AM vs. FM
Key Differences
Comparison Chart
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Stands for
Origin of Technique
Difference in modulation
Noise issues
Sound quality
Range
AM and FM Definitions
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Fm
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Fm
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Fm
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Fm
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Fm
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Fm
What is AM?
AM stands for amplitude modulation. It is one of the first methods of transmitting signals and audio information via radio signals. The messages or information is encoded with the amplitude of the wave and then transmitted or broadcasted as electromagnetic wave signals to long range radio stations which receive and decode the information by amplifying the amplitude of the wave. The technique was first introduced in the mid of 1870s, whereas in the late 1870s the first successful experiment was carried out. The technology or this particular method was later on replaced by FM but was used still due to its ability of broadcasting to longer range. In this method, the frequency of the wave is kept constant whereas the amplitude of the wave is modulated and the audio message is encoded with it. AM method possesses very poor sound quality as it is resisted by noise a lot. The noise and other distortions directly affect the amplitude of the wave due to which the sound quality is poor as the audio information is encoded with modulated amplitude.
What is FM?
FM stands for Frequency Modulation. It is the technique that replaced the AM amplitude modulation due to much better sound quality and is more tolerant of noise and distortion. Edwin Armstrong built the very first FM based radio that was capable of transmitting radio wave signals by modulating the frequency of wave instead of amplitude. The very first FM based successful transmission took place in the United States of America. FM method differs in approach from the AM method. In FM, the amplitude of the wave unlike in AM is kept constant, whereas the frequency of the wave is modulated and the sound as information or message is encoded with frequency. These electromagnetic waves were then transmitted to various nearby radio stations which decode the message by modulating the frequency of the waves. The sound quality was quite better than AM as it was more noise resistant. Noise affects more amplitude than the frequency of a wave. The only issue which this technique is that unlike AM, the messages cannot be broadcasted to the longer range. They are only captured by nearby radio stations only.
