FCC Exam Question: 6A3

How is pre-emphasis used in an FM transceiver?

A. The lower modulation frequencies are boosted before transmitting by 3 db per octave and reduced by the
B. The higher modulation frequencies are boosted before transmitting by 6 db per octave and reduced by the
C. The lower modulation frequencies are boosted before transmitting by 6 db per octave and reduced by the
D. The higher modulation frequencies are boosted before transmitting by 3 db per octave and reduced by the
Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Pre-emphasis is a technique used in FM transmission to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the recovered audio. Noise in FM systems tends to have a greater impact on the higher modulation frequencies. To combat this, the audio's *higher modulation frequencies* are selectively boosted before transmission. This boost is typically a *6 dB per octave* increase. By increasing the amplitude of these higher frequencies, they become stronger relative to the inherent high-frequency noise that will be introduced during transmission. At the receiver, a complementary circuit called de-emphasis reduces these boosted frequencies back to their original levels. In doing so, it also reduces the high-frequency noise that was picked up during transmission, effectively lowering the noise floor and improving the overall audio clarity. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because pre-emphasis specifically targets *higher* modulation frequencies, not lower ones, and the standard boost rate is 6 dB per octave, not 3 dB.

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Includes Elements 1, 3, 6, 7R, 8, and 9.