Analog Communication Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction

Analog Communication is a data transmitting technique in which information signal is transmitted in

analog nature. This

always utilizes continuous signals to transmit data which may obtained from audio, image, video etc. An
Analog signal is a

variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude. To produce modulated signal inside the
transmitter in Analog

Communication, analog signal modulates the high carrier frequency. Than this modulated signal is
transmitted with the

help of antenna. All AM, FM audio transmission and T.V. transmission are the most preferable examples
of analog

communication. Analog communication is very important topic for the students preparing for GATE
Exam(Electronics)

Following questions will help to learn the basics concepts of analog communication.

Analog Communication

1. What is Sampling? What is Sampling Theorem?

Ans: Sampling is defined as the process in which an analog signals are converted into digital signals. It
means that a

continuous time signal is converted into a discrete time signal.

Analog Communication

Sampling Theorem is defined as : The continuous time signal that can be represented in its samples and
recovered back

if the sampling frequency (fs) is greater than the maximum frequency of the signal (fm) that is fs >2fm.

2. Define PAM and write down its drawbacks?

Ans: Pulse Amplitude Modulation is the process by which the amplitude of the regularly spaced pulses
varies according to

the the amplitude of the modulating signal.

The drawbacks are:

a. Since the amplitude of the pulses varies therefore the peak power of the modulating s/g is much
greater.

b. The bandwidth required for transmitting is greater since the amplitude varies.

3. What is Modulation? What happens in over modulation?

Ans: Modulation is defined as the process in which some characteristics of the signal called carrier is
varied according to

the modulating or baseband signal. For example Amplitude Modulation, Phase Modulation, Frequency
Modulation.

In case of over modulation, the modulation index is greater than one and envelope distortion occurs.

4. What do you mean by Nyquist rate?

Ans: In case of Nyquist rate, the sampling frequency is equal to the maximum frequency of the signal
and therefore the

successive cycles of the spectrum does not overlap.

5. What do you mean by FM and classify FM?

Ans: Frequency Modulation can be defined as the frequency of the carrier (wc) is varied acc. to the
modulating signal

about an unmodulated frequency.

FM are of 2 types:

a. Narrowband FM

b. Wideband FM
6. What is under sampling?

Ans: Under sampling is also known as aliasing effect in which the the sampling frequency is less than the
maximum

frequency of the signal and therefore the successive cycles of the spectrum overlap.

7. State the advantages of superheterodyning?

Ans: The advantages are:

a. High selectivity and sensitivity.

b. No change in Bandwidth that is bandwidth remains same all over the operating range.

c. High adjacent channel rejection.

8. What is multiplexing? Name the types of multiplexing?

Ans: Multiplexing is defined as the process in which a number of message signals are combined together
to form

composite signals so that they can be transmitted through the common channel.
The two types of multiplexing are:

a. Frequency Division Multiplexing: In this technique, fixed frequency bands are allotted to every user in
the complete

channel bandwidth. Such frequency is allotted to user on a continuous basis.

b. Time Division Multiplexing: When the pulse is present for the short time duration and most of the
time their is no signal

present in-between them than this free space between the two pulses can occupied by the pulses from
other channels.

This is known as Time Division Multiplexing.

9. What is Amplitude Modulation?

Ans: Amplitude Modulation is defined as the process in which the instantaneous value of the amplitude
of the carrier is

varied according to the amplitude of the modulating or base band signal.

10. How can be aliasing be avoided?

Ans: Aliasing can be avoided if:

a. Sampling frequency must be greater than the frequency of the modulating signal.

b. The frequency should be band limited to maximum frequency of the signal(fm) Htz.

c. If pre-alias filter is used.

Now, Earth has turned into a global village by adopting various processes for the communication. We
are dealing with

communication in our day to day life. Thus, with the advancement in the world and
technologyCommunication plays a

vital role in every aspect of life. Communication is the process of connection establishment between
two points for

exchange of information. Mainly their are three field of Electronics namely Computers, Communication
and Control.

Communication is the second largest.

Question-1: What do you understand by Communication.

Answer: Communication is the process by which data is either transferred or received from one place to
another via
communication channel.

Question-2: Draw the Basic Block Diagram of Communication System.

Answer: The block diagram of communication system is given as follow:

Block diagram of Communication System

Basic Block Diagram of Communication System

Block Diagram of Communication system consists of following part:

At transmitter End

1) Source

2) Source Coder

3) Channel Coder

4) Modulator

5) Communication Channel

At Receiver End

6) Demodulator
7) Channel Decoder

8) Source Decoder

9) Destination

Question 3: Explain different modes used for communication.

Answer: According to the mode of communication, it is divided into

1) Line Communication: In this mode of communication, the medium of transmission is a pair of

conductors called

transmission lines. Both the Tx and Rx are connected via a wire or line.

2) Wireless or Radio Communication: In this mode, a message is transmitted through a open medium as
in space by

electromagnetic wave which are known as radio waves.

Question 4: What are different types of communication system.

Answer: Their are three basic types of communication system, which are-

1) Simplex Communication System:

Simplex Communication Diagram

Simplex Communication System

Here, the communication system that is capable of transmitting information through, called simplex
transmission system.

In simplex type, one unit is equipped with a transmitter and the other side is equipped with only one
receiver but

communication is done only one way by transmitter.

For Example: T.V. broadcast system.

2) Half-Duplex Communication System:

Half-Duplex Communication Diagram

Half-Duplex Communication System

Here, the communication system that is capable of transmitting information in both directions but the
flow is only one way

at a given time that why it is known as half-duplex. In HDX type, one unit is equipped with transmitter as
well receiver at

one end and a transmitter-receiver at the other end but information cant flow simultaneously in both
the directions.

For Example: Walkie-Talkie

3) Full Duplex Communication System:

Full duplex Diagram

Full Duplex Communication System

Here the flow of communication takes place in both the direction simultaneously. Full-duplex Ethernet
connections work on

the principles of full-duplex where data packets are received and sent simultaneously at a given time.

For Example: Phone

Question 5: What is modulation and give methods used for modulation.

Answer: Modulation is the process by which some characteristics of signal known as Carrier Signal is
varied in

accordance to the instantaneous value of the another signal known as Message Signal.

Methods of Modulations are:

1) Angle Modulation

2) Amplitude Modulation

Question 6: Explain why modulation is required?

Answer: 1. When we want to transmit electrical signal over an antenna, through free space, it must be
converted into

electro-magnetic waves. Only electro-magnetic waves have the property to travel through space
(vacuum) at the speed of

light message signal or voice signals have low frequencies.

2. Signal with low frequencies cannot travel longer distance.

3. To make msg signal or voice signal travel longer distance.

4. To increase the signal to noise ratio.

Question 7: What is the difference between analog modulation and digital modulation.

Answer: In analog modulation bandwidth required is low while in digital modulation due to higher bit
rate, heigher channel

bandwidth are required.

Question 8: What is multiplexing. Explain its types.

Answer: Multiplexing is defined as the process in which a number of message signals are combined
together to form

composite signals so that they can be transmitted through the common channel.

Types of multiplexing:

1) Frequency Division Multiplexing

2) Time Division Multiplexing

Question 9: Give the limitation of PLL Synthesizer.

Answer: It suffers from tolerance which occurred in its analog components. Here, short term drifts are
caused due to
variation in the filter and VCO components.

Question 10: Explain the term companding.

Answer: Companding is the term derived from the combination of two terms

COMPANDING= COMPRESSION + EXPANDING

In the process of Companding, the weak signals are amplified and strong signals are attenuated before
applying them to

a uniform quantizer.

What is Electronic?

The study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other
electrically charged

particles.

What is communication?

Communication means transferring a signal from the transmitter which passes through a medium then
the output is

obtained at the receiver. (or)communication says as transferring of message from one place to another
place called
communication.

Different types of communications? Explain.

Analog and digital communication.

As a technology, analog is the process of taking an audio or video signal (the human voice) and
translating it into

electronic pulses. Digital on the other hand is breaking the signal into a binary format where the audio
or video data is

represented by a series of "1"s and "0"s.

Digital signals are immune to noise, quality of transmission and reception is good, components used in
digital

communication can be produced with high precision and power consumption is also very less when
compared with

analog signals.

What is engineering?

The application of science to the needs of humanity and a profession in which a knowledge of the
mathematical and

natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to
use economically
the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.

Difference between electronic and electrical.

Electronics work on DC and with a voltage range of -48vDC to +48vDC. If the electronic device is plugged
into a standard

wall outlet, there will be a transformer inside which will convert the AC voltage you are supplying to the
required DC

voltage needed by the device. Examples: Computer, radio, T.V, etc...

Electric devices use line voltage (120vAC, 240vAC, etc...). Electric devices can also be designed to
operate on DC

sources, but will be at DC voltages above 48v. Examples: are incandescent lights, heaters, fridge, stove,
etc...

What is sampling?

The process of obtaining a set of samples from a continuous function of time x(t) is referred to as
sampling.

State sampling theorem.

It states that, while taking the samples of a continuous signal, it has to be taken care that the sampling
rate is equal to or

greater than twice the cut off frequency and the minimum sampling rate is known as the Nyquist rate.

What is cut-off frequency?

The frequency at which the response is -3dB with respect to the maximum response.

What is pass band?

Passband is the range of frequencies or wavelengths that can pass through a filter without being
attenuated.

What is stop band?

A stopband is a band of frequencies, between specified limits, in which a circuit, such as a filter or
telephone circuit, does

not let signals through, or the attenuation is above the required stopband attenuation level.

Explain RF?

Radio frequency (RF) is a frequency or rate of oscillation within the range of about 3 Hz to 300 GHz. This
range

corresponds to frequency of alternating current electrical signals used to produce and detect radio
waves. Since most of

this range is beyond the vibration rate that most mechanical systems can respond to, RF usually refers
to oscillations in

electrical circuits or electromagnetic radiation.

What is modulation? And where it is utilized?

Modulation is the process of varying some characteristic of a periodic wave with an external signals.

Radio communication superimposes this information bearing signal onto a carrier signal.

These high frequency carrier signals can be transmitted over the air easily and are capable of travelling
long distances.

The characteristics (amplitude, frequency, or phase) of the carrier signal are varied in accordance with
the information

bearing signal.

Modulation is utilized to send an information bearing signal over long distances.

What is demodulation?

Demodulation is the act of removing the modulation from an analog signal to get the original baseband
signal back.

Demodulating is necessary because the receiver system receives a modulated signal with specific
characteristics and it

needs to turn it to base-band.

Name the modulation techniques.

For Analog modulation--AM, SSB, FM, PM and SM

Digital modulation--OOK, FSK, ASK, Psk, QAM, MSK, CPM, PPM, TCM, OFDM

Explain AM and FM.

AM-Amplitude modulation is a type of modulation where the amplitude of the carrier signal is varied in
accordance with

the information bearing signal.

FM-Frequency modulation is a type of modulation where the frequency of the carrier signal is varied in
accordance with

the information bearing signal.

where do we use AM and FM?

AM is used for video signals for example TV. Ranges from 535 to 1705 kHz.

FM is used for audio signals for example Radio. Ranges from 88 to 108 MHz.

What is Oscillator?

An oscillator is a circuit that creates a waveform output from a direct current input. The two main types
of oscillator are

harmonic and relaxation. The harmonic oscillators have smooth curved waveforms, while relaxation
oscillators have

waveforms with sharp changes.

What is crosstalk?
Crosstalk is a form of interference caused by signals in nearby conductors. The most common example is
hearing an

unwanted conversation on the telephone. Crosstalk can also occur in radios, televisions, networking
equipment, and even

electric guitars.

What is a rectifier?

A rectifier changes alternating current into direct current. This process is called rectification. The three
main types of

rectifier are the half-wave, full-wave, and bridge. A rectifier is the opposite of an inverter, which changes
direct current into

alternating current.

HWR- The simplest type is the half-wave rectifier, which can be made with just one diode. When the
voltage of the

alternating current is positive, the diode becomes forward-biased and current flows through it. When
the voltage is

negative, the diode is reverse-biased and the current stops. The result is a clipped copy of the
alternating current

waveform with only positive voltage, and an average voltage that is one third of the peak input voltage.
This pulsating

direct current is adequate for some components, but others require a more steady current. This requires
a full-wave
rectifier that can convert both parts of the cycle to positive voltage.

FWR- The full-wave rectifier is essentially two half-wave rectifiers, and can be made with two diodes and
an earthed

centre tap on the transformer. The positive voltage half of the cycle flows through one diode, and the
negative half flows

through the other. The centre tap allows the circuit to be completed because current cannot flow
through the other diode.

The result is still a pulsating direct current but with just over half the input peak voltage, and double the
frequency.

What is resistor?

A resistor is a two-terminal electronic component that opposes anelectric current by producing a

voltage drop between its

terminals in proportion to the current, that is, in accordance with Ohm's law: V= IR.

What is capacitor?

A capacitor is an electrical/electronic device that can store energyin the electric field between a pair of
conductors (called

"plates"). The process of storing energy in the capacitor is known as "charging", and involves electric
charges of equal

magnitude, but opposite polarity, building up on each plate.

Capacitors are often used in electric and electronic circuits asenergy-storage devices. They can also be
used to

differentiate between high-frequency and low-frequency signals. This property makes them useful in
electronic filters.

Capacitors are occasionally referred to as condensers. This term is considered archaic in English, but
most other

languages use acognate of condenser to refer to a capacitor.

What is inductor?

An inductor is a passive electrical device employed in electrical circuits for its property of inductance. An
inductor can take

many forms.

What is conductor?

A substance, body, or device that readily conducts heat, electricity, sound, etc. Copper is a good
conductor of electricity.

What is a semi conductor?

A semiconductor is a solid material that has electrical conductivityin between that of a conductor and
that of an insulator

(AnInsulator is a material that resists the flow of electric current. It is an object intended to support or
separate electrical
conductorswithout passing current through itself); it can vary over that wide range either permanently
or dynamically.

What is diode?

In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal device. Diodes have two active electrodes between which the
signal of interest

may flow, and most are used for their unidirectional current property.

What is transistor?

In electronics, a transistor is a semiconductor device commonly used to amplify or switch electronic

signals. The transistor

is the fundamental building block of computers, and all other modernelectronic devices. Some
transistors are packaged

individually but most are found in integrated circuits.

What is op-amp?

An operational amplifier, often called an op-amp , is a DC-coupledhigh-gain electronic voltage amplifier

with differential

inputs[1] and, usually, a single output. Typically the output of the op-amp is controlled either by
negative feedback, which

largely determines the magnitude of its output voltage gain, or by positive feedback, which facilitates
regenerative gain
and oscillation.

What are the main components needed for a communication?

Sender, Transmission line and Receiver.

What is Radio communication?

Radio communication uses electrical energy to transmit information. Radio transmitter converts
audio (sound) signals

to electrical signals that are sent over wires or through space. A radio receiver converts the
electromagnetic waves so that

the information can be found out.

Range of Audio Frequency?

20Hz to 20 KHz
 Range of Radio Frequency?

10 KHz to 1000GHz.

What is modulation?

Modulation is the process of changing the characteristics of the carrier signal with respect to that of
the message

signal.

What are the principle forms of modulation?

Amplitude Modulation(AM)

Frequency Modulation(FM)

Phase Modulation(PM)

What are the types of angle modulations?

FM and PM
What is a mixer?

An electronic circuit that combines two frequencies.

What is a product detector?

It is a detector whose audio frequency output is equal to the product of the Beat Frequency Oscillator
(BFO) and the RF

input signal.

What is a Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO)?

An oscillator whose output frequency is approximately equal to the transmitters carrier frequency.

What is known as Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the frequency range, in hertz (Hz), between the upper and lower frequency limits.

12. What is Harmonics?

Harmonics is the signals with frequencies that are an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency.
13. What is the range of frequency in commercial AM broadcasting?

540 KHz to 1600 KHz has a 10 KHz bandwidth.

14. Range of frequency in AM baseband?

100KHZ to 5 KHz.

15. What is baseband?

It is a band of frequencies occupied by a message signal.

16. What you mean by frequency translate?

It is the process of displaying the frequency contents of a signal to another place in the frequency
spectrum.

17. Modulation index?

Modulation index (m) is the ratio between the amplitude of the message signal to the amplitude of
the unmodulated
carrier signal.

18. What is percentage of modulation?

The modulation index (M) is expressed as a percentage.(%m)

19. Transmission efficiency?

It is the ratio of the total AM power to that of the sideband.

20. What is Splatter?

Adjacent channel interference due to over modulation of carrier signal by abrupt peak message
signal.

21. What is the selectivity of a radio receiver? The ability of a radio receiver to select a desired signal
frequency while

rejecting all others is called selectivity. 22. What are the main components of a RF receiver?

RF filter, RF amplifier, mixer. Local Oscillator, IF filter, IF amplifier and Envelope Detector.
23. What is RF stage?

It is the first input stage in which primary selection, filtering and amplification of the input RF signal is
performed.

24. What is IF stage?

It is the section of the receiver between the mixer and the detector. The IF stage operates at a fixed
intermediate

frequency (FIF) and it is where most of the amplification and filtering occurs.

24. What is local oscillator?

An oscillator in which a piece of electronic equipment that is usually used as a source of

electromagnetic wave

frequencies for mixing with other frequencies that the equipment handles.

25. What is envelope detector?

A circuit containing a diode in series with an RC network, used to perform demodulation. An envelope
detector, which

demodulates an AM signal, cannot demodulate an SSB signal

26. What is a diode detector?

A diode detector is a nonlinear charging circuit formed by a diode in series with a parallel with RC
network.

27. What is a balance modulator?

Balance modulators translate a message signal to two sidebands and suppress the carrier signal
frequency to

produce a DSB signal.

28. What is up conversion?

The process of increasing the frequency of a signal to a higher frequency for transmission is up
conversion. The mixer,

which is a balanced modulator, performs the up-conversion.

29. What is the function of AGC circuit?

A circuit that maintains the output volume of a receiver, regardless of the variations in the received
signal power.
30. What is centre frequency?

Centre frequency is the frequency of the unmodulated FM carrier signal.

31. What is frequency deviation?

Frequency deviation the maximum frequency change between a modulated and unmodulated
carrier signal.

32. What is discriminator?

Discriminator is a device that demodulates an FM signal.

33. What is Quadrature?

Quadrature is the phase relationship between two equal frequency signals that are 90 out of phase.

34. FM modulation index?

FM modulation index the ratio of frequency deviation to the message signal frequency.
35. What is signal to noise ratio?

A signal-to-noise ratio is the ratio of the magnitude of the signal to that of noise (often expressed in
decibels).

36. What are varactor diode and schottky diode?

Varactor diode is a diode that changes capacitance with a change in input voltage.

Schottky diode is diodes that have a low forward voltage drop in the range of 0.2V to 0.4V.

37. What is phase-locked loop (PLL)?

Phase-locked loop (PLL) is a circuit that locks onto a phase relationship between an input signal and a
VCO signal,

and produces an error signal. The error signal is fed back to control the VCO frequency so that it equals
the input

frequency.

38. What is Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK)?

 Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK) is shifting an analog signals frequency between two values to represent
the binary states

high and low of a digital signal. A modem uses FSK to transmit digital signals over analog telephone lines.

39. What is voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)?

Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) an oscillator that uses an input voltage to control its output
frequency.

40. What are the advantages and applications of PLL?

PLLs have high degree of noise immunity and a narrow bandwidth.

Do not require complex coil adjustments.

PLLs are also used for Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK) operations in digital communications.

A PLL operates by producing a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency (f vco) that matches the
RF frequency (fi).

PLLs are used in FM and AM demodulation because they do not require complex coil adjustments.

41. What is noise?

An unwanted signal that will disturb the transmission or processing of signals in communication
systems. Eg. Shot

noise, Thermal noise.

42. What is shot noise?

A noise arises from the discrete nature of diodes and transistors.

E.g., a current pulse is generated every time an electron is emitted by the cathode. 43. What is
thermal noise?

A noise arises from the random motion of electrons in a conductor.

44. What is white noise?

A noise is white if its PSD (Power Spectral Density) equals constant for all frequencies.

45. What is modulation?

A process by which some characteristic of a carrier is varied in accordance with a modulating wave
(baseband signal).

There are,

Amplitude modulation

Angle modulation (Phase modulation, Frequency modulation).

46. What is Transmission Bandwidth?

Transmission bandwidth of an AM wave,

For positive frequencies, the highest frequency component of the AM wave equals fc + W, and the
lowest frequency

component equals fc W.

The difference between these two frequencies defines the transmission bandwidth BT for an AM
wave.

47. Limitations of Amplitude Modulation (DSB-C)?

Waste of power in the information-less with-carrier part.

Wasteful of power and bandwidth

48. How to generate SSB signal?

Product modulator to generate DSB-SC signal

Band-pass filter to pass only one of the sideband and suppress the other.

49. Vestigial Sideband Modulation?

 Instead of transmitting only one sideband as SSB, VSB modulation transmits a partially suppressed
sideband and a

vestige of the other sideband.

Eg: Television Signals

50. What is Angle Modulation?

The angle of the carrier is varied in accordance with the base band signal.

Commonly used angle modulation

Phase modulation (PM)

Frequency modulation (FM)