MCKV Institute of Engineering
Question Bank
Paper Name: Communication Engineering
Paper Code: ES-EC301
The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable.
Section A (MCQ)
1. Why a sinusoidal signal is considered analog?
a) It moves in both positive and negative direction
b) It is positive for one half cycle
c) It is negative for one half cycle
d) It has an infinite number of amplitudes in the range of values of the independent variable
2. What do you understand by the term analog communication?
a) A method in which one of the properties of a carrier signal varies in proportion to an
instantaneous value of modulation signal
b) A way for data and computer communication
c) A numerical coded communication
d) A suitable method for long distance communication
3. Amplitude Modulation suffers from ________
a) Side-band Suppression
b) Intra Pulse Modulation
c) Cross Modulation
d) Carrier Suppression
4. Cell phones sent information in form of ________
a) microwaves
b) electrical signals
c) infrared Waves
d) radio waves
5. Modulation is done in ________
a) Receiver
b) Transducer
c) Between transmitter and radio receiver
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d) Transmitter
6. Square Law modulators are ________
a) used for frequency modulation
b) used for pulse width modulation
c) used for amplitude modulation
d) used for phase modulation
7. What is the role of Amplitude limiter in the FM receiver?
a) Filteration
b) Adjust the gain of receiver
c) Amplify a weaker signal
d) Demodulate a signal
8. In a receiver, noise is usually developed at ________
a) Audio stage
b) Receiving antenna
c) RF stage
d) IF stage
9. What is the use of a varactor diode in radio receiver?
a) Demodulation
b) Mixing
c) Multiplexing
d) Tuning
10. Noise is added to a signal ________
a) In the channel
b) At receiving antenna
c) At transmitting antenna
d) During regeneration of information
11. AM spectrum consists of ________
a) Carrier frequency
b) Upper sideband
c) Lower sideband
d) Carrier frequency with both upper and lower sideband
12. For 100% modulation, power in each sideband is ________ of that of carrier.
a) 50%
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b) 70%
c) 60%
d) 25%
13. Overmodulation results in ________________
a) Distortion
b) Weakens signal
c) Strengthens the signal
d) provides immunity to noise
14. For getting 100% modulation, carrier amplitude should ________
a) exceed signal amplitude
b) be equal to signal amplitude
c) be lesser than signal amplitude
d) be equal to 0
15. In Frequency Modulation –
a. Amplitude of the carrier remains same
b. Frequency of the carrier varies in accordance with the modulating signal
c. The number of side bands are infinite
d. All of the above
16. The amount of frequency deviation in FM signal depends on
a. Amplitude of the modulating signal
b. Carrier frequency
c. Modulating frequency
d. Transmitter amplifier
17. ) Advantage of using direct method for generation of FM signal is
a. It gives high stability to FM signal frequency
b. Distortion free FM signal is generated
c. High power FM generation is possible
d. None of the above
18. The DSB-SC signal consists of
a. two sidebands and carrier, b. one sideband and carrier, c. two sidebands, d. None
19. Identify the type of modulation where the frequency of the modulated wave is equal to that of
the carrier wave.
a. Frequency modulation, b. Amplitude modulation, c. Carrier modulation,
d. Phase modulation.
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20. Why is AM used for broadcasting in the communication systems?
a. Its use avoids receiver complexity, b. It is more immune to other modulation systems, c. It
requires less transmitting power, d. No noise disturbances.
21. The AM spectrum consists of
a. Carrier frequency b. Upper side band frequency, c. Lower side band frequency,
d. All of the above.
22. In amplitude modulation, the bandwidth is
a. twice the audio signal frequency, b. thrice the audio signal frequency,
c. thrice the carrier wave frequency, d. twice the carrier wave frequency.
23. The ratio between the modulating signal voltage and the carrier voltage is called?
a. Amplitude modulation, b. Modulation frequency, c. Modulation index,
d. Ratio of modulation.
24. The DSB-SC signal consists of
a. two sidebands and carrier,
b. one sideband and carrier,
c. two sidebands,
d. None.
25. The amount of frequency deviation in FM signal depends on
a. Amplitude of the modulating signal
b. Carrier frequency
c. Modulating frequency
d. Transmitter amplifier
26. The method of converting a word to stream of bits is called as
a. Binary coding
b. Source coding
c. Bit coding
d. Cipher coding
27. If a 120 V carrier peak changes from 170 V to 50 V by a modulating signal, find the modulation
factor?
a.0.5
b.1.5
c.2.5
d.3.5
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28. ASK is a result of combination of Shift keying and
a. Analog modulation
b. Amplitude modulation
c. Digital modulation
d. None of these.
29. The modulation techniques used to convert analog signal to digital signal are
a. delta modulation
b. Adaptive delta modulation
c. Pulse code modulation
d. All of the above.
30. VCO is used to generate
a. Direct FM
b. Indirect FM
c. SSB-SC
d. DSB-SC
31. Which among the following is used to construct the binary code that satisfies the prefix
condition?
a. Information Rate
b. Noiseless Channel
c. Channel Coding Theorem
d. Kraft Inequality
32. Quantization occurs in
a. TDM
b. FDM
c. PCM
d. PWM
33. The techniques used for sampling are
a. Instantaneous sampling
b. Natural sampling
c. Flat top sampling
d. All of these.
34. The characteristics of compressor in µ-law companding are
a. Continuous in nature
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b. Logarithmic in nature
c. Linear in nature
d. Discrete in nature.
35. ________ is most affected by noise
a. ASK
b. PSK
c. FSK
d. DPSK.
36. In M-array PPM waveform, modulation is affected by
a) Delaying
b) Advancing
c) Delaying & Advancing
d) None of the mentioned
37. What is the value of carrier frequency in the following equation for the FM signal?
v(t)= 5 cos(6600t+ 12sin2500t)
a. 1150 Hz
b. 6600 Hz
c. 2500 Hz
d. 1050 Hz
38. Guard bands are provided in FM signal to
a. Prevent interference from adjacent channels
b. To increase the noise
c. To increase bandwidth
d. None of the above
39. Information rate basically gives an idea about the generated information per _____ by source.
a. Second
b. Minute
c. Hour
d. None of the above
40. In polar RZ format for coding, symbol '0' is represented by
a) Zero voltage
b) Negative voltage
c) Pulse is transmitted for half the duration
d) Both b) and c) are correct
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41. The unit of average mutual information is
a, Bits
b. Bytes
c. Bits per symbol
d. Bytes per symbol
42. The event with minimum probability has least number of bits
a. True
b. False
43. The method of converting a word to stream of bits is called as
a. Binary coding
b. Source coding
c. Bit coding
d. Cipher coding
44. When probability of error during transmission is 0.5, it indicates that
a) Channel is very noisy
b) No information is received
c) Channel is very noisy & No information is received
d) None of the mentioned
45. The unit of average mutual information is
a) Bits
b) Bytes
c) Bits per symbol
d) Bytes per symbol
46. Binary Huffman coding is a
a) Prefix condition code
b) Suffix condition code
c) Prefix & Suffix condition code
d) None of the mentioned
47. When the base of the logarithm is 2, then the unit of measure of information is
a) Bits
b) Bytes
c) Nats
d) None of the mentioned
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48. The method of converting a word to stream of bits is called as
a) Binary coding
b) Source coding
c) Bit coding
d) Cipher coding
49. When X and Y are statistically independent, then I (x,y) is
a) 1
b) 0
c) Ln 2
d) Cannot be determined
50. Entropy of a random variable is
a) 0
b) 1
c) Infinite
d) Cannot be determined
Section B (Short and Long answer type questions)
Module 1
1. What is the role of channel in communication system? [2]
[Module1/CO1/Understanding/IOCQ]
2. Why AM is used for broadcasting? [3] [Module1/CO1/Remember/IOCQ]
3. Calculate power in each sideband, if power of carrier wave is 176W and there is 60%
modulation in amplitude modulated signal? Draw spectrum diagram. [5+2]
[Module1/C01,C02/Apply/HOCQ]
4. Advantages of FM over AM. [3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/LOCQ]
5. Difference between FM and PM. [3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/LOCQ]
6. Draw and explain the basic block diagram of a communication system. [5]
[Module1/CO1/Remember/IOQC]
7. Define modulation? [2] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Remember/LOCQ]
8. Why modulation is needed? [3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/IOCQ]
9. What are the types of analog modulation? [2] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Remember/LOCQ]
10. What is the difference between high level and low-level modulation? [3]
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/IOCQ]
11. Derive an expression for amplitude-modulated wave and define the term modulation
index. [5+3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Remember/IOCQ]
12. What are the disadvantages of DSB-FC? [3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/LOCQ]
13. The antenna current of an AM transmitter is 8A when only the carrier is sent but it
increases to 8.93A when the carrier is sinusoidally modulated. Find the % modulation. [5]
Page 8 of 12
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Analyze/HOCQ]
14. An AM wave is represented by the expression: v = 5 (1 + 0.6 cos 6280 t) sin 211 × 104 t
volts
(i) What are the minimum and maximum amplitudes of the AM wave? [4]
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Analyze/HOCQ]
(ii) What frequency components are contained in the modulated wave and what is the
amplitude of each component? [6] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Apply/HOCQ]
15. Compare DSB-FC, DSB-SC and SSB-SC. (3) [Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/HOCQ]
16. A single tone Fm is represented by the voltage equation
v(t)=12 cos (6x108t+5sin1250t). Determine the following [10]
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Apply/IOCQ]
i) carrier frequency
ii)modulation index
iii)modulating frequency
iv)maximum deviation
17. State Carson’s rule. [3] [Module1/CO1,CO2/Remember/LOCQ]
18. What are narrow band and wide band FM? [5][Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/IOCQ]
19. Show that Pt = Pc[1+(m2/2)], where Pt = total power in AM, Pc = carrier power, m =
modulation index. (4) [Module1/CO1,CO2/Analyze/IOCQ]
20. Write down the difference between AM and FM. (3)
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Understanding/LOCQ]
21. A modulating signal 5sin(2πX5X103t) is used to modulate a carrier signal
10sin(2πX106t). (6+4) [Module1/CO1,CO2/Apply/IOCQ]
a. Determine the modulation index, frequencies of the sideband components and their
amplitude.
b. Draw the waveform of the AM wave using appropriate value.
22. Write short notes on [5 Each]
[Module1/CO1,CO2/Remember/IOCQ]
a. Envelope Detector
b. Balanced modulator
c. Varactor diode Frequency modulator
d. Fosterseeley Discriminator
Module 2
1. Define noise. [2] [Module2/CO3/Remember/LOQC]
2. What is the classification of noise. [3] [Module2/CO3/Remember/IOQC]
3. What are the types of External noise? [3] [Module2/CO3/Understand/LOQC]
4. Define signal to noise ratio. [4] [Module2/CO3/Remember/IOQC]
5. Define thermal noise. [3] [Module2/CO3/Remember/IOQC]
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6.Define white noise.[3] [Module2/CO3/Remember/IOQC]
7.What is White Noise? Explain. [4] [Module2/CO3/Remember/LOQC]
8.State sampling theorem. [3] [Module2/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
9.What are the effects of aliasing? How it is reduced? [3+2]
[Module2/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
10. What is quantization error? [3] [Module2/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
11. State the advantages of PWM. [3] [Module2/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
12. Define Nyquist rate. [3] [Module2/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
13. Why is noise immunity of PWM is better than that of PAM? [4]
[Module2/CO3/Apply/IOQC]
14. Compare PAM, PPM and PWM. [5] [Module2/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
15. Define pulse code modulation. [3] [Module2/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
16. What are the advantages and disadvantages of PCM? [2+2]
[Module2/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
17. Explain the Principle of Digital Multiplexing. [4] [Module2/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
18. What is TDM? How is it different from FDM? [3+3] [Module2/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
19. Advantages and disadvantages of FDM. [3+2] [Module2/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
20. What type of modulation is used in FDM? [3] [Module2/CO2/Understand/IOQC]
21. Explain TDM process with necessary diagram. [6] [Module2/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
22. Write short notes on [5 each] [Module2/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
a. FDM system
b. Shot noise
Module 3
1. Write some advantages of digital communication over analog communication. [5]
[Module3/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
2. What is Nyquist Sampling theorem? [3] [Module3/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
3. What is Aliasing? [3] [Module3/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
4. What is quantization? Briefly discuss about quantization process. [5]
[Module3/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
5. Differentiate uniform and non-uniform quantizer. [5][Module3/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
6. What is ISI? What causes ISI? Derive the expression for ISI. Explain the methods to control
the effect of ISI. [10] [Module3/CO4/Understanding/IOQC]
7. Consider the binary sequence 101011001. Draw the wave form of the following format[10]
[Module3/CO4/Apply/HOQC]
i) Unipolar NRZ
ii) Unipolar RZ
iii) Polar NRZ
iv) Polar RZ
v) Bipolar NRZ.
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8. What is line coding and its type? [5] [Module3/CO4/Remember/LOQC]
9. What is NRZ & RZ? [5] [Module3/CO4/Remember/LOQC]
10. Difference between Unipolar, Polar and Bipolar line coding scheme. [5]
[Module3/CO4/Understanding/IOQC]
11. What is A-law and µ-law? Explain. [5] [Module3/CO4/Remember/LOQC]
12. Define the term ISI? [3] [Module3/CO4/Understanding/LOQC]
13. What are the advantages of Manchester code? [3] [Module3/CO4/Understanding/IOQC]
14. What is AMI coding? How does work? [2+4] [Module3/CO4/Understanding/IOQC]
15. Consider an analog information signal, s(t) = 3cos(50πt)+10sin(300πt)-cos(100πt).
Find (8) [Module3/CO4/Apply/HOQC]
a) The highest- frequency component present in the signal
b) Nyquist rate
c) Nyquist interval
Module 4
1. Draw the waveform of ASK, FSK and PSK. [5] [Module4/CO2/Remember/LOQC]
2. Differentiate ASK and FSK. [5] [Module4/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
3. What is delta modulation? Write advantage of delta modulation. [4+3]
[Module4/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
4. Explain adaptive delta modulation. Advantages of adaptive delta modulation over delta
modulation. [5+3] [Module4/CO2/Understanding/LOQC]
5. What is Quadrature Amplitude Modulation? Explain. (5) [Module4/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
6. Draw the block diagram for the generation and detection process of a PCM and explain its
various blocks. [8] [Module4/CO2/Remember/IOQC]
7. Explain bit rate and baude rate. How to calculate bit rate from baude rate? [2+2+3]
[Module4/CO2/Understanding/IOQC]
Module 5
1. What is information theory? [2] [Module5/CO5/Understanding/LOQC]
2. Define information rate. [3] [Module5/CO5/Remember/LOQC]
3. Calculate the amount of information if binary digits occur with equally likelihood in a binary
PCM system. [8] [Module5/CO5/Apply/HOQC]
4. Explain the term Entropy. (3) [Module5/CO5/Remember/IOQC]
Page 11 of 12
5. A source produces one of four possible symbols during each interval having probabilities
P(X1) = 1/2, P(X2) =1/4, P(X3) = P(X4) =1/8. Obtain the information content of each of these
symbols. (8) [Module5/CO5/Apply/LOQC]
6. A DMS X has four symbols x1, x2, x3, x4 with P(X1) = 1/2 , P(X2) = 1/4, P(X3) = P(X4) = 1/8.
Construct a Shanon-Fano code for X. Show that the code efficiency is 100%. (8)
[Module3/CO5/Apply/LOQC]
7. Define (i) Joint entropy (ii) Conditional entropy. [2+2] [Module5/CO5/Remember/IOQC]
8. Calculate the entropy of source with a symbol set containing 64 symbols each with a
probability pi = 1/ 64. [5] [Module5/CO5/Analyze/IOQC]
9. A discrete source emits one of five symbols one every milli-second with probabilities ½, ¼,
1/8, 1/16 and 1/16 respectively. Determine the source entropy and information rate. [10]
[Module5/CO5/Apply/HOCQ]
10. Explain Shanon-Fano algorithm with a suitable example. [7]
[Module5/CO5/Understanding/IOCQ]
11. Using Shanon-Fano algorithm find the codeword for eight messages occurring with
probabilities 1/2, 1/8, 1/8, 1/16, 1/16, 1/16, 1/32, 1/32. [10][Module5/CO5/Apply/HOQC]
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