CHAPTER-4

Vestigial Sideband in AM
VSB[3]: This stands for Vestigial Sideband. It is a form is signal where one sideband is
completely present, and the other sideband that has been only partly cut off or
suppressed. To reduce the amount of spectrum used, one sideband is transmitted fully,
whereas only the lower frequencies of the other are transmitted. The high frequencies
can be later enhanced using filters.

4.1 what is VSB-vestigial sideband ? [3]

VSB is a form of amplitude modulation intended to save bandwidth over regular AM.
Lets say we have a baseband signal that extends up to 1 MHz that we want to transmit
using some form of amplitude modulation. Lets say it also has to be compatible with a
simple receiver using a diode AM detector. Our choices for amplitude modulation format
would be single sideband suppressed carrier, double sideband suppressed carrier, plain
old AM (double sideband with carrier) or vestigial sideband. Lets consider the choices

SSB/suppressed carrier transmit bandwidth is the same as baseband bandwidth (= 1

MHz). This is clearly a good choice for minimizing bandwidth, but the problem is that we
cant detect it with a simple diode detector found in most consumer AM radios (and
analog TV receivers) because it is transmitted with no carrier signal.

DSB/suppressed carrier transmit bandwidth is twice the baseband bandwidth (= 2 x 1

MHz). Not best choice for saving bandwidth, plus it has the same detection problem that
SSB has.

Plain old AM transmit bandwidth is twice the baseband bandwidth (= 2 x 1 MHz), but it
can be detected with the simple diode detector. Good choice for the receiver, not so
good for bandwidth.
Vestigal sideband here we start with the plain old AM signal and filter out part of one
of the sidebands, say 50%. So coming out of the transmitter we have the carrier signal,
one complete sideband, and part of the other. We have reduced the bandwidth of the
signal compared to plain old AM; our bandwidth is now about 1.5 MHz rather than 2
MHz. And the best part is we can still detect the VSB signal using a simple diode
detector. After all, the second sideband information is redundant. Then you would have
a signal only 1 MHz wide and we could still detect it with a diode detector. The problem
is that the more of the sideband we filter out, the more distortion we get from the
detected waveform, so there is a practical limit to how much we can reduce the
bandwidth of the VSB signal. Its about 50% reduction of one sideband. VSB is used in
television transmission to save RF spectrum space.

Remarks of VSB:
Vestigial sideband of modulation where one sideband is transmitted, but just a trace,
or vestige of the other sideband is transmitted

A VSB signal always may be demodulated by an analog multiplier

However, if the carrier is also transmitted then the VSB signal may be demodulated by
an envelope detector.

4.2 VSB Modulator[3]

Fig-4.1: VSB Modulator and demodulator

Amplitude response of a VSB lter (Only positive-frequency side is shown)

Fig-4.2: Amplitude response of a VSB lter

For NTSC TV signal

Video bandwidth: W = 4.5 MHz

Bandwidth of vestigial sideband: fv = 1.25 MHz

 Transmission bandwidth: BT = 5.75 MHz instead of 9 MHz

4.3 Spectra in the VSB transmitter and receiver[3]

Fig-4.3: Spectra of VSB transmitter and receiver

Remark: Carrier is recovered by a carrier recovery circuit.

4.4 Uses of vestigial sideband[3]

1. VSB modulation is used to transmit

television (TV) Signal, where the waste
majority of signal energy is in the low
frequency Region. In TV broadcasting a
sizable carrier is also transmitted to make
the Demodulation possible with a simple
envelope detector.
2. An analog TV signal has a baseband
bandwidth of about 4 MHz. Transmitting as
plain old AM would require 8 MHz of
spectrum. With VSB it is 6 MHz. Now we
can fit 4 TV channels using VSB into the
same spectrum space as 3 TV channels
using regular AM.

4.5 Advantages
 1. VSB is a form of amplitude modulation intended to save bandwidth
over regular AM. Portions of one of the redundant sidebands are removed
to form a vestigial sidebandsignal.
1. The actual information is transmitted in the sidebands, rather
than the carrier; both sidebands carry the same information. Because
LSB and USB are essentially mirror images of each other, one can be
discarded or used for a second channel or for diagnostic purposes.

4.6 Disadvantages
VSB transmission is similar to single-sideband (SSB) transmission, in which one of
the sidebands is completely removed. In VSB transmission, however, the second
sideband is not completely removed, but is filtered to remove all but the desired range
of frequencies.

CHAPTER:5
Overview
5.1 Comparison of Amplitude Modulation Technique
Having studied the characteristics of the different forms of amplitude modulation
techniques , we are now in a position to compare their practical merits:

In standard AM systems the sidebands are transmitted in full, accompanied by the

carrier. Accordingly, demodulation is accomplished simply by using an envelope
detector or square-law detector. On the other hand, in suppressed carrier systems the
receiver is more complex because additional circuitry must be provided for the purpose
of carrier recovery. It is for this reason we find that in commercial AM radio broadcast
systems which involve one transmitter and numerous receivers, standard Am is used in
preference to DSBSC or SSB modulation.

Supressed-carrier modulation system have an advantages over standard AM system in

that they require much less power to transmit the same amount of information, which
makes the transmitter for such a systems less expensive than those required for
standard AM. Suppressed-carrier systems are therefore well-suited for point-to-point
communication involving one transmitter and one receiver., which would justify the use
of increased receiver complexity.
Single-sideband modulation requires the minimum transmitter power and minimum
transmission bandwidth possible for conveying a message signal fron one point to
another. Where vestigial sideband required a transmission bandwidth that is intermidate
between that required for SSB and DSBSC modulation.

DSBSC modulation, SSB modulation, VSB modulation are the example of linear
modulation.

5.2 Application[10]
Amplitude modulation is one way to carry information on a carrier, such as a radio
signal, the other is FM (Frequency Modulation). While FM offers greater clarity for
audio, and the higher frequencies that FM use offer a wider bandwidth, allowing for
more information to be transmitted, one application where FM and digital are not
suitable are Aviation communication, which to this day still use AM analogue. This is
because weaker signals can be heard over stronger, closer ones with AM, allowing for
emergency transmissions to have more chance of being heard over other traffic. Also,
AM uses a narrower bandwidth than FM, allowing more users in a smaller space. This is
important for the lower frequencies of Radio, where space is at a premium (ie shortwave
bands).

5.3 Limitations of AM[5]

The limitation on AM fidelity comes from current receiver design. Moreover, to fit more
transmitters on the AM broadcast band in the United States maximum, transmitted
audio bandwidth is limited to 10.2 kHz by a National Radio Systems
Committee (NRSC) standard adopted by the FCC in June 1989, resulting in a
channel occupied bandwidth of 20.4 kHz. The former audio limitation was 15 kHz
resulting in a channel occupied bandwidth of 30 kHz.
AM radio signals can be severely disrupted in large urban centres by metal structures,
tall buildings and sources of radio frequency interference (RFI) and electrical
noise, such as electrical motors, fluorescent lights, or lightning. As a result, AM radio in
many countries has lost its dominance as a music broadcasting service, and in many
cities is now relegated to news, sports, religious and talk radio stations. Some
musical genres particularly country, oldies, nostalgia and ethnic/world music survive
on AM, especially in areas where FM frequencies are in short supply or in thinly
populated or mountainous areas where FM coverage is poor.

5.4 Conclusion
Although amplitude modulation is used since the first days of the 20 th century, it is still
very popular. The advantages of AM are the easy and cheap way of realization and the
little consumption of bandwidth. The disadvantages are the poor signal to noise ratio
and the proneness to amplitude distortions.
An important part of amplitude modulation is the measuring of the modulation depth m.
The modulation depth can be either determined by directly obtaining the ratio of the
modulating and the carrier signal or to obtain the modulation depth via a trapezium
display. The trapezium display is more exactly, because the modulation depth is directly
readable from the oscilloscopes screen.

Linear modulation is very necessary to obtain a not interfered signal at the receiver. In
amplitude modulation, the sidebands contain the signal. The power in the sidebands is
the only useful power. The power carrier by the side bands is only 33.3% even when
there is 100% modulation. If modulation is 50%, then power carried by the sidebands is
11.1%. Clearly, the useful power is small. So, the amplitude modulation has low
efficiency.