What is a Carrier Wave (CW)?

What is a Carrier Wave (CW)?

• A. A modulated signal carrying information
• B. A signal with frequency stability only
• C. A signal transmitted with no information or intelligence, appearing as a single spike on an RF Spectrum Analyzer
• D. A wave used for synchronization

Answer: (C)

A carrier wave is a pure, sinusoidal signal that provides a stable reference tone to be used for encoding information through modulation. When you don’t modulate it, there’s no data to transmit, so it simply appears as a single spectral line at its carrier frequency on an RF spectrum analyzer. That’s exactly why the description of a signal with no information, showing up as a single spike, is the best fit for a carrier in its unmodulated form. The modulated version is what actually carries information, and while a carrier can be used for synchronization, its fundamental role is to serve as the vessel that information is placed onto through modulation.

A carrier wave is a pure, sinusoidal signal that provides a stable reference tone to be used for encoding information through modulation. When you don’t modulate it, there’s no data to transmit, so it simply appears as a single spectral line at its carrier frequency on an RF spectrum analyzer. That’s exactly why the description of a signal with no information, showing up as a single spike, is the best fit for a carrier in its unmodulated form. The modulated version is what actually carries information, and while a carrier can be used for synchronization, its fundamental role is to serve as the vessel that information is placed onto through modulation.