FSK - Frequency Shift Keying


It is a kind of modulation in which two different carriers, each with a slightly different frequency, are alternatively transmitted.
Usually the frequency shift is equal to 170 Hertz and the two carriers are associated with the binary digits, 0 and 1. FSK is thus used to send digital data, with many different codes and protocols, such as RTTY, Packet, etc.

It is also possibile to send an FSK signal using two audio tones on a AM or FM carrier, and in this case the mode is called AFSK, Audio Frequency Shift Keying. Audio tones applied to an SSB transmitter result in the same signal of true FSK, but of course the latter is better, because it does not require a modulation amplifier, filters, etc.


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