Micronas introduces dual-tuner DVB-T PCI Express solution for the living room (0606C)
Freiburg, Germany, March 7, 2006 - Micronas (SWX Swiss Exchange: MASN), a leading supplier of innovative application-specific IC system solutions for consumer electronics, today announced the launch of MicPython™2H-X, a dual-tuner DVB-T PCI Express® card for home theater solutions. A universal antenna connection lets the user watch and record analog, digital, and future HDTV signals without worrying about complicated cable connections or even switching antennas. MicPython 2H-X works with Windows XP Media Center and other third-party applications, guaranteeing ease-of-use. Micronas will showcase MicPython 2H-X for the first time at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany from March 9 to 15, 2006.
“MicPython 2H-X integrates two independent tuners on a single card, allowing OEMs and system integrators to build small, living-room quality home theater systems at lower costs,” says Kai Scheffer, director media home at Micronas. “A key to user acceptance is simple do-it-yourself antenna hook-up. System integrators will appreciate the resulting low return rates and low support costs.”
Home theater systems must be small and unobtrusive, while delivering picture quality good enough for ever larger screens. MicPython 2H-X’s small size and low power requirements mean the system enclosure is small and quiet. The company’s extensive television expertise went into the design to ensure best picture quality. MicPython 2H-X uses the DRX 3975D demodulator, the nGene® APB 7202A PCI Express controller, both from Micronas, and a MicroTuner™ MT2060 digital TV tuner from Microtune.
“The design combines best-in-class components to transform the PC into a virtual TV, while also enabling digital radio, teletext and TV recording to the hard drive,” says Dirk Bilgram, broadband marketing manager at Microtune. “Our MT2060 single-chip tuner delivers excellent radio frequency (RF) performance and works very well within the Micronas environment.”
Micronas’ nGene dual-channel multimedia PCI Express controller delivers the bandwidth needed for two TV channels up to HD, all in a single slot – eliminating potential bottlenecks that may occur with two slots required by conventional PCI. nGene is certified by the PCI-SIG, the industry standard body for PCI Express technology, to be PCI Express 1.0a compliant. This certification guarantees that MicPython 2H-X is compatible with a wide variety of PC motherboards offering PCI Express x1 slots.
MicPython 2H-X and the ATSC-based MicViper™2H-X are the first members of a family of nGene-based reference designs supported by a common software model. The common software support across the family makes it easy to design world-standard products. MicPython 2H-X and MicViper 2H-X are complete, production-ready solutions. Both reference design kits are available now.
The first public demonstration of MicPython 2H-X will take place at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, from 9-15 March 2006 at the Micronas booth A43 in Hall 23.