Broadcom, MaxLinear Push Ahead On 1-GHz Full-Spectrum Chips

Broadcom and MaxLinear are touting advances for their respective 1-GHz full-spectrum tuner chips, which are designed to give cable operators much more flexibility in how they deliver video and data services over HFC networks.

Broadcom introduced a suite of remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities for its Full-Band Capture digital tuning solutions, which provide features including demodulator statistics and RF spectrum analyzer functions to more quickly troubleshoot issues.

The new Full-Band Capture monitoring and diagnostic capability "is not only delivering a vastly improved customer service experience, but also facilitates huge cost savings for operators," Dan Marotta, general manager of Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group, said in a statement.

Broadcom will demonstrate the technology at CableLabs Summer Conference in Keystone, Colo., being held Aug. 5-7.

Separately, MaxLinear announced that its Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC) digital cable front-end receivers have been adopted into more than 12 video gateway and set-top box designs at manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company did not identify the manufacturers.

The MaxLinear FSC receivers, announced in March, include the MxL265 and MxL267 FSC receivers optimized for cable voice and data modem applications and the MxL256 and MxL258 receivers designed for video gateway applications.

"MaxLinear's growing family of FSC receivers facilitates more efficient distribution of video and IP services, faster download speeds, lower power and lower-cost designs," Brian Sprague, MaxLinear's vice president and general manager for broadband and consumer products. "We are looking forward to supporting our customers' deployments at the end of this year."

MaxLinear said customer samples of the MxL265 and MxL267 are available now with volume production in Q3 2012. Samples of the MxL256 and MxL258 are available now with volume production in Q4 2012.