Digital Modulations using Matlab: Build Simulation Models from Scratch(Color edition)
Digital Modulations using Matlab is a learner-friendly, practical and example driven book, that gives you a solid background in building simulation models for digital modulation systems in Matlab. This book, an essential guide for understanding the implementation aspects of a digital modulation system, shows how to simulate and model a digital modulation system from scratch.
The implemented simulation models shown in this book, mostly will not use any of the inbuilt communication toolbox functions and hence provide an opportunity for an engineer to understand the basic implementation aspects of modeling various building blocks of a digital modulation system. It presents the following key topics with required theoretical background along with the implementation details in the form of Matlab scripts.
* Basics of signal processing essential for implementing digital modulation techniques - generation of test signals, interpreting FFT results, power and energy of a signal, methods to compute convolution, analytic signal and applications.
* Waveform and complex equivalent baseband simulation models.
* Digital modulation techniques covered: BPSK and its variants, QPSK and its variants, M-ary PSK, M-ary QAM, M-ary PAM, CPM, MSK, GMSK,M-ary FSK.
* Monte Carlo simulation for ascertaining performance of digital modulation techniques in AWGN and fading channels - Eb/N0 Vs BER curves.
* Design and implementation of linear equalizers - zero forcing and MMSE equalizers, using them in a communication link.
* Simulation and performance of modulation systems with receiver impairments.
Why Read This Book
You will learn how to build end-to-end digital modulation simulation models in MATLAB from first principles, mostly without relying on the Communications Toolbox, so you understand exactly how each block is implemented. The book is highly example-driven and practical, giving working code and step‑by‑step explanations that make it easy to move from concept to a reproducible simulation and performance analysis.
Who Will Benefit
Intermediate engineering students, practicing communications engineers, and MATLAB-focused developers who want practical, hands-on skills to implement and analyze digital modulation systems and channel models from scratch.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic signals and systems, elementary probability and random processes, linear algebra, and familiarity with MATLAB scripting and plotting.
Key Takeaways
- Implement modulators and demodulators (PSK, QAM, FSK, MSK) in MATLAB without toolbox shortcuts.
- Simulate channel models (AWGN, simple fading) and measure BER and symbol‑error performance under realistic conditions.
- Design and apply pulse‑shaping filters and matched receivers to control bandwidth and intersymbol interference.
- Use FFT-based spectral analysis to inspect signal spectra and verify modulation/filtering behavior.
- Build synchronization and basic carrier/recovery blocks and test their impact on system performance.
- Assemble modular simulation frameworks so you can prototype custom communication chains and extend them for research or product development.
Topics Covered
- 1. Introduction and MATLAB Basics for Communications
- 2. Fundamentals of Digital Modulation (symbols, mapping, constellation)
- 3. Baseband Pulse Shaping and Matched Filtering
- 4. Phase and Frequency Modulations: PSK, QPSK, MSK, FSK
- 5. Amplitude Modulations: ASK and QAM
- 6. Channel Models: AWGN and Simple Fading Models
- 7. Bit-Error Rate and Performance Analysis
- 8. Spectral Analysis and FFT Applications in Modulation
- 9. Synchronization, Carrier Recovery, and Timing
- 10. Digital Filter Design for Communications
- 11. Adaptive Equalization and Simple LMS Implementations
- 12. Building Modular Simulation Models from Scratch
- 13. Case Studies and Worked MATLAB Examples
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Compared with Proakis' Digital Communications (theory-heavy) and Sklar's Practical Communications texts, this book emphasizes hands-on MATLAB implementation and step-by-step simulation models rather than deep mathematical derivations.
