Entropic's Next Generation c.LINK(TM) Improves Price/Performance for Digital Entertaintment Networks.

CHICAGO -- Entropic Communications, Inc., is introducing the next generation of its widely used c.LINK Coaxial Network Processor for home networking of digital entertainment. Called the EN2210, it offers a complete and comprehensive value set including increased performance, ease of use, lower power consumption and reduced implementation cost.

The EN2210 seamlessly links consumer entertainment devices from room to room using existing coax cabling, found in more than 90 percent of all households in the U.S. The net result is distribution of multiple high definition and standard definition video, digital voice and broadband data seamlessly and cost-effectively throughout the home.

Specific applications include, but are not limited to, media servers, home entertainment gateways, multi-room digital video recorders and network-capable set-top boxes, and other devices found in the home.

According to a report by ABI Research in March 2006, "Home Networking and Connected Home Market Analysis," consumers are quickly moving toward the connected home. End user revenues for home networking and linked entertainment devices are projected to grow from $14 billion in 2005 to $85 billion by 2011.

In the report, analyst Michael Wolf stated, "This market has reached a major turning point. Home networking has moved beyond a basic broadband sharing model to one of networked entertainment and convergence across the PC, consumer electronics and communications devices."

The report also noted that new digital media applications are creating end-user demand for connected entertainment and communications devices. The rise in popularity of multi-room PVR, place-shifting, and networked gaming are fast creating an increased need for a pervasive connectivity throughout the home, to the Internet, and between different devices.

The chipset can sustain an industry leading performance of 270 Mbps throughput required by high bandwidth applications such as whole home video distribution. This type of performance ensures reliable access and distribution of "triple-play" content, including multiple streams of data, audio, and standard definition and high definition video, through a managed and trusted home network.

"This new version of c.LINK improves performance, reduces power requirements, and simplifies integration and implementation," said John Graham, VP of marketing at Entropic. "This brings home networking of digital entertainment to market faster, while opening the window for other market segments."

The EN2210 works with the EN1010 Coaxial Network Interface as part of the c.LINK chipset to operate at RF frequencies between 850 to 1500 MHz, allowing coexistence with the frequencies used by wired delivery services. Thus, it coexists with other existing services and technologies while guaranteeing complete integration with any and all other home networks and consumer electronic devices already in use.

The c.LINK family was developed with the intent of facilitating whole-home entertainment without the need for new wires, or changes to splitters or other medium specific devices. When integrated into broadband equipment, it operates as a full mesh, peer-to-peer network.

Packet error rate (PER) is less than 1e-6, and the bit error rate (BER) is less than 1e-9, with a delay of less than 20 milliseconds. Jitter is less than one msec. These types of numbers guarantee high and consistent throughput and uninterrupted video streams.

There is no degradation due to neighbor's home networking or general appliances, or other in-home networking products or general appliances.

"Cell phone users may accept a dropped call, but consumers will not tolerate latency in their video," said John Graham.

The EN2210 carries key protocols such as IEEE 1394 and Ethernet, the latter making for an easy transition to IP television. C.LINK is essentially IP over coax. It also has embedded all of the required yet still evolving digital rights management (DRM) formats and protocols, ensuring operators and programmers safety and protection of intellectual property during distribution.

c.LINK is the core technology behind the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA(TM)) MAC/PHY 1.0 specification. Entropic was the first silicon vendor to pass MoCA's stringent certification wave.

The EN2210 has been designed to meet the existing MoCA MAC/PHY specification with additional features such as a range of Parameterized QoS capabilities including Parameterized Constant Bit Rate (CBR), Parameterized Variable Bit Rate (VBR) and Prioritized traffic.

Reserved bandwidth is critical to service operators being able to utilize the coax infrastructure for video and data services at the same time. Without it, data service could utilize much of the available bandwidth and they would not be able to guarantee QoS of there video content. This is especially true when retail devices begin to be incorporated into operator networks. Poor video quality would result in a service call by their subscriber costing them money and customer satisfaction.

c.LINK also supports a 50 percent increase in data rate through packet aggregation to allow the continued evolution of this standard.

The EN2210 also operates as a stand-alone coaxial networking solution operating at baseband frequencies less than 50 MHz.

Standard GMII and MII ports are available allowing the EN2210 to operate as an equivalent Ethernet PHY device without additional host connections. The MII port can also operate in turbo mode with a 50MHz clock, enabling a 200Mbps data rate on this interface. Coupled with the FlexBus and PCI host interfaces, it is designed to support applications built around a variety of host processors from reputed manufacturers.

Power supply requirements are 1.2, 1.8 and 3.3 volts. Power dissipation is a low 1.5 watts (maximum).

Packaging is 324-PBGA with 1mm pitch.

The EN2210 will sample in early Q306.

"Our position all along has been to complement data and voice usage of wireless technologies in the home with robust and cost-effective delivery of video and entertainment. EN2210 pricing is on par with certified and approved wireless alternatives and in accordance with OEM and service provider expectations," said John Graham.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications, Inc., is the leading developer of LAN and WAN coax networking for home digital entertainment. Entropic's products allow consumers to easily share digital entertainment throughout the home by leveraging the existing coax infrastructure to fundamentally change the way content such as movies, music, and images are stored and networked by the average user. For more information: http://www.entropic.com.

(C) Entropic Communications. All rights reserved. c.LINK and Enabling home networking for digital entertainment are trademarks of Entropic Communications.