Silicon maker Metalink Ltd. has offered up a baseband chip, the MtW8170, which, when combined with the existing MtW8150 RFIC, targets the emerging 802.11n standard for next-generation Wi-Fi. 802.11n is aimed at enabling a new era of wireless home networking that can accommodate video applications.
Branded as part of a new WLANPlus family of multimedia products, the wireless chipset is designed for data throughput of more than 240mbps over the air. It also boasts at least 60mbps of effective throughput to any room within 60 feet of the transmitter, for whole-house coverage.
The WLANPlus chipset can be embedded in digital video recorders, set-top boxes, high-definition televisions, media adaptors and other consumer electronics products, to enable seamless multimedia connectivity throughout the home. The company says this has been achieved using several key technologies including Real-MIMO, advanced coding, channel bonding, a media access control packet-aggregation scheme and quality of service features.
”Cable and satellite television providers will step up deployment of multiroom digital video recorder solutions starting in 2005, such that the number of units will exceed 25 million in 2009,” says Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. “These devices will bring new levels of convenience and flexibility to TV use while making recorded programming available throughout the home, and they will expand the notion of home networking connectivity beyond broadband connections and PC-centric content.”
The MtW8170 will be available in sample quantities in the third calendar quarter of 2005.
