What is the first step in the demodulation process?

The first step in the demodulation process is receiving the modulated carrier wave. This step is crucial because demodulation is the process of extracting the original information-bearing signal from a modulated carrier wave. Without the reception of the modulated carrier wave, there is no signal to demodulate, making it impossible to retrieve the data that was encoded onto the carrier.

Once the modulated wave is received, the subsequent steps of demodulation can take place, which may include filtering, amplifying, and possibly decrypting the information, depending on the type of signal and the protocols used. The focus on receiving the carrier first underscores the foundational role this step plays in ensuring that the intended data can be successfully extracted. Other processes, such as filtering and amplifying, help refine the signal afterwards, but they cannot occur without first having the modulated carrier wave to work with.