Advanced STB Addresses Current And New Home Entertainment Needs

Aug. 30, 2007

Amino Communications' next-generation AmiNET530 set-top box (STB) targets service providers who want to offer a multiplay strategy by offeringhigh-quality on-demand services, IPTV, PVRs, gaming, and HD services using MPEG2 or MPEG4 codecs.

Lou Frenzel

Set-top boxes (STB) have become the master control point for high-definition TV and the newer Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services offered by cable companies and some telecoms. They get more sophisticated each year as they add features like hard drives for the personal video recorder (PVR) and home networking options.

Amino Communications’ next-generation AmiNET530 targets service providers who want to offer a multiplay strategy by offering high quality on-demand services, IPTV, PVRs, gaming, and HD services using MPEG2 or MPEG4 codecs. The hard disk for digital video recording is 80 Gbytes.

The MPEG2/4 codecs support HD resolutions of 720p and 1080i. Video screens may use 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios. A full range of audio and video connections are available, including composite and S-video, component video (YCrCb), HDMI, 10/100 Ethernet, and 5.1 stereo surroundsound. The HomePNA 3.0 home networking system is supported, as is MoCA (Multimedia over Cable Alliance).

Amino Communications Ltd.

www.aminocom.com

About the Author

Lou Frenzel | Technical Contributing Editor

Lou Frenzel is a Contributing Technology Editor for Electronic Design Magazine where he writes articles and the blog Communique and other online material on the wireless, networking, and communications sectors. Lou interviews executives and engineers, attends conferences, and researches multiple areas. Lou has been writing in some capacity for ED since 2000.

Lou has 25+ years experience in the electronics industry as an engineer and manager. He has held VP level positions with Heathkit, McGraw Hill, and has 9 years of college teaching experience. Lou holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. He is author of 28 books on computer and electronic subjects and lives in Bulverde, TX with his wife Joan. His website is www.loufrenzel.com.