Applications of GaAs ICs in video distribution

Television has been a key driver in the development of GaAs MMIC technology. A succession of techniques for video distribution-from 4 GHz TVRO to 28 GHz LMDS-has been enabled by the unique capabilities of GaAs MMICs. In turn, these markets have provided a steadily-growing outlet for semiconductor producers. One specific example, a GaAs MMIC-based rooftop receiver for 2.5 GHz "wireless cable TV", is illustrative of the impact of the technology, with over 250,000 units shipped to date. In this case, the performance advantages of GaAs MMICs were secondary. Size and cost reduction were the real market enablers, but only when the system-level design was opened up to exploit the technology\´s true leverage.