Spectrum Measurements
R&S
®
ESRP
307
User Manual 1175.7445.02 ─ 08
6.1.1.11
Measuring the AM Modulation Depth
The AM modulation depth, also known as a modulation index, indicates by how much
the modulated signal varies around the carrier amplitude. It is defined as:
MDepth = peak signal amplitude / unmodulated carrier amplitude
So for MDepth = 0.5, for example, the carrier amplitude varies by 50% above and
below its unmodulated level, and for h = 1.0 it varies by 100%.
You can measure the modulation depth of a modulated signal using the
function.
When this function is activated, marker 1 is set to the peak level, which is considered
to be the carrier level. Deltamarkers 2 and 3 are automatically set symmetrically to the
carrier on the adjacent peak values of the trace. The markers can be adjusted man-
ually, if necessary.
The R&S
ESRP calculates the power at the marker positions from the measured lev-
els. The AM modulation depth is calculated as the ratio between the power values at
the reference marker and at the delta markers. If the powers of the two AM side bands
are unequal, the mean value of the two power values is used for AM modulation depth
calculation.
A remote control programming example is described in
on page 976 and an example of how to perform the mea-
surement manually in
Chapter 3.5.3.2, "Measuring the Modulation Depth of an AM-
Measurement results
The AM modulation depth in percent is displayed as a result of the measurement, indi-
cated in the marker results as "MDepth".
It can also be queried using the remote command
Softkeys for AM Modulation Depth Measurements
Marker 1 / Marker 2 / Marker 3 / … Marker 16,/ Marker Norm/Delta
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AM Mod Depth
Activates the measurement of the AM modulation depth. An AM-modulated carrier is
required on the screen to ensure correct operation.
When this function is activated, marker 1 is set to the peak level, which is considered
to be the carrier level. Deltamarkers 2 and 3 are automatically set symmetrically to the
carrier on the adjacent peak values of the trace. An edit dialog box is displayed for del-
tamarker 2 in order to adjust the position manually.
When the position of deltamarker 2 is changed, deltamarker 3 is moved symmetrically
with respect to the reference marker 1.
Measurements