DSSS Modulation and Demodulation

Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS or often just "spread spectrum") is a variation of the DSBSC
modulation scheme with a pulse train (called a pseudo-noise sequence or just PN sequence) for the
carrier instead of a simple sinewave. This may sound radical until you remember that pulse trains are
actually made up of a theoretically infinite number of sinewaves (the fundamental and harmonic). That
being the case, spread spectrum is really the DSBSC modulation of a theoretically infinite number of
sinusoidal carrier signals. The result is a theoretically infinite number of pairs of tiny sidebands about a
suppressed carrier.

Pseudo Noise (PN) code

With DSSS, the message signal is used to modulate a bit sequence known as a Pseudo Noise (PN) code;
this PN code consists of a radio pulse that is much shorter in duration (larger bandwidth) than the
original message signal. This modulation of the message signal scrambles and spreads the pieces of data,
and thereby resulting in a bandwidth size nearly identical to that of the PN sequence.

Fig 1 : DSSS Modulation and Demodulation block diagram

Spread spectrum signals are demodulated in the same way as DSBSC signals using a product detector.
Importantly, the product detector's local carrier signal must contain all the sine waves that make up
transmitter's pulse train at the same frequency and phase. If this is not done, the tiny demodulated
signals will be at the wrong frequency and phase and so they won't add up to reproduce the original
message. Instead, they'll produce a garbage signal that looks like noise.

Equipments needed for this experiment

 Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 (plus power-pock)

 Dual channel 20MHz oscilloscope
 Two Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 oscilloscope leads
 Assorted Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 patch leads
Part A - Generating a DSSS signal using a simple message

As DSSS is basically just DSBSC with a pulse train for the carrier instead of a simple sinusoid, it can be
generated, by implementing the mathematical model for DSBSC. Setup the Emona board according to
the block diagram on Fig 2.

Fig 2 : DSSS Modulation block diagram

Locate the Sequence Generator module and set its dip-switches to 00. The multiplier multiplies the 2kHz
sine wave message from master signal with a PN sequence modelled by the Sequence Generator's 32-bit
pulse train output whose clk is 100Khz digital signal which is also taken from the master signal.

The graphs obtained are:

Fig 3 : The message signal (2kHz sine) is red and the red and the DSSS signal is blue
 Fig 4: Sequence (red) and modulated (blue) signal.

Question 1
What feature of the Multiplier module's output suggests that it's basically a DSBSC Signal?

Answer: As the DSSS signal exists on both sides of about center. Both positive and negative envelopes
are formed.

Question 2
Why is the DSSS signal so large when it’s supposed to be small and indistinguishable from noise?

Answer: This is because usually the PN sequence is made of more bits, as the PN sequence here is used
for 31-bit code, it’s more distinguishable. If larger no. of bits were used than it wouldn’t be
recognizable.
.

Part B -Generating a DSSS signal using speech

So far, this experiment has generated a DSSS signal using a sine wave for the message. The next part of
the experiment lets you see what a DSSS signal looks like when modulated by speech. The block diagram
is the same but now the message signal is taken from the speech module not the sequence generator.

The graphs obtained are:

Fig 5: Speech (blue) and modulated (red) DSSS signal

Question 3

Why isn't there any signal out of the DSSS modulator when you're not talking, etc?

Answer: There will be no input signal is in the speech module and since the PN sequence has nothing
to multiply with, so there is no output signal.

Part C - Using the product detector to recover the message

Setup the Emona board according to the block diagram on Fig 6 below. In the Tunable Low-pass Filter
module set its Gain control to about the middle of its travel. Turn the Tunable Low-pass Filter module's
Cut-off Frequency Adjust control fully anticlockwise.

Fig 6 : Demodulation block diagram

The Multiplier and Tunable low-pass Filter modules implement a product Detector which recovers the
original message from the DSSS signal. To facilitate this, the PN sequence used for the modulator's
carrier is "stolen" for the product detector's local carrier (though it's stolen from the modules X output
but the sequence is the same).

The graphs obtained are:

Fig 7: Message (red) and Demodulated (blue) signal

Using a different PN sequence and observe the output given below,

 Fig 8: Message (red) and Demodulated (blue) signal

Question 4

What does the signal out of the low-pass filter look like?

Answer: The message signal, 2 kHz sine wave.

Question 5

Why does using the wrong PN sequence for the local carrier cause the product detector's output to look
like this?

Answer: It will be distorted as only the PN sequence used during modulation has to be used in
product detector to get back the message signal.

Part D - DSSS and deliberate interference (jamming)

Interference occurs when on unwonted electrical signal gets added to the transmitted signal (typically in
the channel) and changes it enough to change the recovered message. Electrical noise is a significant
source of unintentional interference. However, sometimes noise is deliberately added to the
transmitted signal for the purpose of interfering or "jamming" it. The next port of the experiment
models deliberate interference to show how spread spectrum signals are highly resistant to it.

Fig 9: Message (red) and Demodulated (blue) signal

Move the patch lead from the Sequence Generator to its X output. The VCO produces different
frequencies. Set the Adder module's adds the different frequency to the modulated signal. The product
detector is recovering the message again. This modification forces the VCO module’s output to sweep
continuously through a wide range of Frequencies.

The graphs obtained are:

Fig 10: Message signal (red) and Adder output signal (blue)

Fig 11: Message signal (red) and demodulation output after jamming (blue)

An even more sophisticated approach to jamming involves using jamming signals at once to increase the
chances of upsetting the transmitted signal. The next part of the experiment let’s you see how spread
spectrum handles this. Noise is added to modulated signal.

Fig 12: Noise is taken from Noise Generator and added to modulated signal.
The graphs obtained are:

Fig 13: Message signal (red)and noise (0 dB) (blue)

Fig 14: Message signal (red) and Demodulation output (for 0 dB noise) (blue)

Fig 15: Message signal (red) and noise (-6 dB) (blue)

Fig 16: Message signal (red) and Demodulation output (for -6 dB noise) (blue)
 Fig 17: Message signal (red) and noise (-20 dB) (blue)

Fig 18: Message signal (red) and Demodulation output (for -20 dB noise) (blue)

Question 6
Why doesn't the jamming signal interfere with the recovery of the message?

Answer: Due to PN sequence, information is spread over a wide range of frequencies, it is not possible
to jam the signal by a certain frequency. Even if tried , the message can be easily recovered.

Discussion

In our lab we learned in practice, not all of these sidebands have any energy of significance. However,
the fact that the message information is distributed across so many of them makes spread spectrum
signals difficult to deliberately interfere with or "jam". Due to this spreading It’s protected from jamming
and the addition of noise (the information is well encrypted). This is one of the reasons it is usually used
in the military. Here we used a product detector (with a stolen carrier) to reproduce the message. Here
we should remember that the leads were connected to the Multiplier module's AC inputs and not its DC
inputs.
 United International University
EEE 456

Digital Communication Lab

Group: 04

Experiment-6
Experiment name: DSSS Modulation and Demodulation

Submitted by:

Md. Tayebur Ahmed ID: 021 132 007

A.R.M. AtaharIshtiaq ID: 021 142 096
Submitted to:

Arifa Sultana
Date of submission: 7.03.2017