A new decision method for band-limited digital FM that employs discriminator detection is presented. This new method adopts a multilevel decision scheme to soften the intersymbol interference effects caused by severe band limitation. It is shown that applying this method significantly improves bit error rate (BER) performance of digital FM using discriminator detection. Theoretical BER evaluation proves the superiority of this method, and establishes the optimum values for fundamental transmitter parameters. Experimental results are provided to support the superiority of this method.

This paper is concerned with digital modulation for future mobile radio telephone services. First, the specific requirements on the digital modulation for mobile radio use are described. Then, premodulation Gaussian filtered minimum shift keying (GMSK) with coherent detection is proposed as an effective digital modulation for the present purpose, and its fundamental properties are clarified with the aid of machine computation. The constitution of modulator and demodulator is then discussed from the viewpoints of mobile radio applications. The superiority of this modulation is supported by some experimental test results.