Performance of a Bandwidth Limited PCM/PSK/PM Telemetry System

Abstract

This report investigates the use of coherent and non-coherent FM/PM detectors as applied to recovery of PCM telemetry data. Given a PCM Manchester II encoded FM carrier, a theoretically perfect bit detector was derived. A laboratory prototype was built and evaluated under simulated threshold conditions. Agreement with theory was obtained within 1.50 db, using a coherent demodulator without a limiter stage. Amplitude and phase characteristics are shown in addition to the filter circuit and component values. Several commercial demodulators are compared against the theoretical model. The results of the comparisons are discussed, and recommendations concerning deficient areas are submitted.