B2C2 FlexCop: Difference between revisions
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The FlexCop is a quite interesting and well-designed [[PCI interface chipsets|PCI interface chipset]] by [[B2C2 Inc.]]. The FlexCop/FlexCop2 family is comprised of the FlexCopII, FlexCopIIb and FlexCopIII variants. It is worthwhile to point out that the FlexCop ASICs have no analog input handling capabilities, but rather are designed strictly for digital receiver applications. These chips contain a flexible [[MPEG-2 Transport Stream]] interface with hardware [[PID]] filters which, if delivery of a complete Transport Stream payload is not desired, allow for the removal of unwanted packets from the stream, and thus reduce the bandwidth utilized when transferred across the host system bus. |
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PID filtering is most useful in scenarios such as when recording one HD program (typically 14-17Mbps) from a 256-QAM stream (having a demodulated payload ~38.8Mbps), or when recording low resolution program streams from any given Transport Stream. In other scenarios, such as when recording an HD stream encoded with 8-VSB (~19.4Mbps), PID filtering is not as impactive in terms of the relative bandwidth savings, since the saved program usually constitutes most of the original Tranport Stream's bandwidth to begin with. The hardware filters impact may also be limited if in the case of collecting EIT data. |
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As far we know the FlexCop chipsets contain a [[Smartcard interface]] and a [[CSA Descrambler]]. As the FlexCop tends to display some quirks in the [[I²C Protocol]] interface, the PCI bridge driver thus needs to know which clients are allowed on the bus in order to avoid lockups. |
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The B2C2 FlexCop/FlexCop2 family is e.g. used in the [[Technisat Skystar2]] and the [[Technisat Airstar 2]] DVB Cards. |
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The FlexCop family of chips can be found employed in several [[TechniSat]] DVB cards and USB devices. |
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* [http://www.b2c2.com/ B2C2 Inc.] |
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Latest revision as of 17:22, 28 September 2010
The FlexCop is a quite interesting and well-designed PCI interface chipset by B2C2 Inc.. The FlexCop/FlexCop2 family is comprised of the FlexCopII, FlexCopIIb and FlexCopIII variants. It is worthwhile to point out that the FlexCop ASICs have no analog input handling capabilities, but rather are designed strictly for digital receiver applications. These chips contain a flexible MPEG-2 Transport Stream interface with hardware PID filters which, if delivery of a complete Transport Stream payload is not desired, allow for the removal of unwanted packets from the stream, and thus reduce the bandwidth utilized when transferred across the host system bus.
PID filtering is most useful in scenarios such as when recording one HD program (typically 14-17Mbps) from a 256-QAM stream (having a demodulated payload ~38.8Mbps), or when recording low resolution program streams from any given Transport Stream. In other scenarios, such as when recording an HD stream encoded with 8-VSB (~19.4Mbps), PID filtering is not as impactive in terms of the relative bandwidth savings, since the saved program usually constitutes most of the original Tranport Stream's bandwidth to begin with. The hardware filters impact may also be limited if in the case of collecting EIT data.
As far we know the FlexCop chipsets contain a Smartcard interface and a CSA Descrambler. As the FlexCop tends to display some quirks in the I²C Protocol interface, the PCI bridge driver thus needs to know which clients are allowed on the bus in order to avoid lockups.
The Linux driver works quite well and has no known drawbacks. Support for the IC's Smartcard Interface and CSA Descrambler features, however, are missing.
The FlexCop family of chips can be found employed in several TechniSat DVB cards and USB devices.