MaxLinear Launches MxL500 Family of Full-Spectrum Capture™ Satellite Receiver ICs

• Industry’s first low power, multiple input FSC, multiple channel DVB-S/S2 satellite receiver family enables cost-effective content delivery to multiple screens

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced the MxL500 family of Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC™) tuner-demodulators for DVB-S/S2 satellite television systems.

“MaxLinear is well known in the industry for its low-power Full-Spectrum Capture capability. With the availability of the MxL500 product line, MaxLinear has achieved a major milestone by directing this capability to address the needs of the satellite market place”

The six SoCs in the MxL500 family are the first single-chip Full-Spectrum Capture™ satellite front-end devices on the market, supporting between one and four RF inputs and up to eight DVB-S/S2 demodulator outputs.

The MxL500 family meets or exceeds the signal reception performance, and low power consumption requirements of next-generation satellite applications specified by satellite operators worldwide. The performance feature set of the MxL500 family of products is targeted at next-generation satellite gateways and set-top boxes that support multi-screen viewing, personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, emerging “catch-up television” features, and fast channel change capability. With their ability to support up to four RF inputs, the MxL500 receivers also support the needs of next-generation digital satellite antenna Low Noise Block (LNB) applications.

The power dissipation of the MxL500 devices in a typical next generation satellite application is an unprecedented industry low of 1.7W. The extremely low power consumption of the MxL500 family of devices is attractive to customers and satellite operators due to the inherent system cost reduction, increased reliability of the final product, and attractiveness of products with low overall energy consumption to consumers.

The 40nm digital CMOS, MxL500 family of devices uses MaxLinear’s Full-Spectrum Capture technology to receive up to 4.8 GHz of satellite spectrum. As a result, the MxL500 devices can simultaneously receive any combination of four, six or eight DVB-S/S2 channels (depending on the device) located arbitrarily in the satellite spectrum.

The MxL500 satellite frontend ICs will also accelerate the development of next-generation SAT>IP gateway systems, which convert satellite-delivered video programs into Internet Protocol (IP) accessible content. As a result, subscribers are able to watch their satellite content on IP-connected devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and smart TVs – with different programs available on different devices simultaneously.

“MaxLinear is well known in the industry for its low-power Full-Spectrum Capture capability. With the availability of the MxL500 product line, MaxLinear has achieved a major milestone by directing this capability to address the needs of the satellite market place,” said Brian Sprague, MaxLinear’s Vice President and General Manager. “Our new MxL500 product line provides industry-leading single-chip solutions that will enable our customers and operator partners to deliver next generation multi-channel satellite applications that are highly cost effective, and have the lowest power consumption in the industry.”

Technical Highlights

The MxL500 family includes two single-input RF receivers, the MxL561, and MxL581, which have six and eight demodulators respectively. The MxL582 has two RF inputs and supports eight demodulators. The MxL544 supports four RF inputs and has four demodulators, while MxL584 and MxL585 support four RF inputs with eight demodulators each. All the devices are available in very small form factor, pin-compatible 10mm x 10mm QFN packages ideally suited for minimizing system manufacturing costs.

The MxL500 devices integrate all active front-end components, including the low-noise amplifiers (LNA). Due to the high levels of system integration, the bill of material (BOM) in end applications is reduced to a minimal number of low cost passive components and a crystal, which enables ultra-compact low cost system solutions.

The capture bandwidth of each RF input can be configured to match conventional L-band requirements (950 – 2150MHz) or to a wider bandwidth (250 – 2300MHz).

Other benefits of the FSC™ technology include embedded remote spectrum monitoring, delivering built-in performance monitoring and remote diagnostics for satellite operators.

The low power and power control flexibility of the MxL500 devices enable compliance with the requirements of Energy Star and the European Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services and Broadband Equipment for both standby and operating modes.

Availability

All MxL500 family devices are sampling now and are expected to be in full production by April 2013.

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear is located in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is www.maxlinear.com.

MxL and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to MaxLinear’s MxL500 family of Full Spectrum Capture (FSC™) tuner-demodulators for DVB-S/S2 satellite television systems. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. MaxLinear cannot predict the impact, if any, of the deployment of MxL500 devices on MaxLinear’s revenues. MaxLinear’s business, revenues, and operating results are and will be subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including (among others) uncertainties concerning how end user markets for its products will develop; its dependence on a limited number of customers for a substantial portion of revenues; its ability to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; potential decreases in average selling prices for its products; and on-going intellectual property litigation related to hybrid television tuner products. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.