20 January 2012

NXP’s SiGe LNA enhances reception and range of NorthVu’s indoor digital TV antenna

NXP Semiconductors N.V. of Eindhoven, Netherlands and NorthVu Systems Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada have collaborated to bring to market the smallest high-performance indoor digital TV antenna. It is claimed that the NorthVu NV20 Pro is 40% smaller than comparable products while delivering superior reception and range, enabling consumers to enjoy digital HD broadcast TV (over-the-air or digital terrestrial television).

At just 8.1” x 5.25” x 1.85”, the NV20 Pro receives digital 1080p HD TV signals directly off-air, and it features an integrated low-noise amplifier (LNA) based on NXP’s BFU760F silicon-germanium (SiGe) low-noise transistor, significantly enhancing the quality and reliability of the signals received.

The BFU760F is a member of NXP’s family of bipolar SiGe and SiGe:C LNA devices, which offer what is claimed to be exceptional RF noise figure versus gain performance, while drawing very low current. This performance allows for better signal reception at low power and enables RF receivers to operate more robustly in noisy environments. They also have the advantage of superior ESD robustness over competing GaAs LNA solutions, NXP adds.

NorthVu incorporated NXP’s low-noise transistor technology into the NV20 Pro to increase its signal range to up to 35 miles and improve overall picture reception. Optimized to receive VHF, UHF and digital FM signals, consumers can receive a wide selection of digital broadcast TV channels on a device that is compact and discrete compared to competing products.

“This product is a great validation of our expertise in the small-signal, low-current requirements of wideband applications,” says Erick Olsen, marketing director for RF small signal at NXP. “The combination of NorthVu Systems’ patent-pending technology with our industry-proven LNA solution has delivered a high-performance digital TV antenna in an industry-first compact form-factor. The exceptional performance parameters of the BFU760F - such as ruggedness, reliability, low noise and high level of integration - make it an ideal solution for this type of innovative RF product,” he adds.

“NXP also did a great job of supporting us throughout the development of the NV20 Pro, quickly delivering multiple amplifier design iterations as we fine-tuned the design specifications for the product,” comments NorthVu’s president Spenser Williams.

Tags: NXP SiGe LNA SiGe

Visit: www.northvu.com

Visit: www.nxp.com