Entropic's CSS-powered Unitron Multi-switch Gives Full Access to Sky+ Services in MDUs

By Shamila Janakiraman, TMCnet Contributor

The Unitron Johansson multi-switch that is powered by Entropic’s EN5218 channel stacking switch (CSS (News - Alert)) technology is delivering full access to Sky+ PVR and multi-room services in multi-dwelling units. This will benefit subscribers in the UK and Ireland in regions where Sky+ services delivery was not possible before. 

Brendan Hegarty, Sky’s head of homes and independent retailers, said, “Since the deployment of the new Johansson multi-switch all residents in MDUs can now enjoy the full benefits of Sky’s services, including our multi-room package, which lets subscribers enjoy Sky TV channels throughout the home, so different family members can watch the shows they love at the same time.”

Sky and Sky ASHA (authorized sky homes agent installer network) required a flexible multi-switch satellite solution that is compatible with a mixed class of set-top box (STB) installations. The Unitron Johansson 9742 multi-switch has enabled Sky and its installers to streamline whole-home deployments for delivering Sky+ content to many rooms in the house.

Entropic (News - Alert) a specialist in semiconductor solutions for the connected home has provided its CSS technology to power the Unitron Johansson multi-switch for distributing signals seamlessly to eight receivers in legacy mode. When functioning in single cable router (SCR) mode it can expand to 24 receivers.

Also it is possible to cascade several 9742 switches to support entire MDU systems. The SCR mode in the multi-switch enables Sky to cost effectively deploy satellite services.

Willy Lamaire, general manager, Unitron Group, said, “Our Johansson multi-switch product with Entropic’s industry-proven CSS silicon gives power to the Sky subscriber – allowing them to take charge of how they watch TV with Sky+.”

Such deployments are enhancing whole-home entertainment by leveraging single-wire satellite solutions. Sky can now target new subscribers using single cable runs from the satellite dish to deliver Sky+ services even in places where it was impossible previously.

Recently the multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) board of directors approved the first official MoCA 2.0 golden nodes. Entropic is first to officially announce board-approved MoCA 2.0 golden node certification. Upon this approval, Entropic’s MoCA 2.0 golden nodes will be used by national technical systems (NTS (News - Alert)), the MoCA authorized lab, to execute MoCA certification testing on all MoCA 2.0 devices.

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