AM or Amplitude Modulation and FM or Frequency Modulation are ways of broadcasting radio signals. Both transmit the information in the form of electromagnetic waves. AM works by modulating the amplitude of the signal or carrier transmitted according to the information being sent, while the frequency remains constant. This differs from FM technology in which information is encoded by varying the frequency of the wave and the amplitude is kept constant.
AM involves the alteration of the amplitude of the carrier wave, whereas FM involves changes in the frequency of the carrier wave.
AM frequency range from 535 to 1705 Kilohertz OR Up to 1200 bits per second. Whereas, FM frequency range in a higher spectrum from 88 to 108 Megahertz OR 1200 to 2400 bits per second.
AM waves have a much larger range and can therefore be received even in hinterlands! This is the reason most news stations use AM over FM. whereas, FM waves have a small range in terms of the geographical regions they can cover.
AM signals take up 30 Kilohertz; While FM signals take up 80 Kilohertz of bandwidth for each signal.
AM waves Transmitter and receiver are simple but synchronization is needed in case of SSBSC AM carrier. Whereas, FM waves Transmitter and receiver are more complex as variation of modulating signal has to be converted and detected from corresponding variation in frequencies.
AM is more susceptible to noise because noise affects amplitude, which is where information is "stored" in an AM signal. Whereas, FM is less susceptible to noise because information in an FM signal is transmitted through varying the frequency, and not the amplitude.
