Microtune chips away at cable modem costs

Cable modems are getting cheaper as they add more functionality. A basic unit that cost $250 just a few years ago now goes for under $100--and does a lot more, putting a cost/feature strain on manufacturers, who shift that burden back to the chipmakers.

Microtune figures it has met that challenge with a quarter-inch single-chip tuner that cuts RF costs by almost 25%, board space by 20% and power by 11%. In addition to the standalone product, Microtune will include the tuner into a complete cable modem reference design developed in cooperation with Texas Instruments.

James Fontaine, Microtune’s chief strategy officer, called the tuner “an evolutionary product” because it builds on previous generations of similar products. It is, however, a continued move away from the company’s original plan to introduce one do-it-all chip that would work in cable modems, set-top boxes, DVDs and television sets.

“That was a nice vision, but the reality is it didn’t make sense because each one of these have a unique set of requirements,” Fontaine said. “We’ve had to come up with a family of products.”

The cable modem tuner has been certified by CableLabs as compliant with DOCSIS 1.1 and will meet DOCSIS 2.0 requirements, Fontaine said.

“The aim is the cable modem and digital-only set-top box,” he said. “It could work in a digital TV, but it’s really aimed at the cable market, particularly cable modems and set-tops, trying to address a lot of their cost restraints and shrinking of size and so on.”

Microtune, he said, is also working with a potential telephony product that uses Bluetooth technology as the engine to drive telephony via a cable modem.

“There’s been a lot of talk of telephony, but the question is how to make it all cost-effective so it makes sense. This is a very interesting little trend I think we’re going to see happen here in the next few months,” Fontaine said.