In a frequency modulation receiver, what component is connected to the mixer?

In a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, the local oscillator plays a critical role in the mixing process. The mixer is the component that takes two signals – the incoming RF (radio frequency) signal and the local oscillator signal – and combines them to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The local oscillator generates a signal at a frequency that is a fixed offset from the carrier frequency of the incoming RF signal.

This process allows the receiver to downconvert the RF signal to a lower frequency, which is easier to process for demodulation. The resulting IF signal will carry the same audio or information content as the original RF signal, but it can be handled more efficiently by subsequent stages of the receiver, such as amplifiers and demodulators.

The local oscillator is essential for this operation, as it determines the specific frequency at which the mixer operates, allowing the receiver to tune to different stations by adjusting the oscillator frequency. This adaptability in selecting frequency bands is a fundamental characteristic of a tunable FM receiver.