–Also Launches an "Intelligent" NID
Entone, a San Mateo, Calif.-based company that specializes in IPTV VOD and IP video gateway technologies, has launched a new range of IP-based HDTV customer premises equipment. The new products, which are based on the company’s Hydra IP video gateway design, include the Hydra HD, an IP video gateway that supports three independent streams of fully interactive IPTV services and uses existing coax networks for video redistribution; the Magi HD, a single-stream IPTV receiver that supports IP-over-Ethernet, IP-over-coax, QAM and ATSC delivery for HD and SD programming; and the Amulet HD, a low-cost, compact (1.5 inches high) single-stream IPTV receiver, with integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet connections.
According to the company, all the new products support both SD and HD signals, including 720p, 1080i and 1080p HD formats and 480i and 480p SD formats, and also support common compression formats, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (H.264), and VC-1. In addition, the Hydra HD and the Magi HD offer an integrated HomePNA 3.0 interface for high-speed IP service over existing in-home coax and phone lines, as well as an integrated ATSC tuner for receiving over-the-air broadcasts. The Magi HD also incorporates a built-in QAM tuner for decoding cable signals. All the new products support HDMI outputs with HDCP protection for digital video and Dolby Digital output for multichannel audio systems. The Magi HD and the Hydra HD offer a modular PVR feature with 250GB and 500GB storage options, while the Amulet HD can be ordered with an internal PVR with 80GB or 160GB storage options. According to Entone, all the new HD CPE products will be compatible with middleware from Microsoft TV, Minerva and Myrio, and with DRM software from Irdeto, Latens, NDS, Verimatrix and Widevine.
In other Entone news: the company has unveiled a new connectivity device which it claims will significantly reduce the cost of launching and managing triple-play services. Dubbed the Crescendo intelligent Network Interface Device (iNID), the new device combines the functions of a traditional NID with the features of Entone’s residential gateways. It offers, among other things, a DSL modem or GPON interface; support for high-speed IP-over-coax, in order to facilitate delivery of IPTV over existing wiring; two VoIP ports that are designed to work with standard phone equipment; 10/100 Base-T Ethernet; network-powered and residence-powered options; and a full array of IP-layer services, including DHCP, NAT, and firewall.
According to Entone, because the new device is designed to be mounted on the outside of a house, it extends the managed portion of an operator’s broadband network out to individual customers’ homes and allows operators to trouble-shoot and enable services without having to send out a technician. It integrates an ADSL2+, VDSL2 or GPON wide area interface, and also supports HomePNA 3.0 over coax or phoneline and MoCA over existing in-home coaxial networks. It leverages these technologies to provide over 100Mbps of in-home IP connectivity, thus enabling it to support such services as IPTV, multiroom PVR, VOD and high-speed Internet.
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