PAM Bits per Symbol Calculation | Generated by AI
Question: In a Phase-Amplitude Modulation (PAM) system using 8 phases and 2 amplitude values per phase, how many binary bits can a single signal symbol represent?
Answer:
Analysis and Calculation
To determine the number of binary bits a single signal symbol (baud) can represent, we need to calculate the total number of distinct states available in the modulation scheme.
- Identify the parameters:
- Number of phases ($N_{phase}$) = 8
- Number of amplitude values per phase ($N_{amp}$) = 2
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Calculate the total number of distinct states ($M$): The total number of unique combinations is the product of the number of phases and the number of amplitudes. \(M = N_{phase} \times N_{amp}\) \(M = 8 \times 2 = 16\) There are 16 distinct signal states.
- Calculate the number of bits per symbol ($n$): The number of bits represented by one symbol is the base-2 logarithm of the total number of states. \(n = \log_2(M)\) \(n = \log_2(16)\) Since $2^4 = 16$: \(n = 4\)
Conclusion
Each signal symbol can represent 4 binary bits.
Therefore, the correct option is C.