Abstract: A push-pull modulator stage 70 has two possible transmission paths, an electrically short path (7) and a phase delay path (6) with a phase delay element providing a phase shift of approximately 180.degree.. The phase delay element has the form of a low pass filter. In each of the two paths (6, 7) a semiconductor diode (D.sub.1, D.sub.2) is disposed in such a way that they sense the carrier (U.sub.c) with a phase shift of 180.degree. and, correspondingly, switch in unison if no modulation voltage (U.sub.m) is present, thus suppressing the carrier at the signal output (3). When a modulation signal (U.sub.m) is present, the push-pull balance is disturbed and the resistance of one of the two paths (6) becomes lower relative to the other path (7), which leads to the generation of the modulated carrier voltage (Umc). The modulator stage (70) can also be designed as a dual modulator stage and/or can be used as a mixer stage.

Abstract: A modulator suitable for 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is designed as a double modulator (1), wherein a 16 QAM modulator (39) consists of two double modulators (1). One double modulator (1) has two partial modulators (1',1") forming a bridge. Each partial modulator (1',1") has two possible transmission paths: (6',6") with a phase delay line (39',39") which causes a 180.degree. phase shift. On each of the two paths (6',6", 7',7"), a semiconductor diode (D.sub.1 ',D.sub.1 ",D.sub.2 ',D.sub.2 ") is disposed in such a way that they provide the carrier (U.sub.c) with a 180.degree. phase inversion and are accordingly rendered conductive in unison, if no modulation voltage (U.sub.m) is applied, whereby the carrier is suppressed at the signal output (3'). When a modulation signal (U.sub.m) is applied, the balance is changed to push-pull, and one of the two paths (6',6") assumes less impedance compared to the other path (7',7"), which leads to the generation of the modulated carrier voltage (U.sub.mc).