In an FM transmitter, when does the oscillator generate a steady frequency?

In an FM transmitter, the oscillator generates a steady frequency when there is no modulation. This is because, in the absence of modulation, the oscillator's output remains constant, producing a singular frequency that can be transmitted.

When the transmitter is modulated, the oscillator alters its frequency in accordance with the input signal, effectively creating frequency variations that correspond to the information being sent. This essential characteristic of FM transmission relies on the modulation process, which adds complexity and variability to the original steady frequency produced by the oscillator.

In contrast, situations like signal reception, modulation, or powered off states do not apply for generating a steady frequency. Specifically, during modulation, the frequency is anything but steady as it varies to encode the information. Thus, the correct understanding here is that a steady frequency is present only when the oscillator is operating without any modulation influence.