Semtech, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, forged a partnership with Virtual Extension, an Israel-based provider of mesh wireless networks, to expand their wireless mesh network platform to include a new, ultra-high transmission range (Tx) power chipset.

The new Tx power chipset, which features Semtech’s SX1231 ISM-band transceiver with Virtual Extension’s VE209S wireless mesh controller, brings a new level of performance to a wide variety of smart environment applications, company officials said.

“This new chipset is great news for a wide variety of smart environment applications,” said Sameer Vuyyuru, vice president of marketing for Semtech’s Advanced Communications (News - Alert) and Sensing Group, in a statement.

“Expanding our relationship with Virtual Extension, this chipset joins our lower output power, +12.5 dBm (News - Alert), 3 mA version introduced last year,” Vuyyuru added. “Our wireless mesh platform enables robust, reliable mesh networks that are easier to design, build, install and maintain, and can easily scale when the network expands.”

The ultra-high, +17 dBm RF transmission power of the SX1231 makes this chipset ideal for network applications that need to fully utilize the maximum power allowed by European, North American and other worldwide regulations, company officials said.

The chipset is also ideal for battery-operated devices with up to a 12-year operating lifetime, or a combination of the two, all using very few external components.

The new power chipset offers the highest performance network solution available for designers of smart lighting, metering, alarms, security systems and other smart environment systems.

A member of Semtech’s complete platform of ISM-band transceivers, the SX1231 is optimized for asynchronous sensor network designs over a wide frequency range, including the 433 MHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz bands, the company said.

Additionally, the chipset offers world-class, 137 dB link budget and a high receive sensitivity of -120 dBm, along with a high transmitter output power of 17 dBm to enable reliable transmission over greater distances.

“With a transmission power of +17 dBm, high selectivity filter and programmable communication modes, the SX1231 is an excellent companion chip to our VE209S wireless mesh controller,” said Leor Hardy, chief technology officer for Virtual Extension. “It enables wireless mesh networks complying with the most stringent requirements of European and other worldwide smart environment regulations.”

SX1231-based chipsets and modules are available now. Evaluation kits are also available from Semtech.

Back in December, Semtech announced it is working with IBM (News - Alert) and its innovative 3D through-silicon via (TSV) technology to develop a high-performance ADC/DSP platform that has applications in fiber optic telecommunications, high performance RF sampling and filtering, test equipment and instrumentation, and sub-array processing for phased array radar systems.