Conexant Delivers Complete Front-End Solution for Terrestrial Set-Top Box Applications

Business Wire, May 29, 2007

New DVB-T Chipset Targeted at Set-Top Box, PCTV and iDTV Applications

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications and the digital home, today announced the CX24230 digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) demodulator and CX24210 worldwide terrestrial and cable tuner. Together, these highly integrated devices form a complete high-performance, front-end solution for DVB-T set-top boxes (STBs), PC video capture cards, and integrated digital televisions (iDTVs).

"In the last several months, we've introduced a comprehensive set of high-performance products for satellite, cable, and terrestrial applications that enable our customers to meet next-generation system requirements, while reducing product development costs and schedules," said Lewis Brewster, executive vice president and general manager of Conexant's Broadband Media Processing business. "In addition, these new solutions are synergistic with our comprehensive set-top box product portfolio. For example, our new DVB-T front-end chipset can be bundled with our MPEG products, allowing us to deliver end-to-end system solutions that address multiple terrestrial applications."

The CX24230 demodulator is a high-performance DVB-T demodulator with an internal microcontroller and memory. The firmware for the microcontroller is provided by Conexant, simplifying customer software development requirements. Performance-enhancing features include a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter, digital adjacent channel filtering, and an enhanced forward error correction architecture.

The flexible CX24210 tuner supports multiple worldwide digital and analog terrestrial standards including DVB-T, ATSC, PAL, NTSC and SECAM. The tuner also complies with global cable specifications including DOCSIS([R]) 2.0, EuroDOCSIS, and DVB-cable (DVB-C).

The CX24210 was designed with overall system BOM in mind. Cost-saving features include:

* Integrated voltage controlled oscillators, synthesizers, and loop-through circuitry

* An internal adjustable band-pass filter that enables standard-specific optimization, eliminating the need for additional SAW filters

* Requires only a single 3.3 volt power supply for operation

The high level of integration also allows product developers to replace traditional "can" tuners with a much smaller form-factor solution, providing them with greater design flexibility. In addition, the new tuner has been optimized to work with the company's recently announced CX2445X family of DOCSIS 2.0 front-end cable modem chips. The tuner can also be used with Conexant's CX2488X family of PCIe audio/video decoders to form a complete system solution for analog and digital PCTV applications.

A front-end reference design that includes the CX24230, the CX24210, and all required software is available now. In addition, complete evaluation systems that include the front-end chipset and Conexant's MPEG products are also offered. The reference design can be used to address applications ranging from basic MPEG-2 standard definition to dual high-definition MPEG-2/AVC/H.264/VC-1 PVR systems.

Conexant offers a comprehensive suite of digital set-top box components and system solutions for worldwide entertainment and broadcasting networks. The company's product offering includes silicon tuners, demodulators, MPEG audio and video decoders, and dial-up and DOCSIS modems.

Availability, Packaging and Pricing

The CX24230 demodulator and CX24210 tuner are sampling now with volume production scheduled for September 2007. The demodulator is packaged in a 64-pin thin quad flat pack (TQFP), and the tuner is offered in a 48-pin quad flat no-lead (QFN) package. Together, the CX24230 and CX24210 are priced at $5.00 in quantities of 10,000.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug([R]) and HomePNA([TM]). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company that recorded revenues of $970.8 million in fiscal year 2006. The company has approximately 3,200 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit www.conexant.com.