Cable service providers can now deliver all their broadband content on a single RF port for an entire cable service group. Providers can now get a bandwidth for future cable services while reducing CAPEX and OPEX today with the Maxim Integrated Products’ (News - Alert) scalable QAM modulator chipset.

Maxim, a manufacturer of highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, has launched its scalable QAM modulator chipset: the MAX5880 digital upconverter (DUC) and MAX5882 RF digital-to-analog converter (RF DAC).

The chipset delivers about 32 times more broadband cable capacity per RF port compared to a conventional analog upconverter. MAX5880 DUC is a scalable and software upgradeable solution. Interested buyers can evaluate the MAX5880 DUC/MAX5882 RF DAC chipset through available high-speed data-converter evaluation (EV) platform and EV kits.

Maxim also helps to save up to 93 percent in power dissipation per QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) channel through its new scalable QAM modulator chipset. The MAX5880 DUC can be easily integrated with the MAX5882, 14-bit 4.6Gsps RF DAC. The chipset has a capability to synthesize up to 128 QAM channels across the entire 50MHz to 1GHz downstream cable spectrum. Using MAX5880 DUC, cable service providers can add future capacity without modifying existing hardware.

"Data consumption will continue to increase 40 to 50 percent annually,” said Jeff Heynen, Directing Analyst at Infonetics (News - Alert). “This will require even more downstream and upstream capacity than previously anticipated to maintain comfortable utilization levels. One thing is certain: each physical RF port, whether on a CMTS or edge QAM, is going to support exponentially more QAM channels than current generation platforms. This evolution is going to keep port demand among MSOs high for at least the next five years."

Maxim Integrated Products recently announced its G3-PLC protocol has been recommended as one of the communications platforms for Japanese smart meter projects for home area networks (HAN).