January 4, 2010

NetLogic to Demo ATSC Mobile

NetLogic Microsystems announced that it will be demonstrating live broadcast of digital television (DTV) broadcast solutions using its ultra low-power Alchemy processors at this week’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

These demos are based on multiple customer systems targeted at service provider and automotive deployments, and are compliant with the new ATSC-M/H standard for North America.

NetLogic Microsystems is also collaborating with mobile DTV pioneer LG Electronics on a reference design targeted at the ATSC mobile digital broadcast TV service. The collaborative reference design will include LG’s LG2160A demodulator supporting the ATSC A/153 Mobile DTV Standard and NetLogic Microsystems’ Alchemy processors. LG’s LG2160A chip delivers demodulation and equalization functions for the ATSC-M/H standard, and outputs Internet Protocol (IP) packet streams into NetLogic Microsystems’ Alchemy processors, which performs application processing and video and audio decode functions.

The new ATSC Mobile DTV standard is compatible with the 8-VSB DTV signal, and allows broadcasters in North America to utilize a variable portion of the existing 19.3 Megabit-per-second DTV channel capacity to transmit data with extremely robust characteristics to mobile and handheld devices.

“We are excited to be demonstrating our industry-leading Alchemy processors on multiple ATSC-M/H platforms, as well as to announce our collaboration with LG, on the emerging market for broadcast digital TV in North America,” Mike Wodopian, VP of marketing, NetLogic Microsystems, said in a statement.

In addition to the demos at NetLogic Microsystems’ booth, the Open Mobile Video Coalition, an organization that represents over 800 TV stations across the United States, is sponsoring the CES Mobile DTV Tech Zone in the central hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center where leading manufacturers including LG Electronics, Samsung, Harris Corporation, and Dell are expected to demonstrate devices and transmission equipment for mobile DTV in North America.