Wideband FPGA-based Digital Modulator Programming and Practical Validation Techniques

This article discusses modern techniques of implementation of a wideband digital modulator in an FPGA kit for use in electrical engineering communications laboratory. Previous configurations proposed in literature present limitations, as lack of details about the methods used in the algorithm developed and test procedures. Those key details can help researchers to develop this modulator more effectively. From technical point of view, previous works were also implemented for small bandwidth output signals. The proposed digital modulator has low cost and can generate signals based on several modulation schemes with various output roll-off filters. This proposed kit allows researchers to change digital signal characteristics through dip-switches, customizing the modulated signal. Advanced techniques such as parallelism of processes and fast access to look up tables using an FPGA were used to achieve the desired objective, and are detailed in the article. Besides this implementation, this article also shows test procedures to validate the performance of digital modulators using lab test equipment. Those procedures were used to validate the FPGA modulator developed. The paper shows how researchers can analyze the performance of digitally modulated output signals using an Oscilloscope, a Spectrum Analyzer, and a Vector Signal Analyzer. Features such as symbol rate, modulation constellation, roll-off output filter, and EVM are covered.