Communication Lab Viva Questions &
Answers
Experiment 1: High-Level AM Modulator & Diode Detector
Q: What is amplitude modulation?
A: It's changing the amplitude of a carrier wave based on the message signal.
Q: What component demodulates the AM wave?
A: Diode detector or envelope detector.
Q: Formula for modulation index?
A: m = (Vmax - Vmin) / (Vmax + Vmin)
Experiment 2: FM using VCO and PLL
Q: What is frequency modulation?
A: Changing the frequency of the carrier based on the message signal.
Q: What is the modulation index (FM)?
A: β = Δf / fm, where Δf is frequency deviation.
Q: Bandwidth of FM signal?
A: BW = 2(Δf + fm)
Experiment 3: BJT/FET Mixer
Q: What does a mixer do?
A: Produces sum and difference of input signal frequencies.
Q: Why is transistor used in mixer?
A: For non-linear operation to multiply signals.
Experiment 4: Pre-Emphasis & De-Emphasis
Q: Why use pre-emphasis?
A: To boost high-frequency components to reduce noise.
Q: What is de-emphasis?
A: To reduce high-frequency boost at the receiver.
Experiment 5: Balanced/Lattice Modulator
Q: What does a balanced modulator do?
A: Removes the carrier, keeps only sidebands (DSB-SC).
Q: What is DSB-SC?
A: Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier signal.
Experiment 6: Pulse Sampling & Reconstruction
Q: What is flat-top sampling?
A: Samples have flat tops (constant amplitude).
Q: Why prefer flat-top over natural sampling?
A: Less noise and easier to reconstruct.
Experiment 7: Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)
Q: What is PAM?
A: Varying the amplitude of pulses as per message signal.
Q: Is PAM analog or digital?
A: Analog technique.
Experiment 8: Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)
Q: What is PPM?
A: Changing the position of pulses with message signal.
Q: What remains constant in PPM?
A: Amplitude and width of pulses.
Experiment 9: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
Q: What is PWM?
A: Varying width (ON time) of pulse based on message.
Q: Where is PWM used?
A: In power control, motors, and communication.
Experiment 10: PLL Frequency Synthesizer
Q: What is PLL?
A: A system that locks the phase of output with input.
Q: What are the three stages of PLL?
A: Free running, capture, and locked state.
Experiment 11: Data Formatting & Line Coding
Q: What is line coding?
A: Converting binary data to digital signal for transmission.
Q: Example of line codes?
A: NRZ-L, NRZ-M, Manchester, RZ-AMI etc.
Experiment 12: Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
Q: What are the steps in PCM?
A: Sampling, quantizing, encoding.
Q: Why is PCM used?
A: For digitally transmitting analog signals.