Communications: Set-Top-Box Front End Demodulates And Forward-Error Corrects

Based on the next-generation digital video broadcast standard (DVB-S2), the CX24116 digital set-top-box demodulator and forward-error-correction (FEC) front end lets operators offer additional content and services using existing bandwidth and infrastructure. The CX24116 employs advanced modulation along with a new low-density parity check (LDPC) and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) FEC. An on-chip microcontroller hastens signal acquisition and Yes/No estimation and improves system monitoring. In addition, the DiSEqC 2.x-compliant demodulator integrates signal-to-noise ratio and bit-error-rate monitors for channel-performance measurements. Housed in a 100-lead thin QFP, the CX24116 is priced at $25 apiece in quantities of 10,000.