In quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), how many bits are represented in each symbol?

Prepare for the Digital Technician ROC II Test with flashcards, multiple choice questions, and comprehensive explanations. Equip yourself with the knowledge needed to excel in your examination.

In quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), each symbol represents 2 bits of data. QPSK is a modulation scheme that conveys data by changing the phase of a carrier wave. It does this by using four distinct phase shifts: 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.

Each of these phase shifts corresponds to a unique combination of two bits. For instance, the phases may map to the bit pairs as follows:

  • 00 for 0°

  • 01 for 90°

  • 10 for 180°

  • 11 for 270°

Thus, with four possible phase states, two bits of information can be transmitted with each symbol. QPSK is efficient in terms of bandwidth and is commonly used in applications requiring higher data rates compared to its predecessor, binary phase shift keying (BPSK), which only represents one bit per symbol.

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