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UT-22x

New · preliminary specs

USB DTV Modulator Modules

USB modulator modules on the HiDes HD9520 chip — DVB-T/ISDB-T/DVB-C/J.83 in hardware, 5 V USB bus power, 67 × 35 mm.

Contact Specifications ↓
UT-220 and UT-221 modulator boards
UT-22x — UT-220 — HD9528 with the ADRF6755 I/Q up-converter, I-PEX output
UT-220 — HD9528 with the ADRF6755 I/Q up-converter, I-PEX output
UT-22x — UT-221 — HD9527 with on-chip LO and mixer
UT-221 — HD9527 with on-chip LO and mixer
UT-22x — Top view — both boards are 67 × 35 mm, excluding the USB connector
Top view — both boards are 67 × 35 mm, excluding the USB connector

1/4

Across both models, 1 kHz steps
50–2500 MHz
UT-220 max RF output (100–470 MHz)
+10 dBm
UT-220 MER in VHF/UHF
>39 dB
USB bus power, 67 × 35 mm board
5 V

Overview

The UT-22x is a family of USB-powered, single-channel DVB-T, ISDB-T/Tb, DVB-C and ITU-T J.83 Annex A/B/C modulators built on the HiDes HD9520 chip family. All channel coding and modulation run in hardware, so the host only streams an MPEG-2 transport stream over USB. Two models share one modulator core, SDK and stream player: the UT-220 adds an external I/Q up-converter for 100–2500 MHz at up to +10 dBm, and the UT-221 up-converts on-chip for 50–950 MHz at lower cost and power. The same HD9527 and HD9528 chips are widely deployed for FPV video on drones and unmanned vessels, over links of up to 300 km with an external power amplifier.

[ Signal chain ]

One modulator core. Two ways up to RF.

Both models take the transport stream over USB into an HD9520-family chip that does all the coding and modulation. Only the up-conversion differs: the UT-220’s HD9528 hands zero-IF I/Q to an external ADRF6755, which reaches 100–2500 MHz at more power and higher MER; the UT-221’s HD9527 mixes up on-chip and outputs 50–950 MHz directly.

UT-220

Host PC Player or SDK app

HD9528

Modulator core TS · FEC · COFDM / QAM · I/Q DAC
ADRF6755 I/Q modulator · PLL / VCO

RF out100–2500 MHzI-PEX → SMA

UT-221

Host PC Player or SDK app

HD9527 · one chip

Modulator core TS · FEC · COFDM / QAM · I/Q DAC
LO + mixer On-chip

RF out50–950 MHz

USB 2.0I/QUSB 2.0I/Q

UT-220

Host PC Player or SDK app

HD9528

Modulator core TS · FEC · COFDM / QAM · I/Q DAC
ADRF6755 I/Q modulator · PLL / VCO

RF out100–2500 MHzI-PEX → SMA

UT-221

Host PC Player or SDK app

HD9527one chip

Modulator core TS · FEC · COFDM / QAM · I/Q DAC
LO + mixer On-chip

RF out50–950 MHz

USB 2.0I/QUSB 2.0I/Q
  • USB — TS and control
  • I/Q baseband
  • RF out

Redrawn from the UT-22x datasheet. Highlighted: the up-conversion stage.

[ HD9520 inside ]

From transport stream to RF, in hardware

The HD9520 is a COFDM and QAM transmitter in a 64-pin QFN, 8 × 8 mm. Everything between the USB port and the I/Q DAC happens on the chip, so the host only streams.

01 · Transport stream

  • PID filtering
  • SI/PSI table insertion
  • Null packets for rate adaptation
  • PCR re-stamping, so null insertion adds no jitter

02 · Channel coding

  • DVB-T / ISDB-T: energy dispersal, RS(204,188), punctured convolutional code, bit and symbol interleaving
  • QAM: RS(204,188) with an I = 12 interleaver; J.83B adds RS(128,122), trellis and Level 1/2 interleaving

03 · Modulation

  • QPSK, 16-QAM or 64-QAM on a 2K/4K/8K IFFT with guard interval (COFDM)
  • Or root-raised-cosine shaped QAM

04 · Output

  • Rate converter, I/Q DAC and low-pass filter
  • HD9527: on-chip LO and mixer to RF
  • HD9528: zero-IF I/Q for an external up-converter

Two family members

  • HD9527On-chip LO and mixer; RF 50–950 MHz in 1 kHz steps — used in the UT-221
  • HD9528Zero-IF complex baseband I/Q, mixer not connected — used in the UT-220

At chip level the HD9520 specifies MER above 40 dB with an external LO and mixer, and above 35 dB with the internal one.

[ RF output ]

Where each model reaches, and how strong

The UT-220 delivers up to +10 dBm with MER above 39 dB below 950 MHz, stepping down to −5 dBm at the top of its range. The UT-221 holds a flat −5 dBm across 50–950 MHz.

UT-220

  • 100–470 MHz +10 dBm >39 dB
  • 470–950 MHz +7 dBm >39 dB
  • 950–1900 MHz +5 dBm >36 dB
  • 1900–2500 MHz −5 dBm >34 dB

UT-221

  • 50–950 MHz −5 dBm flat 35 dB

From the UT-22x datasheet. UT-220 MER measured at −10 dB ADRF6755 attenuation.

[ Field record ]

The chips behind FPV video on unmanned vehicles

The HD9527 and HD9528 carry HD video reliably at high speed and over links of up to 300 km. They are widely deployed as the FPV video-link solution on drones, unmanned surface vessels and other unmanned vehicles.

300km Longest HD video link

  • 01Drones (UAV)
  • 02Unmanned surface vessels
  • 03Other unmanned vehicles

Achievable range depends on the external power amplifier, antennas and line of sight. It is the chip family’s record, not the reach of the USB module on its own.

[ Applications ]

From the test bench to the airframe

The same stick drives an FPV link, a lab signal source or a small TV headend.

  • FPV video links

    HD video on drones at high speed and long range

  • Unmanned boats and vehicles

    Surface vessels and ground vehicles

  • Signal generator and R&D

    DVB-T, ISDB-T, DVB-C and QAM-B for test and demonstration

  • Mini-headend

    Hotel, hospital, campus, corporate, mall and stadium TV

  • Digital signage

    Over coax or wireless links

  • On-board TV

    Buses, trains and ships; wireless display

  • Live sports and surveillance

    Live events, monitoring and industrial video

  • Amateur digital TV

    The UT-220 also covers the 1.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands

From the UT-22x datasheet.

[ Software ]

Free player, free SDK

Both models ship with the same software, so an application written for one runs on the other.

Included

  • Windows stream player for TS files and live streams
  • Windows and Linux SDK with USB drivers and the HD9520 API

Host requirements

  • CPUIntel, AMD, ARM or MIPS
  • Memory128 MB RAM or more; more if the host also decodes audio and video
  • PortOne free USB 2.0 port; USB 1.1 runs the UT-220 at 3–5 Mbps of TS

[ Build with HiDes ]

Take the module, the design or the chip

Three ways to build on the UT-22x, from a tailored module to your own in-house hardware.

  1. 01

    Custom modules

    Tailored versions of the UT-22x for your application, such as FPV video links.

  2. 02

    Reference design

    The complete UT-22x reference circuit design, to build your own hardware.

  3. 03

    Simple circuit · no DRAM · low BOM cost

    HD9520 chip supply

    HD9527 and HD9528 chips for in-house production.

Ask about samples, customization and chips

UT-22x

Specifications

System features

  • 01Full hardware modulation — DVB-T, ISDB-T/Tb, DVB-C and ITU-T J.83 Annex A/B/C, with no host CPU load for coding or modulation
  • 02The host streams an MPEG-2 transport stream over USB; data and control share the same link
  • 03Powered from the 5 V USB bus — no external adapter
  • 04DVB-T bandwidth 1–8 MHz, 1 kHz RF tuning step
  • 05ISDB-T 1-layer (13 segments) and 2-layer (12 + 1 segments)
  • 06QAM up to 256, 2–6.96 MSymbol/s; full J.83B Level 1/2 interleaving
  • 07Built-in TS demultiplexer (PID filtering), PCR re-stamping and SI/PSI table insertion
  • 08Free Windows stream player; free Windows and Linux SDK

Model options

  • UT-220

    Wideband · 100–2500 MHz

    • HD9528 + ADRF6755
    • External I/Q up-converter — VHF, UHF, L-band and 2.4 GHz
    • Up to +10 dBm, MER >39 dB in VHF/UHF
    • I-PEX output with I-PEX-to-SMA cable
    • USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 supported)

  • UT-221

    VHF/UHF · 50–950 MHz

    • HD9527
    • On-chip LO and mixer — direct RF output
    • Flat −5 dBm across the band, MER 35 dB
    • Carrier suppression >50 dB
    • Lower cost and power

Both models share the same modulation feature set, SDK and Windows stream player — software written for one runs on the other.

RF (UT-220 / UT-221)

Modulator IC
  • UT-220 HD9528
  • UT-221 HD9527
Up-conversion
  • UT-220 External ADRF6755 (PLL/VCO)
  • UT-221 On-chip LO and mixer
Frequency range
  • UT-220 100–2500 MHz
  • UT-221 50–950 MHz

1 kHz tuning step

UT-220 RF output (max)
  • 100–470 MHz +10 dBm
  • 470–950 MHz +7 dBm
  • 950–1900 MHz +5 dBm
  • 1900–2500 MHz −5 dBm
UT-220 MER (typ.)
  • 100–470 MHz >39 dB
  • 470–950 MHz >39 dB
  • 950–1900 MHz >36 dB
  • 1900–2500 MHz >34 dB

Measured at −10 dB ADRF6755 attenuation

UT-221 RF output / MER
−5 dBm (103 dBµV), flat across the band; MER 35 dB (typ.)
Digital attenuator
  • UT-220 +0 / −25 dB
  • UT-221 +5 / −25 dB

1 dB step

Spectrum shoulder (adjacent channel)
  • UT-220 50 dB
  • UT-221 45 dB
Carrier suppression
  • UT-220 >42 dB
  • UT-221 >50 dB
Phase noise
< −92 dBc @ 10 kHz
RF connector
  • UT-220 I-PEX (50 Ω), I-PEX-to-SMA cable supplied
  • UT-221 To be announced

DVB-C / ITU-T J.83

Constellation
  • DVB-C / J.83A 16/32/64/128/256-QAM
  • J.83B / J.83C 64 / 256-QAM
Symbol rate
  • DVB-C / J.83A 2–6.96 MSymbol/s
  • J.83B 5.057 / 5.361 MSymbol/s
  • J.83C 2–5.3 MSymbol/s

DVB-C / J.83A in 1 kSymbol/s steps; J.83B fixed for 64-QAM / 256-QAM

Roll-off
DVB-C, J.83A 0.15 · J.83B 0.18 / 0.12 · J.83C 0.13
J.83B interleaver
Level 1 and full Level 2

DVB-T / ISDB-T modulation

Bandwidth
DVB-T 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 MHz; ISDB-T 6/7/8 MHz
FFT
2K, 4K, 8K
Constellation
QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
Code rate
1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8
Guard interval
1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32
Hierarchy
Non-hierarchical only
ISDB-T layers
1-layer (13 segments) or 2-layer (12 + 1 segments)
ISDB-T time interleaver
Not supported

Host, power and mechanical

Host interface
  • UT-220 USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 supported)
  • UT-221 USB 2.0

USB 1.1 carries only about 3–5 Mbps of TS data; use USB 2.0 for full-rate channels

Operating mode
USB mode: TS data and control both over USB
Power supply
5 V DC, USB bus power
Supply current (typ.)
  • UT-220 560 mA
  • UT-221 To be announced

The UT-220 is slightly above the 500 mA USB 2.0 budget — use a port or powered hub that can supply it

Size (L × W)
67 × 35 mm (excluding USB connector)
Operating temperature
To be announced

Industrial-grade chips (−40 to 85 °C) are available for an extended-temperature module

Software
Free Windows stream player; Windows and Linux SDK with USB drivers and the HD9520 API

※ Specifications are from the UT-22x datasheet v0.1 (first draft, 2026-10-28) and catalog and are subject to change without notice; items marked "to be announced" await confirmation. FPV range depends on the external power amplifier, antennas and line of sight — no over-the-air range is listed for the module itself.

[ Next steps ]

Bring the UT-22x into your project

Tell us your vehicle, range and band, and HiDes will help plan the configuration. The full datasheet is available by email on request.

Contact Request the datasheet →

info@hides.com.tw · +886-2-2917-2417

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https://hides.com.tw/en/products/ut-22x/ · +886-2-2917-2417 · info@hides.com.tw