Frequency Division Multiplexing(FDM)

FDM is an abbreviation used for frequency division multiplexing. In FDM, multiple

transmitted signals use a common channel but the total available bandwidth is utilized among
the various signals. This implies that over a complete channel a particular frequency slot is
allotted to only one signal.

Basically, in FDM, a different frequency band is used to modulate different data signal. This
means that different carrier frequency modulates the various signals that are to be transmitted
over the channel. Further, the modulated signals are mixed and transmitted over a single
communication link. The figure below shows the process of frequency division multiplexing:

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From
the figure shown above, it is clear that a single channel is divided into multiple parts. And
each part is nothing but a separate channel carrying a signal or data stream. The technique of
FDM is also known as analog multiplexing as it is used for multiplexing of analog signals.
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But the question arises if the signals are transmitted by this technique then there exist chances
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of interference between the different frequency signals.

So, to reduce the chances of interference between the simultaneously transmitted signals,
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guard bands are provided between the frequency slots. Guard bands are nothing but unused
frequency slot in the entire band that avoids overlapping of one frequency channel with the
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other.

Once the signal gets transmitted over the channel, then at the receiver end, demultiplexing of
the signal is performed in order to separate various signals from one another.

Explain FDM with a neat block diagram. Give its application.

 ● The operation of frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is based on sharing the
available bandwidth of a communication channel among the signals to be transmitted.
● The spectrum of composite FDM signal has been shown in figure.1 .

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Figure 1: FDM Spectrum
FDM Transmitter

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● Each signal that needs to be sent over a communication channel undergoes
modulation with various carrier frequencies, as shown clearly in the diagram below.
There are different kinds of modulation such as amplitude modulation, pulse
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modulation, frequency modulation etc.
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● As the name suggests, the modulation done here is frequency modulation by the FDM
transmitter.
● These modulated signals are then added up using a linear adder or a mixer, forming a
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composite signal which gets transmitted over a communication channel (single

channel).
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Figure 2: FDM Transmitter

FDM Receiver
● At the receiving end, the single composite signal is received by the FDM receiver.
● The receiver then passes the composite signal through various band pass filters.
● Each of these band pass filters has a frequency corresponding to the frequencies of
one of the carrier waves.
● Each band pass filter will accept the signal whose frequency matches with the
frequency of the carrier signal and rejects all other channels.
● The signals coming out of band pass filters pass through a demodulator.
● The demodulator does the work of separating the original signal from the carrier
signal.

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Figure 3: FDM Receiver

Guard Band
● Frequency overlap is a serious issue when it comes to frequency division multiplexing
and it must be completely avoided.
● Two frequency ranges can be separated by using some narrow frequency ranges called
guard bands.
● The guard bands avoid signal interference and enhance the quality of communication.
Applications of FDM
● FDM is used for FM & AM radio broadcasting. Each AM and FM radio station uses a
different carrier frequency. In AM broadcasting, these frequencies use a special band
from 530 to 1700 KHz. All these signals/frequencies are multiplexed and are
transmitted in air. A receiver receives all these signals but tunes only one which is
required. Similarly FM broadcasting uses a bandwidth of 88 to 108 MHz
● FDM is used in television broadcasting.
● First generation cellular telephone also uses FDM.
Time Division multiplexing (TDM):

TDM stands for time division multiplexing. It is a multiplexing technique that allows

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transmission of multiple signals over a common channel but in different time slots. Each
signal will get transmitted very quickly over the channel but at a time only one signal will be
transmitted. So basically in TDM, the overall transmission time is divided according to the

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multiple signals required to be transmitted over the common link.

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Each transmitted source is allotted with one or more time slot in each frame for the
transmission of the signal. The figure below shows the transmission of 4 different source
signals using time division multiplexing:
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Here as we can see that signals from 4 different sources are multiplexed together. So, the 4
separate TDM frames are generated that gets transmitted over the channel in different time
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slots.

TDM can be classified into two categories:

Synchronous TDM

In synchronous TDM, the system does not care whether each source is having signal or data
for transmission or not. It pre-assigns the slots to each individual source in the beginning. So,
at the time of transmission, in the absence of a data unit from an individual source, that
particular time slot will not get totally utilised.
This turns out to be a drawback in case of synchronous TDM system because the allotted
time duration is not utilised efficiently.

Asynchronous TDM

Unlike synchronous TDM, in case of asynchronous TDM, the time slot is assigned to only
that particular source that holds a data or signal to transmit. Therefore, in this case, it is not
necessary to have an equal number of frames as that of the number of sources to be
transmitted.

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PAM TDM System:

When a signal is sampled by narrow pulses, then the time interval between 2 pulses can be

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used to transmit the samples of other signals.

In this technique, signals are multiplexed in time domain and hence called Time Division

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multiplexing it is also used to transmit no. of signals on a single transmission media and
hence act as alternative to FDM.
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PAM/TDM System.
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The block diagram of PAM/TDM is as shown below.
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The switching arrangement at the Tx is provided by the commutator circuit, in each one of its
rotation, the commutator extracts or samples, one sample from each message, input
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Thus, at the output of the commutator we get a PAM waveform which contains the samples
of messages input which are periodically inter placed in time.

These multiplexed message samples are transmitted over the communication channel.

At the recovery end a decommutator is used which distributes the pulses to different
receivers. The decommutator is again a switching arrangement at the receiving end, similar to
that of the transmitting end.

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This decommutator is used to separate various received samples and to distribute them to an
assembly of LPFs. The LPF then reconstructs the individual messages,

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m1(t),m2(t)−−−−mn(t) at the output.

Here it is necessary that the rate of switching of commutator and decommutator must be same

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and they must be synchronised to each other, this synchronisation is achieved by sending a
synchronisation pulse.
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Thus after sending (n-1) pulses (each pulse from different channels) one synchronisation
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pulse is send, thus overall n pulses are sent in time Ts

Let fm be the maximum signal frequency and fs is the sampling frequency then
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Thus, the time duration in between successive sample is given as,

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Rewriting in terms of fm
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Now, as we have considered that there are N input channels, then one sample is collected
from each of the N samples.
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Hence, each interval will provide us with N samples and the spacing between the two is given
as
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We know pulse frequency is basically the number of pulses per second and is given by
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For a TDM signal pulse per second is the signalling rate denoted as ‘r’.

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Thus,

Advantages of TDM D
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● Simple circuit design.
● It uses the entire channel bandwidth for the transmission of the signal.
● The problem of Intermodulation distortion is not present in TDM.
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● Pulse overlapping can sometimes cause crosstalk but it can be reduced by utilising
guard time. Thus, it is not very serious.
Disadvantages of TDM
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● The transmitting and receiving section must be properly synchronised in order to have
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proper signal transmission and reception.

● Slow narrowband fading can wipe out all the TDM channels.
Applications of Time division multiplexing
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TDM finds its application mainly in a digital communication system, in cellular radio and in
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satellite communication systems.

TDM vs FDM Comparison Table

Some of the comparisons of TDM vs FDM are highlighted below:

Basis of Comparison Time Division Frequency Division Multiplexing

Multiplexing (TDM) (FDM)
Types signals used with This technique works well It works well with the Analog
for both Analog as well as signal.
Digital signals.

Basic criteria In TDM, time-sharing takes In FDM, Frequency sharing takes

place. place.

Necessary requirement In TDM, the In FDM, the guard band is

synchronisation pulse is necessary.
necessary.

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Interference The interference of the The interference of signal is quite
signal is low and high.
negligible.

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Efficiency The available channel is The available channel is used
used effectively. ineffectively.

Complexity
complex.
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The circuitry is not that It has a complex circuitry at the
transmitter as well as receiver
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end.
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Crosstalk The problem of crosstalk is Due to imperfect BPF, FDM
not that prominent. suffers the problem of crosstalk.
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Circuit complexity It is not that expensive a It is an expensive multiplexing

technique. technique.
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Propagation delay Since the signals are On the other hand, FDM does not
transmitted in different cause any propagation delay
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time slots which arises the while the transmission of the

problem of propagation signals.
delay.
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Applications e.g. Telephone companies e.g. Optical fibre cable or copper

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and internet service fibre cable.

providers.