Eagle Kingdom selects Entropic SoC for hybrid powerplug set-top box

Eagle Kingdom Technologies Selects Entropic’s System-on-a-Chip for World’s First Hybrid PowerPlug Set-Top Box

LONDON — TV Connect, Stand #124 — Entropic (Nasdaq:ENTR), a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, today announced its System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution is powering the world’s first hybrid PowerPlug set-top box (STB), the DCP5205 from EKT (Eagle Kingdom Technologies), a leading supplier of advanced STB solutions. The new DCP5205 leverages Entropic’s low power design SoC and plugs directly into the main power socket eliminating the need for a separate power adapter commonly required in today’s hybrid STBs.

Many global operators are looking for smaller form factor STB solutions that are virtually “invisible” in connecting the cable. With the DCP5205, EKT has designed the full functionality of a STB into a plug socket. The new device is small enough to fit behind a flat panel TV set, and offers an optimal user experience that boasts built in Wi-Fi, RF4CE remote reception and retains support for broadcast quality conditional access security (CAS).

“We believe our new DCP5205 Hybrid PowerPlug STB is a game changing solution that will enable operators to deliver all the functionality and interactive TV experiences subscribers expect from their STB today, but in an exciting new form factor,” said Richard Smith, CEO of EKT. “In working with Entropic, we collectively sought to develop a STB solution that focused on low power, high performance and operator-class security.”

The DCP5205 is a high performance hybrid STB solution and uses Entropic’s ARM® Cortex™-A9 CPU-based SoC with IP-STB features, integrated multi-tuner cable reception, advanced security and DRM protection for operators’ premium content and application services.

“Operators are looking for new ‘set-back box’ devices that sit behind the TV, connect to the web or cloud services while providing the same level of broadcast and broadband capabilities with carrier-class conditional access security,” said Roger Gregory, vice president, Marketing, Entropic. “Our long-standing relationship with EKT leverages creativity and engineering vision to evolve the STB platform. The new DCP5205 hybrid PowerPlug STB is a strong proof point of how we are enabling a new generation of ‘set-back boxes’ to meet operators’ interests for smaller, lower power designs.”

Availability

EKT and Entropic will demonstrate the DCP5205 hybrid PowerPlug STB during the TV Connect show in London from 18-20 March in Stand #33 and Stand #124, respectively.