A Compatible Double Sideband/Single Sideband/Constant

Bandwidth FM Telemetry System for Wideband Data

Item Type text; Proceedings

Authors Frost, W. O.; Emens, F. H.; Williams, R.

Publisher International Foundation for Telemetering

Journal International Telemetering Conference Proceedings

Rights Copyright © International Foundation for Telemetering

Download date 29/06/2020 19:55:15

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/606344

 A COMPATIBLE DOUBLE SIDEBAND/SINGLE
SIDEBAND/CONSTANT BANDWIDTH FM TELEMETRY
SYSTEM FOR WIDEBAND DATA

W. O. FROST, F. H. EMENS and R. WILLIAMS

Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama

SUMMARY

This paper reviews the telemetry problems involved in transmission of wideband

phenomena such as shock, vibration, and acoustic measurements. Three approaches to
this problem have recently received considerable attention from the telemetry
community: SS/FM, DSB/FM, and constant bandwidth FM/FM. The relative capabilities
and limitations of these three techniques are discussed and their S/N performance and r-f
bandwidth utilization efficiency are compared. An arrangement whereby the three
techniques may be flexibly intermixed on a single RF carrier is then described.
Examination and consideration of the merits of this arrangement as a future standard
telemetry technique is proposed.

INTRODUCTION

A critical problem which now confronts the telemetering community is the perfection of
telemetry techniques to efficiently handle rapidly increasing demands for shock,
vibration, and acoustic measurements. Although moderately small quantities of
wideband data channels have been a typical measuring requirement for well over a
decade, in recent years pressures for better methods to transmit these measurements have
increased enormously. The sheer physical size of space vehicles such as Saturn certainly
calls for more structural dynamics measurements, but other factors are at work as well.
The astronomical cost of building a large, complex space vehicle has encouraged the
compression of vehicle development programs to a minimal number of developmental
flights. Four to six development launch tests are now typical for the large space vehicles,
compared to 30 or so for the missile development programs of a few years ago. The
dynamicist is thus impelled to measure as many points as possible on each flight, since
measurements that would have been delayed until later development vehicles must now
be accomplished on early flight tests. Meanwhile, the requirement for man-rating of
space vehicles creates an additional critical interest in defining the vibration and acoustic
environment of the vehicle as completely and as early as possible.
 TELEMETRY TECHNIQUES FOR WIDEBAND DATA

Three telemetry techniques for transmission of wideband data have recently received
considerable attention in the telemetry community. These are: 1) SS/FM - Single
sideband suppressed carrier AM subcarriers on an FM carrier, 2) DSB/FM - Double
sideband suppressed carrier AM subcarriers on an FM carrier, and 3) Constant
bandwidth FM/FM - Arrangements of FM/FM channels with uniform response. Each of
these techniques has certain capabilities and limitations which are pertinent to its
consideration for transmission of wideband data.

SS/FM Telemetry equipment using the SS/FM technique has been developed and
utilized in recent years in the Saturn and Titan III programs.1 This early equipment was
designed primarily to meet the requirements for power spectral density analysis. The
phase response of individual channels and the uniformity of phase characteristics
between channels were not adequate for measurements requiring waveform reproduction
or cross correlation analysis. These deficiencies resulted primarily from the techniques
used in implementation rather than inherent shortcomings of the SS technique.

Recent development efforts have demonstrated that the technology now exists for SS
channels with flat frequency response down to 10 Hz and adequate channel-to-channel
phase uniformity for cross correlation analysis. The phase vs frequency characteristic
although consistent from channel-to-channel is somewhat nonlinear at low frequencies
and may require phase correction networks to allow accurate waveform reconstruction.

An ideal SS channel would provide DC channel response, with a carrier component of

fixed phase transmitting the DC information. However, the technology for generating
such a signal does not now exist and DC response for SS/FM remains out of reach.

DSB/FM Wideband data channels with DC response and excellent phase

characteristics can be provided by double sideband suppressed carrier AM subcarriers on
an FM carrier. The advantages of DSB/FM over SS/FM, however, entail a factor of 2
reduction in r-f bandwidth utilization efficiency for equal S/N performance. Successful
implementation of telemetry equipment using the DSB/FM technique has been
demonstrated in at least one case.2

The discussion and comparison of DSB/FM in this paper relate to an alternate

implementation, which differs in several respects from that described in reference 2.
Major problems involved in design of both SS and DSB equipment are: 1) subcarrier
summing, 2) automatic gain control and correction, and 3) derivation and reconstruction
of carriers. These problems may be solved in an identical manner for both techniques. A
straightforward approach to design of a DSB/FM link is to delete the sideband filtering
from the vehicle SS/FM equipment and accomplish a minor modification in the SS
demultiplexer which allows it to accommodate both SS and DSB subcarriers. The factor
of 2 reduction in data bandwidth capability is then accommodated either by halving the
bandwidth of individual channels or by deleting alternate channels. This design concept,
which is detailed later, permits a flexible intermixing of SS and DSB subcarriers on an
RF link.

Constant Bandwidth FM/FM Arrangements of FM subcarriers with uniform

frequency response have been widely used in recent years in ground data acquisition
systems. Evaluation of this technique for airborne and vehicle application and a
comparison with proportional bandwidth FM/FM arrangements have recently been
accomplished, 3 and the newly revised IRIG telemetry standards 4 now include constant
bandwidth FM subcarriers. These channels provide the ultimate in data frequency and
phase response. They are capable of high fidelity waveform reproduction and can
provide time correlation between channels to a few microseconds. In addition, an
exchange of frequency response and S/N ratio is available through selection of deviation
ratio.

On the other hand, except for rather low deviation ratios, the r-f bandwidth utilization
efficiency of CBW FM/FM is comparatively low. In addition, the triangular spectral
characteristic of noise at the subcarrier discriminator output seriously handicaps the
application of some types of analyses to data transmitted over FM subcarriers.3

RF BANDWIDTH UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY

The rapidly increasing usage of telemetry techniques in recent years creates serious
concern about the supply of r-f spectral resources for telemetry applications. Critical
limitations and restrictions on the future availability of r-f spectrum in the telemetry
bands are a likely possibility. In many applications, wideband data accounts for over 90
percent of the total data bandwidth requirements. Consequently, the r-f bandwidth
utilization efficiency of potential telemetry techniques warrants careful consideration.
Table I compares r-f bandwidth utilization efficiency (ratio of the total summed channel
bandwidths to the spectral occupancy of the r-f carrier) for the three techniques under
consideration. The comparison is based on a 100 kHz baseband, a peak carrier deviation
of ±125 kHz for each technique, and the commonly used approximation that the
bandwidth of an FM carrier modulated by a complex signal is two times the sum of the
peak carrier deviation and the highest modulating frequency.
 TABLE I
COMPARISON OF RF BANDWIDTH UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE PERFORMANCE

The output S/N ratio of the m th channel of an ideal SS/FM transmission link, which is
operating above threshold in the presence of r-f fluctuation noise, is5

(1)

where So/No, is the peak data signal to rms noise ratio in the channel output bandwidth Bo
resulting from an rms carrier to rms noise ratio equal to Sc/Nc in the effective i-f
bandwidth Bc, fds is the full modulation peak carrier deviation allotted to the channel, and
fss(m) represents the baseband center frequency of the m th channel.

Equation (1) also expresses the output S/N of the mth channel of an ideal DSB/FM link.
One may justify this result intuitively by comparing the operation of an SS and a DSB
subcarrier channel having identical data channel bandwidth Bo and centered at equal
baseband frequency fss. The two comparison channels are exposed to the same baseband
noise density k, but the DSB subcarrier occupies two times the bandwidth of the SS
subcarrier. Thus with equal subcarrier levels Ss the S/N ratio at the input to the channel
demodulator is Ss /k%Bo for the SS channel and Ss/k%Bo for the DSB channel. This seems
to indicate a 3db S/N advantage for the SS subcarrier. However, the DSB demodulator
contributes a compensating 3db S/N gain. This gain results because each sideband of the

give an output signal level of 2 (Ss/%2) = %2 Ss while the noise components add rms-
DSB subcarrier has an amplitude Ss/%2 which adds coherently with the other sideband to

wise. Therefore we may conclude that an SS subcarrier and a DSB subcarrier, both
having equal magnitudes and equal data bandwidths and subjected to identical noise
density environments, produce the same output S/N ratio. Since the carrier modulation is
FM for both cases, then Eq. (1) represents the output S/N for DSB/FM as well as SS/FM.
An equivalent expression for the output S/N ratio of a constant bandwidth FM/FM
channel is1

(2)

where fdf is the peak carrier deviation due to the FM subcarrier, fsf (m) represents center
frequency of the mth FM subcarrier, and Df is the deviation ratio of the FM subcarrier.
The other parameters are identical to those previously defined for Eq. (1).

To compare the S/N performance of SS/FM, DSB/FM, and CBW FM/FM let us consider
three transmission links - one allotted to each of the three techniques. Each link transmits
N channels of data of identical bandwidth and uses equal peak total carrier deviation
with a linear pre-emphasis taper which is identical for each link. The rms signal level and
the r-f fluctuation noise density within the receiver i-f are the same for each link, but the
i-f bandwidths required by the three links are not necessarily equal. Under these
conditions Figure 1 shows the signal-to-noise ratio (So/No)s of the mth SS or DSB channel
relative to the output S/N of the corresponding FM channel. The curve for SS/FM, which
is taken from Figure 3.6 of reference 1, corresponds to a ratio of base band channel
spacing to data bandwidth of $s = 2. The equivalent DSB/FM link requires a value of
$s = 4, which places a given channel at 2 times the baseband frequency of the
corresponding mth channel on the SS/FM link. This subjects the DSB channel to an
increase in noise density which accounts for the 6db difference in S/N performance. Cs is
the crest factor (peak-to-rms ratio) of the data inputs and L represents load factor1 of the
composite multiplex of SS or DSB subcarriers. A typical value for Cs/L in actual
operation is 4, and the likely range of variation would be from 2 to 8.

The curves of Figure 1 arenormalized to the signal-to-noise ratio, (So/No)f, of the

comparison CBW FM/FM link. The ratio of baseband channel spacing to peak subcarrier
deviation $f is taken to be 4, the value used for the IRIG constant bandwidth FM/FM
standard. One interesting aspect of the data shown on Figure 1 is that subcarrier
deviation ratio Df does not appear in the comparison. This result can be justified by
noting that the channel spacing for the FM/FM link is, $fDfBo. Therefore the channel
spacing required for a given data bandwidth Bo increases directly with Df, and the
advantage gained by increasing Df is exactly offset by the greater noise density at a
higher baseband position.

Incidentally, this result illustrates a relationship one may tend to neglect in application of
constant bandwidth FM/FM. If the requirement is for a given number of channels of
identical data bandwidth, a subcarrier deviation ratio of 1, for example, provides the
same S/N performance above threshold as a deviation ratio of 2, insofar as r-f fluctuation
noise is concerned, and results in a substantial reduction in r-f bandwidth. In practice,
operation at reduced deviation ratio results in some increase in distortion from
intermodulation and sideband attenuation, but for many applications operation at low
subcarrier deviation ratios should receive serious consideration. The reader should note,
however, that the result described above applies to an ensemble of identical FM data
channels on a single r-f link. For FM subcarrier operation at a given baseband frequency,
an exchange of bandwidth and S/N is available by selection of deviation ratio.

A HYBRID FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEX ARRANGEMENT

From the preceding discussion of SS/FM, DSB/FM and CBW FM/FM note that each
technique offers attributes which are advantageous to the data user, but does not provide
all of the transmission capabilities and characteristics he would prefer. For a given
wideband data application, assuming equal availability of equipment, the userl s
selection of telemetry technique would likely vary with specific requirements and data
characteristics. If his interest was mainly power spectral density analyses (and this type
of requirement typically covers more than 50 percent of the wideband data demand), his
probable choice would be SS/FM in order to minimize r-f power and spectral
requirements. On the other hand, if his measurements required DC response and phase
correlation over a relatively wide frequency range’, he might select DSB/FM; if his
major problem was medium response channels to reproduce waveforms with minimum
distortion and high S/N, a constant bandwidth FM/FM link might be the better choice.

Unfortunately in the real world, the typical measuring list includes a variety of wideband
data requirements and no one of the three techniques is likely to satisfy the requirements
in an optimum manner. A preferred solution would provide a means whereby a choice of
technique could be made for each individual measurement. This flexibility of selection is
available in the hybrid frequency division multiplexer arrangement described below
which allows intermixing of SS, DSB, and FM subcarriers on a single r-f carrier.

Recall that the IRIG standard for CBW FM/FM places subcarriers with ± 2 kHz
deviation at baseband center frequencies which are multiples of 8 kHz beginning at
16 kHz. In addition, FM subcarriers with ± 4 kHz deviation may be inserted at multiples
of 16 kHz beginning at 32 kHz. Now consider SS and DSB channels which are spaced at
multiples of 4 kHz. This spacing, with a comfortable guard band allowance, permits data
channel bandwidths of I kHz and 2 kHz for DSB and SS, respectively. If alternate
channels are deleted, the channel spacing becomes 8 kHz which accommodates data
bandwidths of 2 kHz for DSB and 4 kHz for SS. Likewise, further deletion of
intermediate channels to produce a channel spacing of 16 kHz allows DSB and SS
channels with data bandwidths of 4 kHz and 8 kHz, respectively. It is readily apparent
that this spacing of DSB and SS channels presents the possibility for flexible intermixing
of SS, DSB, and FM channels. Table II lists the data channel bandwidth options
available in such a hybrid frequency multiplex arrangement.

TABLE II
DATA CHANNEL OPTIONS FOR THE HYBRID MULTIPLEX
ARRANGEMENT

Accurate demodulation of the SS and DSB subcarriers requires a means for

synchronizing the frequency and phase of carriers at the demultiplexer with
corresponding carriers in the transmitting equipment. Also, the insertion of variable
premodulation gain allows more efficient utilization of SS and DSB techniques, but
requires the transmission of reference information to permit compensating gain
adjustments to be made in the receiving equipment. Both reference information
requirements can be satisfied by a primary and a secondary pilot tone transmitted with
the composite frequency multiplex. The primary pilot tone serves as a frequency, phase,
and gain reference. The secondary pilot tone allows the resolution of certain phase
ambiguities which are inherent in the carrier reconstruction process.1 After allowance for
the reference tones a 100 kHz baseband will accommodate 23, 11, and 5 channels at a
spacing of 4, 8, and 16 kHzrespectively. Some details of the vehicle and ground
equipment for the hybrid multiplex arrangement are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 4 shows the exchange of channel response vs. S/N ratio which is available for a
given baseband channel location of a hybrid frequency multiplex with 8 kHz channel
spacing and a crest factor/load factor ratio equal to 4. For convenience in comparing the
results with more familiar applications, the S/N values have been normalized to SIN ratio
for a subcarrier deviation ratio of 5. The dashed portion of the SS-DSB curve represents
operation which is possible only with SS at the specified channel spacing. Notice that an
FM subcarrier provides better SIN than a DSB or SS subcarrier for data bandwidths less
than about 900 Hz.
 CONCLUSIONS

Recently, increasing demands for shock, vibration, and acoustic measurements have
focused attention upon the deficiencies of present standard telemetry techniques. Further
growth in these requirements likely will continue to tax the capabilities of state-of-the-art
telemetry designs.

A recent survey by a group of dynamicists6 has contributed to a better understanding of

the quantities and characteristics of wideband data channels required for future telemetry
applications. Further comprehensive studies of data characteristics and transmission link
requirements are critically needed to guide the detailed design of future telemetry
equipment.

The hybrid frequency division multiplex arrangement described in this paper offers a
versatile exchange of data channel frequency response for S/N ratio. It also permits
efficient baseband frequency utilization where the user’s requirements include a variety
of wideband data. It is proposed that the merits of this arrangement be examined in
connection with planning for future telemetry standards.

REFERENCES

1. H. L. Stiltz, ed., Aerospace Telemetry, volume II (Prentice-Hall, 1966), Chapter 3.

2. A. O. Roche, “The Use of Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier Modulation as a

Subcarrier for Vibration Telemetry”, Proceedings of the 1964 National
Telemetering Conference, Paper 5-3.

3. M. H. Nichols, “Summary of Some Principal Results of EMR Telemetry FM/FM

Baseband Structure Study”, Telemetry Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1, April/May, 1966,
pp. 19-30.

4. IRIG Telemetry Standards Document 106-66 (Secretariat, Range Commander’ s

Council, White Sands Missile Range, N. M. , April 1966) p. 11.

5. Stiltz, ed., Aerospace Telemetry, Volume II, Appendix 3-A. 6. “Desired Telemetry
System Characteristics for Shock, Vibration, and Acoustic Data”, Report of
Subcommittee G-5. 9 on Telemetry Requirements, SAE Committee G-5 on
Aerospace Shock and Vibration, Proceedings 1966 International Telemetering
Conference.
Figure 1. S/N Comparison of SS/FM, DSB/FM, and Constant Bandwidth FM/FM.

Figure 2. Channel Unit and Common Equipment for

SS-DSB Airborne Multiplexer.
 Figure 3. Channel Demodulator Unit and Common Equipment for
SS-DS Ground Demultiplexer.

Figure 4. Channel Response vs. S/N Ratio for Given Channel Location