RadioScape has launched two new modules for low cost, high performance, entry level products to further drive the growth of the DAB market. These are variants of the RadioScape RS200″ module that has just been shortlisted for the upcoming European Electronics Industry Product of the Year Award, which will be announced at Electronica on 9 November 2004. The RadioScape RS201L” is designed for high volume, low power DAB receivers for the home while the RadioScape RS200A” provides an ideal entry point for manufacturers designing for the DAB automotive market.
“We continue to innovate by providing manufacturers with a complete range of modules with which to make a comprehensive family of DAB receivers,” says Andrew Moloney, RadioScape’s Marketing Manager for its Receivers business. “Our unique Software Defined Digital Radio approach means that we create features and functions in software so that manufacturers can further differentiate their models to create products targeted at different market segments, lowering overall power requirements and without necessarily increasing costs.”
Les Mable, Digital Radio Business Development Manager at Texas Instruments, adds, “RadioScape’s module designs have been instrumental in growing the DAB market as they make it extremely easy for manufacturers to make DAB radios by simplifying the product development cycle. As a result, manufacturers can bring models to market in weeks, rather than months, giving customers a wide choice of DAB receivers to choose from. These modules drive sales and have played a significant role in TI’s recent announcement of shipping one million digital radio baseband chips. We expect these new modules will help continue our growth.”
RadioScape RS201L
This low power module is pin compatible with and a drop-in replacement for the RadioScape RS200L module, which has been the company’s most popular tri-band design to date. It offers a high level of integrated functionality through software to provide significantly lower system costs for multi-function devices. Features such as CD transport control, MP3/WMA playback, and infra-red remote control are provided as standard options with the module, leveraging the performance of TI’s DRE200 digital baseband. In addition, its low power design that can be as low as 750mW, can increase battery life for portable products by as much as three times compared to its predecessor the RS200L.
Measuring 44mm by 110mm by 15mm, the RS201L module can receive Band III and L-Band DAB, FM and RDS. Samples are available now and volume shipments start in November 2004. The design of the module can be licensed if manufacturers wish to build it themselves. Prices for the RS201L module are around $35 depending on the volume ordered and configuration.
RadioScape RS200A
This is the second module from RadioScape for the automotive market and is also based on TI’s DRE200. The RadioScape 350A, which was launched in July 2004, is designed for high end, feature-rich products while the RS200A provides an entry-level module for Band III and L-Band DAB functionality. Pin and form factor compatibility between the two modules simplifies manufacturers’ designs so that they can cost effectively create a range of products with different feature sets using the same basic design.
Its compact size of only 62mm by 37mm by 10mm enables it to fit within a standard car radio format and it has been designed to meet the performance specifications required for use in automotive applications. Prices for the RS200A module are around $35 depending on the volume ordered and configuration. The design of the module can be licensed if manufacturers wish to build it themselves. Samples are available now and modules will begin to ship in volume in December 2004.