Description
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Put in its simplest form, IQ data shows the changes in magnitude and phase of a sine wave. If changes in magnitude and phase of a sine wave are made in an orderly, predetermined fashion, one can use these magnitude/phase changes to encode information upon a sine wave, a process known as modulation. Modulation is the process of changing a higher frequency signal in proportion to a lower frequency signal. The higher frequency signal is referred to as the carrier signal and the lower frequency signal is referred to as the message signal, information signal, or modulating signal. IQ data is highly prevalent in RF communications systems, and more generally in signal modulation, because of the convenience it provides in dealing with modulating signals. This discussion will cover the theoretical background of IQ data as well as practical considerations which make the use of IQ data in communication so desirable.
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