Editing Overmodulation (section)

{{Short description|Excessive modulation resulting in distortion of signal}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2013}}

'''Overmodulation''' is the condition that prevails in [[telecommunication]] when the instantaneous level of the modulating [[signal]] exceeds the value necessary to produce 100% [[modulation]] of the [[carrier signal|carrier]]. In the sense of this definition, it is almost always considered a [[Fault (technology)|fault]] condition. In layman's terms, the signal is going "off the scale". Overmodulation results in [[Spurious_emission|spurious emissions]] by the modulated carrier, and [[distortion]] of the recovered modulating signal. This means that the envelope of the output waveform is distorted. 

Although overmodulation is sometimes considered permissible, it should not occur in practice; a distorted waveform envelope will result in a distorted output signal of the receiving medium.<ref name="Cliff Robbins">{{cite web|title=Overmodulation|url=http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/dir-026/_3806.htm|access-date=10 January 2013}}</ref>