» PAUL O'SHEA'S PRODUCT SELECTIONS drew 115 voters in this category. Our top product - the EZRadio chipset from Integration Associates - was first reviewed on eeProductCenter in late January of this year and was rated by 86 voters in this poll. More information on these products can be found at the web locations indicated.

(1)
INTEGRATION ASSOCIATES
EZRadio -- next generation wireless chipset?
eeProductCenter's Paul O' Shea says: "What makes this product unique compared to the competition is that the frequencies are selected in software.That means you only have one BOM for the part. It becomes a software change on the production line rather than making a completely different BOM for each difference. It also means you don't need an RF engineer because all the RF circuitry is integrated on the chip. That's pretty impressive especially when you compare it to the competition. Most competitive parts need from six or seven external parts to as many as 30 external parts. This chip-set only requires one external part-the crystal, and that is a common, inexpensive crystal."
Readers say: "The potential uses for this little chipset are unlimited!" » "On-chip RF components eliminate the need of external components. Get yourself a crystal and Voila! You are set to integrate/ use the chip. Antenna tuning is taken care of automatically, which leaves designers/integrators to their core work. Going forward with everything wireless, this chipset and the variants will have a significantly large user base." » "I see this product as having a great potential in the consumer field."
USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR
2.4 GHz radio SoC supports multipoint-to-point communications for industrial markets
Paul O'Shea: "The WirelessUSB LR is a radio system on a chip with the radio on the same die as the RF logic. That means that all the signal spreading and link setup is done by the chip so the designers don't have to figure it out or use a discrete radio and separate microcontroller. Long range part of the title means that it communicates up to 50 meters....WirelessUSB LR will find a nice fit in the longer range solutions needed by applications such as building automation and industrial control and others where sophisticated networking control isn't needed. Cypress is betting that wireless networking will be a large market that can be served by many different technologies and it is probably right."
Readers say: "As a company specializing in both SoC design and wireless applications, we are following this type of development closely and hope to be able to partner with Cypress and/or their customers in WirelessUSB design." » "Nice! Easy, ubiquitous standard, high utility, strong supplier."
USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
MICROTUNE
The cable industry's first 1-GigaHertz single-chip tuner
Paul O'Shea: "Microtune has had previous products for cable modems and STBs. The big news here is that the MT2121 extends the frequency to 1 GHz. Four previous generations have taught the company much about what customers need...new more stringent requirements for digital have made the market take notice of Microtune because the MT2121 is the right product at the right time."
Readers say: » "The extended frequency range of the MT2121, together with its cost reduced application presents a definite advantage."
USABILITY RANK 3

(4)
RADIOCRAFTS
RF modules said to be smallest in the industry
Paul O'Shea: "Radiocrafts AS, a provider of standard RF modules and systems for short range radio, has launched a series of RF modules which are the smallest in the industry. The shielded modules made for surface mounting measure only 12.7 x 25.4 x 3.5 mm. Typical applications include home, building and industrial automation, automatic meter reading, remote control and telemetry, fleet and asset management."
Readers say: "I really like the small form factor and the ease of applying it in particular."
USABILITY RANK: 4

(5)
SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS
Quad-band integrated RF subsystem provides longer battery life, smallest form factor
Paul O'Shea: "The main point of this Skyworks announcement is the introduction of a next generation transceiver combined with the front-end module, something that no one else has, and it's in the smallest size solution for a quad band radio subsystem. Skyworks says its next-generation, direct conversion transceiver, the SKY74117, is in a 6mm x 6mm package compared to the previous generation, which was in an 8mm x 8mm package. It not only reduces the size but integrates about 20 components reducing the total from about 50 down to 30 components. When combined with the company's front end module, which has a PA and switching in it, it creates a very small subsystem for a quad-band radio design."
Readers say: » "Impressive integration. Should have good power saving, cost, form factor advantages."
USABILITY RANK: 8

(6)
CENTILLIUM COMMUNICATIONS
StreetFighter product line attacks global ADSL market
Paul O'Shea: "Centillium's main focus has been ADSL chipsets on the Central Office (CO) and the Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) sides. The company also has a voice over packet (VoP) business. Centillium has the overwhelming lead and number one position in Japan for ADSL 24- and 50-Mbps chipsets. The company says it has shipped over 22 million ports globally since 2000. This new chip, the StreetFighter 100 is not targeted at Japan and the Annex C market, they have Palladia for that. An annex denotes peculiarities with respect to transmission over the equipment and in respect to the communications protocols. StreetFighter is designed to open up the Annex A and B markets, which are the US, China/Asia, and Europe.... Centillium has a reference board available now."
Readers say: "Its versatility is in addressing different markets."
USABILITY RANK: 6

(7)
SiGe SEMICONDUCTOR
Power amplifier delivers unprecedented integration for 802.11a WLAN systems
eeProductCenter: "The SE2535 is a linear, three-stage 27dBm power amplifier that incorporates a power detector along with all of the analog biasing and matching circuitry into a standard QFN package measuring just 4mm x 4mm x 0.9mm. With superior integration of analog functions, the SE2535 minimizes external component requirements compared to alternative solutions. The SE2535 meets the 802.11a harmonic requirements of worldwide standards bodies, and eliminates the need for external band pass filtering. These features result in a reduced bill of materials, save on design resources, and allow manufacturers to deliver Wi-FiR systems with reduced cost and smaller form factors."
USABILITY RANK: 5

(8)
CONEXANT SYSTEMS
Wireless Connectivity Device Complements Company's Digital Home Product
Paul O'Shea: "Conexant came out with the 11b chip in the spring of 2003 and then late in the year it introduced this 11g chip. The chip is for broadband data applications like routers. If someone already has an 802.11g router and they're using a network processor from Conexant, then this chip can make their overall solution a good deal. It is very likely that in the near future you will see even more integration of the baseband, MAC into something like a network processor."
Readers say: "Significant improvement in performance/ size. With the inevitable integration of DSL and WLAN this is a stepping stone."
USABILITY RANK: 7

(9)
CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS
Single-chip ZigBee points to dramatic benefits
eeProductCenter: "The low cost and power attributes of the ZigBee radio standard will vastly increase the wireless market, and 2004 will be the critical design-in year predicts product development consultancy Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL)."
USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
ANALOG DEVICES
Digital up-converter technology reduces peak-to-average power in 3G basestations
eeProductCenter: "The AD6633s VersaCREST crest reduction engine enables optimum baseband-to-IF (intermediate frequency) signal conversion by anticipating and reducing power peaks earlier in the signal chain."
USABILITY RANK: 10