Trägerübertragung

Trägerübertragung, also known as carrier transmission, is a fundamental concept in telecommunications and signal processing. It refers to the method of encoding information onto a carrier wave, which is then transmitted through a medium such as air, cables, or optical fibers. The carrier wave is a high-frequency sinusoidal wave that serves as a vehicle for the information signal. Without a carrier, transmitting signals over long distances or through complex environments would be impractical due to signal degradation and interference.

The process typically involves modulation, where the information signal (often a baseband signal) alters one or more properties of the carrier wave. Common modulation techniques include amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), and phase modulation (PM). In AM, the amplitude of the carrier wave is varied in accordance with the information signal. In FM, the frequency of the carrier wave is varied, and in PM, the phase of the carrier wave is varied. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding bandwidth, noise immunity, and complexity.

At the receiving end, a process called demodulation or detection is used to extract the original information signal from the modulated carrier wave. This involves reversing the modulation process performed at the transmitter. Trägerübertragung is essential for a wide range of communication systems, including radio broadcasting, television, mobile phone networks, Wi-Fi, and satellite communication. It enables efficient multiplexing of multiple signals onto the same transmission medium by assigning different carrier frequencies or time slots to each signal.