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    The 2014 Diamond Technology Reviews Elite Are Here

    Sept. 11, 2014
    BTR's Diamond Technology Reviews, now in its tenth year, is a technology recognition program wherein vendors serving the broadband cable ...
    DTR_LogoMain
    DTR_LogoMain
    BTR's Diamond Technology Reviews, now in its tenth year, is a technology recognition program wherein vendors serving the broadband cable industry are invited to submit information about products that have been released or upgraded since last year's SCTE Cable-Tec Expo (held in October 2013). We assigned each entry to at least three of our expert volunteer judges, listed in the box below. To help ensure fairness, similar products from different vendors were reviewed by the same group of panelists. Judges based scores/comments on written material provided by vendors, as well as their own experience with or knowledge of the specific technologies.

    5 Diamonds/Innovation Award

    4.5 Diamonds

    4 Diamonds

    3.5 Diamonds

    Honorable Mentions

    BTR's staff played no role in the judging of the submitted products. Review panelists were informed that scores/comments would remain anonymous.

    The breadth of entries for the Diamonds in 2014 spanned small cell, smart office, field test equipment and video quality of service solutions. Submissions covered advanced architectures, cloud solutions and metro network management solutions, among other things.

    "I would say that innovative products are being presented to cover every aspect of cable operations. The judges were pretty impressed, and maybe a little overwhelmed at the number of entries," said Tom Gorman, president of opXL.

    Gorman, who spearheaded the Diamonds this year, said the innovation factor is key when it comes to the Diamonds. But, the panel of judges - a mix of cable operator execs and engineering consultants - also was looking for usefulness, ease of deployment and ways that the products enhance, protect or grow the cable business.

    The flavor of Expo reflects the current and most urgent problems facing cable operators. The Diamond Technology Reviews entrants usually are a great representation of what attendees can expect to see on the show floor. The overriding theme this year seems to be quality.

    "The Diamonds reflect vendors' desire to help operators to know the health of their networks and network components, as well as provide the ability to measure that quality to the end user," Gorman said.

    At Expo, attendees can expect a focus on converged and advanced networks, Gorman said. "With the activity in the industry today, companies will be challenged to rework their core infrastructures due to changing ownership and markets served."

    And they likely will use some of the Diamonds 2014 award winners to do so. What follows are this year's entries that were designated as most worthy of the industry's careful consideration.

    Judges used the following scale to determine Diamond scores:

    • 0-1 Useful product, yet commodity
    • 2-3 Solid product with viable attributes that set it apart
    • 4 Excellent product with technical features and performance that provide clear and substantial benefits
    • 5 Superb product that sets new standards for performance and provides groundbreaking and new technical milestones

    Each product's scores were averaged and rounded to the nearest full or half Diamond. Note that products are grouped by score (with the highest Diamonds ranking first), and then in alphabetical order.

    Scores of 3.5 or above are considered superlative and reflect a very positive opinion from the panel. Only products receiving 3.5 or above are included in this article.

    DIAMONDS JUDGES 2014 (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

    • Ron Boyer, President, Boyer Broadband
    • Jeff Chen, SVP Advanced Technology, Bright House Networks
    • Wil Colon, VP Plant Performance, Comcast
    • Jeff Finkelstein, Executive Director of Strategic Architecture, Cox
    • James Hannan, VP Engineering, Cable One
    • Tommy Hill, Independent Consultant
    • Joseph Jensen, CTO, Buckeye Cable System
    • Michael Kelsen, Senior Director and Chief Network Architect, Time Warner Cable
    • Andrew Parrott, VP Technical Operations, Suddenlink Communications
    • Jorge Salinger, VP, Access Architecture, Comcast
    • Ken Wright, Principal, Wright Solutions