of the AMPLITUDE MODULATION
receiver or of multiple stages if RF amplification? 38. What is heterodyning?
Ans. Frii’s formula * Ans. Mixing two frequencies across a nonlinear impedance.

23. If the bandwidth is doubled, considering all other parameters 39. What waveform is the basis of all complex waveforms?
unchanged except the normal thermal noise only. The S/N will be___ Ans. The sine wave
Ans. decreased by 3 dB *
40. What is the instantaneous amplitude of a sine wave?
24. Noise at the receiver is in terms of: Ans. The value at any given point on the sine wave
Ans. µV *
41. What term describes how much of a cycle has been completed?
25. Reference tone level for µBa: Ans. Phase or phase angle.
Ans. – 85 dBm *
42. Define the heterodyne principle.
26. Reference tone level for dBrn: Ans. Process of combining two signal frequencies in a nonlinear device.
Ans. -90 dBm *

43. What is a nonlinear impedance?

27. Reference tone level for F1A: Ans. An impedance in which the resulting current is not proportional to the
Ans. -85 dBm * applied voltage.

28. Reliable measurement for comparing amplifier noise characteristics: 44. What is spectrum analysis?
Ans. noise factor * Ans. The display of electromagnetic energy that is arranged according to
wavelength or frequency.
NOISE PROBLEMS
29. A receiver has noise power bandwidth of 10 kHz. A resistor that 45. What two conditions are necessary for heterodyning to take place?
matches the receiver input impedance is connected across its antenna Ans. At least two different frequencies applied to a nonlinear impedance.
terminals. What is the noise power contributed by that resistor in the
receiver bandwidth if the resistor has a temperature of 27 degrees 46. Name two methods of oscillator keying.
Celsius? Ans. Plate keying and Cathode keying

Ans. 47. State the method used to increase the speed of keying in a CW transmitter.
Ans. Machine keying

48. Name a disadvantage of a single-stage CW transmitter.

Ans. Antenna –to-ground capacitance can cause the oscillator frequency to
30. A 300 ohm resistor is connected across the 300 ohm antenna input of vary
the television receiver. The bandwidth of the receiver is 6 MHz, and the
resistor is at room temperature. Find the noise power and noise voltage 49. What is the purpose of frequency-multiplier stages in a VHF transmitter?
applied to the receiver input. Ans. To raise the low frequency of a stable oscillator to the vhf range.
Ans. 24.2 fW, 2.7 uV.
 80. What is average power in a pulsed system?
50. What are the two major sections of a typical AM transmitter? Ans. Peak power during a pulse averaged over pulse time plus rest
Ans. Rf and af units time

51. When 100 kilohertz and 5 kilohertz are heterodyned, what frequencies are 81. What action is necessary to impress intelligence on the pulse train in pulse
present? modulation?
Ans. 100 kilohertz, 5 kilohertz, 95 kilohertz, and 105 kilohertz Ans. Some characteristic of the pulses has to be varied

52. What determines the bandwidth of an AM transmission? 82. To insure the accuracy of a transmission, what is the minimum number of times
Ans. The highest modulating frequency a modulation wave should be sampled in pulse modulation?
Ans. 2.5 times the highest modulation frequency
53. What is percent of modulation?
Ans. The depth or degree of modulation 83. What, if any, noise susceptibility advantage exists for pulse-amplitude
modulation over analog-amplitude modulation?
54. With a single modulating tone, what is the amplitude of frequencies at 100- Ans. Both are susceptible to noise and interference
percent modulation?
Ans. One-half the amplitude of the carrier 84. What characteristics of a pulse can be changed in pulse-time modulation?
Ans. The time duration of the pulses or the time of occurrence of the pulses
55. What is the formula for percent of modulation?
Ans. %M = Em/Ec x 100% 85. Which edges of the pulse can be modulated in pulse-duration modulation?
Ans. Either, or both at the same time
56. What is high-level modulation?
Ans. Modulation produced in the plate circuit of the last radio stage of the 86. What is the main disadvantage of pulse-position modulation?
system. Ans. It requires synchronization between the transmitter and receiver.

57. For what class of operation is the final rf power amplifier of a plate-modulator 87. If a modulating wave is sampled 10 times per cycle with a 5-element binary
circuit based? code, how many bits of information are required to transmit the signal?
Ans. Class C Ans. 50

58. The modulator is required to be what kind of a circuit stage in a plate 88. What is the primary advantage of pulse-modulation systems?
modulator? Ans. Low susceptibility to noise
Ans. Power amplifier
DEMODULATION
59. How much must the fpa plate current vary to produce 100-percent modulation 89. What is the simplest form of cw detector?
in a plate modulator? Ans. A circuit that can detect the presence or absence of rf energy
Ans. Between 0 and nearly two times its unmodulated value
90. What principle is used to help distinguish between two cw signals that are close
60. The collector-injection modulator is similar to what type of tube modulator? in frequency?
Ans. Plate modulator Ans. Heterodyning

61. When is a control-grid modulator used? 91. How does heterodyning distinguish between cw signals?
Ans. In cases when the use of a minimum of af modulator power is desired. Ans. By giving a different beat frequency for each signal

62. What type of modulator is the cathode modulator (low- or high-level)? 92. What simple, one-transistor detector circuit uses the heterodyne principle?
Ans. Low-level Ans. Regenerative detector

63. What causes the change in collector current in an emitter-injection modulator? 93. What three functions does the transistor in a regenerative detector serve?
Ans. Gain is varied by changing the voltage on the emitter Ans. Oscillator, mixer, and detector

ANGLE AND PULSE MODULATION 94. What does the simplest diode detector use to reproduce the modulating
64. What are the two types of angle modulation? frequency?
Ans. Frequency and phase Ans. The modulation envelope

65. Name the modulation system in which the frequency alternates between two 95. What is the function of the diode in a series-diode detector?
discrete values in response to the opening and closing of a key? Ans. Rectifies the rf pulses in the received signal.
Ans. Frequency-shift keying
96. Which junction of the transistor in the common-emitter detector detects the
66. What is the primary advantage of an fsk transmission system? modulation envelope?
Ans. Resistance to noise interference Ans. Emitter-base junction

67. What characteristic of a carrier wave is varied in frequency modulation? 97. How is the output signal developed in the common-emitter detector?
Ans. Instantaneous frequency Ans. By the collector current flow through R4

68. How is the degree of modulation expressed in an fm system? 98. Which junction acts as the detector in a common-base detector?
Ans. As the ratio of the frequency deviation to the maximum Ans. Emitter-base junction
frequency deviation allowable
99. To what circuit arrangement is a common-base detector equivalent?
69. What two values may be used to determine the bandwidth of an fm wave? Ans. A diode detector followed by a stage of audio amplification.
Ans. The number of significant sidebands and the modulation frequency.
100. What is the simplest form of fm detector?
Ans. Slope detector
70. How does the reactance-tube modulator impress intelligence onto an rf carrier?
Ans. By changing the reactance of an oscillator circuit in consonance with the 101. What type of tank circuit is used in the Foster-Seeley discriminator?
modulating voltage. Ans. A double-tuned tank circuit

71. What characteristic of a transistor is varied in a semiconductor-reactance 102. What is the primary advantage of a ratio detector?
modulator? Ans. Suppresses amplitude noise without limiter stages.
Ans. Collector-to-emitter capacitance
103. What circuit functions does the tube in a gated-beam detector serve?
72. What circuit section is required in the output of a multivibrator modulator to Ans. Limits, detects, and amplifies.
eliminate unwanted output frequencies?
Ans. An LCR filter 104. What condition must exist on both the limiter and quadrature grids for current
to flow in a gated-beam detector?
73. What characteristic of a varactor is used in an fm modulator? Ans. Both grids must be positively biased
Ans. Capacitance
105. Name two advantages of the gated-beam detector.
74. What type of modulation depends on the carrier-wave phase shift? Ans. Extreme simplicity, few components, and ease of adjustment.
Ans. Phase
106. Where is the intelligence contained in a phase-modulated signal?
75. What components may be used to build a basic phase modulator? Ans. In the amount and rate of phase shift of the carrier wave.
Ans. A phase-shift network such a s a variable resistor and capacitor in series
107. How is a quadrature detector changed when used for phase demodulation?
76. Phase-shift keying is similar to what other two types of modulation? Ans. The quadrature grid signal is excited by a reference from the transmitter.
Ans. Cw and frequency-shift keying
108. In its simplest form, what functions must a radar detector be capable of
77. Overmodulating an rf carrier in amplitude modulation produces a waveform performing?
which is similar to what modulated waveform? Ans. Detecting the presence of rf energy.
Ans. Pulse modulation 109. What characteristic of pulse does a peak detector sample?
Ans. Pulse amplitude or pulse duration
78. What is prt?
Ans. Pulse-repetition time 110. What is the time constant of the resistor and capacitor in a peak detector for
PAM?
79. What is nonpulse time? Ans. At least 10 times the interpulse period
Ans. Rest time
MODULATION/RECEIVERS/TRANSMITTERS
111. The power output of a single-sideband transmitter is normally expressed as the
_____ power. 142. Feature of modulating tone, FM deviation is proportional
Ans. peak envelope * Ans. amplitude *

112. SSB modulation is classified as ______ 143. Modulating 2 waves of the same frequency, but with _____ phase difference is
Ans. AM * equivalent to modulating both amplitude and phase of the same carrier.
Ans. 90 degrees *
113. Used to suppress carrier in single sideband transmitters.
Ans. balance modulator * 144. Frequency of unmodulated carrier of an FM.
Ans. rest frequency *
114. Carrier is said to be overmodulated if the positive peak rises to a value _____ of
the maximum unmodulated carrier. 145. What determines stations that will be selected by a tuner?
Ans. more than twice * Ans. resonant frequency of tuner *

115. Class of bias produce least harmonics 146. Periodic waveforms consist of add harmonics.
Ans. class A * Ans. square wave *

116. Devices used to make modulated envelope visible. 147. Major problem with VHF oscillator.
Ans. oscilloscope * Ans. poor frequency stability *

117. What will be the result in balanced modulation if not perfectly balanced. 148. What happens to a spectrum of repetitive pulse as the pulse width decrease?
Ans. the carrier is transmitted * Ans. more harmonics of the same phase *

118. Advantage of series modulation 149. Keyed AGC is AGC that

Ans. generate high power * Ans. is used in TV receivers *

119. Filter attenuates signals, passes below and above that band. 150. Main disadvantage of single-tube transmitter.
Ans. band stop * Ans. frequency instability *

120. To provide 2 or more voice currents with same carrier. 151. What is reduced by rounding off squarewave emission.
Ans. ISM emission * Ans. bandwidth *

121. To raise the power levels of AM signals, the class of amplifier used is _____. 152. Gained by operating oscillator on some subharmonic of frequency.
Ans. class A * Ans. frequency stability *

153. Multiplexing, oldest and simplest.

122. Supposed a voice frequency of 400 Hz is transmitted on an AM radio station Ans. space division multiplexing *
operating on 590 kHz, the voice frequency 400 Hz is NOT the ______
frequency. 154. Device display signal state of many lines simultaneously.
Ans. modulated * Ans. logic analyzer *

123. What will normal AM receiver detect from an unmodulated RF AC wave? 155. Most common IF carrier frequency.
Ans. nothing * Ans. 70 MHz *

124. Splatter is the result of ________. 156. Citizen Band (CB) Radio Service is a two-way voice communication device, it
Ans. overmodulation * uses frequency range from ______ MHz.
Ans. 26.965 to 27.405 *
125. What happens in standard AM transmission, no modulating signal is being
transmitted? 157. What determines the rate of frequency swing for an FM broadcast transmitter?
Ans. there are no sidebands * Ans. modulation frequency *

126. B8E, form of modulation also known as ______. 158. In PLL demodulating an FM signal.
Ans. Independent Sideband Transmission * Ans. VCOout = FMin *

127. Colloquial term describes additional side frequencies produced by 159. In PLL frequency modulator, fm
overmodulation or distortion in AM. Ans. error signal *
Ans. splatter *
160. Find the modulation index if a 10V carrier is amplitude-modulated by three
128. Shape trapezoidal pattern at 100% modulation. different frequencies with amplitudes of 1V, 2V, and 3V, respectively.
Ans. triangle Ans. 0.374

129. What is the effect if the gain level being too high for signals entering the
modulator?
Ans. distortion and splatter *

130. The RF signal produce; carrier frequency (fc) minus modulating frequency 161. Calculate the modulation index for a waveform with a maximum voltage of
(fm). 150V and minimum voltage of 70V.
Ans. LSB * Ans. 0.364 or 36.4%

131. Mixer is also known as:

Ans. converter *

132. In filter design, the maximum SB suppression is:

Ans. 50 dB * 162. An AM broadcast transmitter has a carrier power output of 50 kW. What is the
total power would be produced with 80% modulation?
133. Transmitter power output in SSB operation is expressed in terms of Ans. 66 kW
Ans. PEP *

134. For SSB transmitter, the average power is typically _____ of the peak envelope
power, with the typical human speech.
Ans. 1/4to 1/3 *

135. Modulation system most noise resistant 163. An AM broadcast transmitter has a carrier power output of 50 kW. What is the
Ans. FM * power in one sideband with 80% modulation?
Ans. 8 kW
136. Pre-emphasis provides extra noise immunity by
Ans. converting phase modulation to FM *

137. The three major types of demodulators:

Ans. Foster-Seely, Quadrature, PLL *
164. An AM broadcast transmiiter has a carrier power output of 50 kW. What is the
138. In a frequency synthesizer, smallest amount which output frequency can be total sideband power with 80% modulation?
changed? Ans. 16 kW
Ans. resolution *

139. Internal capacitance, causes feedback produces same effect on…

Ans. Miller effect *

140. Small length of wire found in some RF equipment, connected only at one end 165. An AM broadcast transmitter radiates 66 kW power when 100% modulated. If
and use as a capacitance to ground. the carrier and one sideband is suppressed, how much power is save?
Ans. gimmick * Ans. 55 kW

141. Movement of signal from one frequency to another using mixer-oscillator

combination.
Ans. frequency translation *
166. A transmitter with 10 kW carrier power transmit 12 kW when modulated with
a single sine wave. When modulated with another sinewave at 50%
modulation, calculate the total transmitted power.
Ans. 13.25 *

179. An FM signal has a deviation of 3 kHz and a modulating frequency of 1 kHz. Its
total power is 5W, developed across a 50-ohm resistive load. The
carrier frequency is 160 MHz. Using Carson’s rule, calculate the
bandwidth of the signal.
Ans. 16 kHz
167. The rms antenna current of a transmitter is 10 A when unmodulated, it
increases by 2 A when modulated. Calculate the modulation index.
Ans. 93.8% *

180. An FM signal has a modulation index, mf = 3 and a modulating frequency of 2

kHz. Its total power is 5W, developed across a 50-ohm resistive load.
The carrier frequency is 160 MHz. Using Carson’s rule, calculate the
bandwidth of the signal.
Ans. 16 kHz
168. In SSBSC system, if the peak envelope power (PEP) is 10 W, what will be the
value of the maximum instantaneous peak power?
Ans. 20 W *

181. An FM signal has a frequency deviation of 5 kHz and a modulating frequency of

169. In SSBSC system, if the peak voltage is 25 volts and the load resistance is 50 1 kHz. The signal to noise ratio at the input to the receiver detector is
ohms, what will be the value of the peak envelope power (PEP)? 20 dB. Calculate the approximate signal-to-noise ratio at the detector
Ans. 6.25 W * output.
Ans. 34 dB

170. A carrier wave with an RMS voltage of 20 V and a frequency = 1.5 MHz, is 182. A crytal oscillator is accurate within 0.0005%. How far off frequency could be
modulated by a sine wave with a frequency of 500 Hz and amplitude of at 27 MHz?
10 V RMS. Determine the peak voltage of the carrier and of the lower Ans. 135 Hz
side frequency.
Ans. 28.3 V; 7.1 V * 183. A transmitter has a carrier power output of 10W at an efficiency of 70%. How
much power must be supplied by the modulating amplifier for 100%
modulation?
Ans. 7.14 W

171. An FM modulator has a modulator deviation constant of kf = 30 kHz/V and

operates at a carrier frequency of 175 MHz. Find the output frequency
instantaneous value of the modulating signal equal to -2V.
Ans. 174.94 MHz
184. A transmitter operates from a 12V supply, with a collector current of 2A. The
modulation transformer has a turns ratio of 4:1. What is the load
impedance seen by the audio amplifier?
Ans. 96 ohms
172. An FM modulator has a modulator deviation constant of kf = 30 kHz/V and
operates at a carrier frequency of 175 MHz is modulated by a 3V sine
wave. Calculate the deviation.
Ans. 127.2 kHz

185. A collector modulated class C amplifier has a carrier output power Pc of 100W
and an efficiency of 70%. Calculate the supply power and the transistor
power dissipation with 100% modulation.
173. An FM broadcast transmitter operates at its maximum deviation of 75 kHz. Ans. Ps = 214W; Pd= 64W
Find the modulation index for a sinusoidal modulation signal with a
frequency of 50 Hz.
Ans. 1500

186. An AM transmitter is required to produce 10W of carrier power when

operating from a 15V supply. What is the required load impedance as
174. A phase modulator has a phase modulator sensitivity of kp = 2 radians per volt. seen from the collector?
What RMS voltage of a sine wave would cause a peak phase deviation of Ans. 11.25 ohms
60 degrees?
Ans. 0.37 V

187. A portable radio transmitter has to operate transmitter has to operate at

temperature from -5 to 35 degrees C. If its signal is derived from a
175. An FM communications transmitter has a maximum frequency deviation of 5 crystal oscillator with a temperature coefficient of +1 ppm per degree
kHz and a range of modulating frequencies from 300 Hz to 3 kHz. What Celsius and it transmits at exactly 146 MHz at 20 degrees C, find the
is the maximum phase shift that it produces? transmitting frequency at the upper temperature limit.
Ans. 16.7 radians Ans. 146.00219 MHz

188. A phase-locked loop has a VCO with a free-running frequency of 12 MHz. As

the frequency of the reference input is gradually raised from zero, the
176. An FM communications transmitter has a maximum frequency deviation of 5 loop locks at 10 MHz and comes out again at 16 MHz. Find the capture
kHz and a range of modulating frequencies from 300 Hz to 3 kHz. What range and lock range.
is the minimum phase shift that it produces? Ans. Capture range = 4 MHz, Lock range = 8 MHz
Ans. 1.67 radians

177. A phase modulation system, has a modulation index mp = 1.5, what is

maximum phase shift?
Ans. 86 degrees *

178. A phase modulator has a sensitivity of kp = 3 radians per volt. How much
frequency deviation does it produces with a sine-wave input of 2V peak
at a frequency of 1 kHz?
Ans. 6 kHz