Microtune’s New 1-GHz Tuner Supports Low-Power Consumer Equipment in All-Digital Cable Networks
Microtune’s New Cable Tuner, with Less Than 900 mWatts of Power Consumption, Supports Battery-Backed Digital Cable Telecommunications Services
New Cable Tuner Will Debut at The Cable Show in Microtune’s Booth (537) at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, May 18-20, 2008 NCTA’s The Cable Show 2008 Booth 537
Microtune®, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUNE) today unveiled a new low-power multi-standard cable tuner engineered to deliver superior performance, extended frequency and power efficiency for next-generation voice and data services. The new MicroTuner™ MT2068 draws less than 900 mWatts of power consumption. It can be integrated into data modems, VoIP modems, set-top boxes and other power-sensitive cable equipment to deliver digital voice, Internet and multimedia services in all-digital, 1-GHz expanded cable networks. Less than ¼-inch square, the MT2068 supports multiple specifications (DOCSIS® 2.0, EuroDOCSIS™ 2.0 and PacketCable™) enabling manufacturers to develop multi-standard, multi-tuner products using one tuner design.
Microtune’s MT2068 tuner will be introduced this month in its booth (Booth 537) at The Cable Show, the largest convention and exhibition for cable and telecommunications in the United States, held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, May 18-20, 2008.
“Our field-proven, DOCSIS-certifiable tuners deliver the RF features and performance demanded by customers as the cable industry transitions during the next five years to next-generation digital networks and bandwidth-hungry services,” said James A. Fontaine, Microtune President and CEO. “With our complete cable tuner portfolio, including our industry-first DOCSIS 3.0 tuner, we offer a comprehensive range of advanced tuners that permit our customers to quickly develop and deploy their next-generation cable premise equipment in an increasingly cost-efficient, competitive environment. As the leading supplier of RF tuner solutions for the cable market, we are committed to helping our customers achieve success in CableLabs® certification waves and in the marketplace.”
THE MICROTUNER MT2068 FEATURES
The MT2068 is a complete broadband tuner with integrated first intermediate frequency (IF) filter, low-noise amplifier and fully integrated automatic gain control. It features low phase noise and high linearity—technical parameters that are required to ensure not only minimum distortion in voice applications, but also reliability in high-speed Internet connections. The tuner consumes less than 900 mWatts of power and it can also be used in cable operators’ extended-frequency networks up to 1GHz. The tuner supports both DOCSIS® 2.0-based VoIP cable modems and PacketCable™-based embedded multimedia terminal adapters (EMTAs). It also handles 8-MHz intermediate frequency (IF) channels and provides improved EuroDOCSIS performance.
The MT2068 tuner is engineered to offer optimized isolation for better IF rejection which improves immunity to interference in cable networks with severe differences in signal strength across the input frequency band. This ensures premium performance across the entire network spectrum, even in intricate multi-tuner applications.
The MT2068 is packaged into a miniature 6-millimeter square chip that operates with a 3.3-Volt supply. With its high levels of integration, the MT2068 allows for simplified, cost-efficient system design, compact layout and reduced radio frequency (RF) circuit bill of materials (BOM) costs. As an implementation and time-to-market advantage, the MT2068 interfaces directly to standard demodulator chips, eliminating the need for customized products.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The MT2068 tuner is sampling now and is priced at $3.00 each in quantities of 10,000 units. Initial production is planned for Q3 2008. To simplify evaluation and reduce design time, Microtune also offers a MT2068 Evaluation Board.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the MT2068, DOCSIS 3.0, MoCA-compatible tuners or Microtune’s complete suite of RF solutions, visit Microtune’s website at http://www.microtune.com. Microtune also offers several White Papers on its advanced tuners for cable television applications, including Satisfying the RF Tuner Requirements of All-Digital Cable Networks, Bandwidth: Key Weapon in Cable-Telco Battle for Subscribers; and Quickly Enable DOCSIS 3.0 Functionality and Counter Telco Market Incursion.
MICROTUNE AT THE CABLE SHOW
Microtune’s booth at the Cable Show will also feature multiple displays and product deploying its portfolio of 1-GHz cable tuners, including the industry’s first DOCSIS 3.0 wideband tuner, low power tuners for VoIP cable modems, SCTE-40 compliant tuners that meet RNG specification requirements, and cable tuners that are compatible with MoCA™ Home Networking Standard (MT2122 and MT2022). Microtune tuner technology enables wider bandwidths, more digital and HD channels, faster download speeds, in-home networking compatibility, and new telecommunications services required for next-generation cable solutions.
ABOUT MICROTUNE
Microtune, Inc. is a silicon and subsystems company that designs and markets radio frequency (RF) solutions for the worldwide broadband communications and transportation electronics markets. Inventor of the MicroTuner™ single-chip broadband tuner, Microtune offers a portfolio of advanced tuner, amplifier, and upconverter products that enable the delivery of information and entertainment across new classes of consumer electronics devices. The Company currently holds 78 U.S. patents for its technology. Founded in 1996, Microtune is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with key design and sales centers located around the world. The website is http://www.microtune.com.
NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS
It is not unusual for Microtune to announce new products of this kind, and the announcement of this product, or any other product, should not be viewed as an indicator of Microtune revenues for any current or future reporting period. The market for cable telecommunications solutions may develop more slowly than currently anticipated. Even in the event that the market does develop as expected, there can be no assurance that Microtune’s MT2068 or other products will be selected by manufacturers or that if selected, such manufacturers will continue to select Microtune’s products in the future to support their cable equipment products. All statements regarding the performance of the MT2068 and its performance relative to other products reflect management’s belief as of the date of this release only.