Communications: Full MIMO RF Radio Chip Delivers Video Data At 200 Mbits/s

May 26, 2005

Extending the range of wireless HDTV video transfers to three HDTV streams, the MtW8150 implements a full 2-by-2 multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) radio architecture on a single chip. The radio chip is the first part of a two-chip set. The second chip will be a baseband processor that will be sampled in late 2005. Compliant with the emerging 801.11n standard, the chip set operates in the 5-GHz band. It's specifically designed to handle video, delivering data throughputs of up to 200 Mbits/s over a range two to eight times that of previous wireless solutions. Along with two full, independent transmit and receive channels, the chip includes hardware-accelerated encryption to ensure content is protected. In volume, the MtW8150 is priced at less than $4 each.

Metalink Broadbandwww.metalinkbb.com

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.