Latest Wireless Communication Technical Articles

Learn how the Foster-Seeley discriminator, a classic analog circuit for FM demodulation, achieves its superior linearity.

Learn how the Foster-Seeley discriminator, a classic analog circuit for FM demodulation, achieves its superior linearity.

In this article, we'll analyze the single-tuned discriminator for FM-to-AM conversion. We'll then discuss the balanced…

In this article, we'll analyze the single-tuned discriminator for FM-to-AM conversion. We'll then discuss the balanced discriminator and how it provides improved linearity across a wider bandwidth.

In this article, we will examine the basic principles of FM demodulation through the simplest frequency discriminator: a…

In this article, we will examine the basic principles of FM demodulation through the simplest frequency discriminator: a differentiator.

In this article, we'll solidify our understanding of the reactance modulator and Armstrong modulator circuits by working…

In this article, we'll solidify our understanding of the reactance modulator and Armstrong modulator circuits by working through a series of design problems.

This article explores the concept of indirect FM generation and the basic operation of the Armstrong modulator.

This article explores the concept of indirect FM generation and the basic operation of the Armstrong modulator.

In this article, we examine two different methods of producing wideband FM signals. Both use crystal oscillators to…

In this article, we examine two different methods of producing wideband FM signals. Both use crystal oscillators to provide improved frequency stability.

In this article, we explore the limitations of LC oscillators for direct FM generation and how to deal with them using…

In this article, we explore the limitations of LC oscillators for direct FM generation and how to deal with them using multipliers and automatic frequency control (AFC) circuits.

Learn how a varactor diode's variable capacitance, together with an LC tank circuit, can drive a voltage-controlled…

Learn how a varactor diode's variable capacitance, together with an LC tank circuit, can drive a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to create FM waveforms.

In this article, we examine a reactance modulator design that employs the variable capacitance of a bipolar junction…

In this article, we examine a reactance modulator design that employs the variable capacitance of a bipolar junction transistor to modulate the output of a Colpitts oscillator.

In this article, we'll introduce the fundamental concepts of direct FM generation and examine a key FM modulation…

In this article, we'll introduce the fundamental concepts of direct FM generation and examine a key FM modulation circuit: the reactance modulator.

Along with introducing Carson's rule for bandwidth estimation, this article explains how to calculate the required…

Along with introducing Carson's rule for bandwidth estimation, this article explains how to calculate the required transmission bandwidth based on either the sidebands or the total power of the signal.

Learn how Bessel functions and the modulation index can help us understand the bandwidth of wideband frequency-modulated…

Learn how Bessel functions and the modulation index can help us understand the bandwidth of wideband frequency-modulated (FM) signals.

This article explores the effect of signal bandwidth on the linearity of power amplifiers, including the impacts of…

This article explores the effect of signal bandwidth on the linearity of power amplifiers, including the impacts of cascaded RF gain stages.

In this article, we’ll use phasor diagrams to compare narrowband FM and conventional AM. We’ll also discuss the…

In this article, we’ll use phasor diagrams to compare narrowband FM and conventional AM. We’ll also discuss the problem of oscillator phase noise and work through an example problem.

Using the third-order intercept point (IP3) metric, we examine how the nonlinearity of individual gain stages in a…

Using the third-order intercept point (IP3) metric, we examine how the nonlinearity of individual gain stages in a cascaded RF system affects the linearity performance of the cascade as a whole.

Learn to calculate the upper and lower limits of a circuit’s dynamic range and spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR).

Learn to calculate the upper and lower limits of a circuit’s dynamic range and spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR).

Learn why phase modulation (PM) and frequency modulation (FM) can produce waveforms that are nearly identical or…

Learn why phase modulation (PM) and frequency modulation (FM) can produce waveforms that are nearly identical or completely different from one another, depending on the nature of the message signal.

Learn to confidently determine intermodulation distortion products and the third-order intercept point of RF circuits by…

Learn to confidently determine intermodulation distortion products and the third-order intercept point of RF circuits by working through a selection of example problems.

The output of a power amplifier can be a function of both present and past input values. In this article, we explore how…

The output of a power amplifier can be a function of both present and past input values. In this article, we explore how to characterize this important non-ideality.