Trägersignal

Trägersignal is a German term that translates to "carrier signal" in English. It refers to a basic sinusoidal wave used in telecommunications and signal processing to carry information. This carrier wave is modulated, meaning its properties such as amplitude, frequency, or phase are altered in accordance with the information signal to be transmitted. The original information signal, often a voice or data signal, is not typically transmitted directly because it may not be suitable for long-distance transmission or efficient broadcasting. The carrier signal provides a stable and predictable waveform that can be easily manipulated and then restored at the receiving end.

The primary purpose of a carrier signal is to enable efficient transmission of information over various media, such as radio waves, cables, or optical fibers. By shifting the information signal to a higher frequency range determined by the carrier, problems like signal attenuation and interference can be better managed. Modulation techniques like Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), and Phase Modulation (PM) are employed to encode the information onto the carrier. At the receiver, a process called demodulation is used to extract the original information signal from the modulated carrier. The choice of carrier frequency is crucial and depends on factors like the transmission medium, regulatory constraints, and the bandwidth required for the information signal.