How to Calculate PCM Bandwidth
- 1). Understand the components. According to Telecom Corner, an analog signal is sampled at a rate of 8,000 times per second, and in each sample the amplitude of the signal is assigned or quantized as a digital value.
- 2). Identify the conversion process. The International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) defines two PCM algorithms: called A-Law and Mu-Law. PCM, used in North America and Japan, derives from these algorithms. Its output occurs in a series of binary strings, each represented by some power of 2 bits.
- 3). Calculate PCM. Bandwidth is expressed in bits per second. Using the earlier example of an analog signal, for a 8,000 rate sample of analog data, multiply the sample by 8 bits for a product of 64,000 kilobits per second. Use a PCM calculator for more complex conversion at sites such as Connect 802, Maxim and National Semiconductors (see the Resources section).