frequency division multiplexing

[david.sh]

Apparently a standard FDM scheme for telephone signals is to multiplex 12 voice channels, each occupying 4kHz bandwidth, into a group signal with 48kHz in the range 60-108kHz, using subcarrier frequencies from 64-108kHz in 4kHz increments, and using only the lower sideband of each modulated signal. This all seems to make sense -- the arithmetic works.

Five of these group signals are then multiplexed together into a "supergroup", again using only the lower sideband of each modulated signal, to produce a combined signal with a 240kHz which occupies the 312-552 kHz band. So far so good. The problem is, supposedly the subcarriers have frequencies from 420 to 612kHz in 48kHz increments. How does a signal with 48kHz bandwidth, modulated on a 612 kHz subcarrier, end up below 552kHz? There seems to be a downward shift of 60kHz but I can't find an explanation of this anywhere.

I read this in William Stallings' Data and Computer Communications (7e), and it's repeated in numerous places on the web. Some of them are definitely just taking it from Stallings; others, well, they may be taking it from him too, but they don't make that clear. In any case, none of them explain this shift.

Is this just an error that's being copied over and over, or is there a good explanation that everybody is simply failing to mention?

 

[safwatonline]

The problem is, supposedly the subcarriers have frequencies from 420 to 612kHz in 48kHz increments. How does a signal with 48kHz bandwidth, modulated on a 612 kHz subcarrier, end up below 552kHz? There seems to be a downward shift of 60kHz but I can't find an explanation of this anywhere.

hello,
what do u mean by the 420 to 612 k , as far as i understand from ur words that the 5*48k are multiplexed into a 240k starting from 312k to 312+240k= 552k , that is cool.
then y did u put another range and why using 48k again instaed of using 240k.
if lets say that the signal starts from 420 then it should end at 420 +240= 660 k , but what is the relation between the two bands and where did u get the 420k
regards.

 

[louisnells]

On modulation there will be two components one above the carrier and one below the carrier. Either one can be used because they are almost similler. May be they have choosen the lower frequency output. May be thats what they did in the explanation.

Its just like the IF generation in AM and FM radios.