Team-up aimed at DVB-T2 STBs

MaxLinear Inc. has partnered with Panasonic's Semiconductor Business Group for DVB-T2 set-top boxes (STB). The design collaboration has resulted in DVB-T2 front-end network interface module (NIM) reference designs that include MaxLinear's latest-generation MxL603 silicon tuner and Panasonic Semiconductor's MN88472 DVB-T2 demodulator LSI.

One of the designs is a single-channel NIM that is cost optimized for single tuner "zapper" STBs. The other design is a dual-channel NIM with low-cost splitter for dual-tuner personal video recorder (PVR) STBs.

According to the companies, both designs feature industry leading low power consumption of less than 720mW per channel in DVB-T2 modes. The turnkey reference designs enable manufacturers to adopt a proven, pre-qualified DVB-T2 STB solution with minimal engineering investment and reduced time to market.

The reference designs were developed and tested to comply with the latest DVB-T2 specifications, including Nordig 2.2, DTG D-Book version 7.0 and SANS 862:2012 (South Africa). A third-party independent lab certification test report will be available for the single-channel design to demonstrate compliance with both DTG D-Book and Nordig 2.2 standards.

Digital TV broadcast services based on the DVB-T2 standard are currently being deployed or tested in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.