The 2011 Diamond Technology Reviews Elite Are Here

BTR's Diamond Technology Reviews, now in its seventh 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 2010). We assigned each entry to at least three of our 11 expert volunteer judges (listed 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
CommScope LxS-16016 Wideband Edge QAM
4.5 Diamonds
ARRIS Whole Home Solution Media Gateway & Player Aurora Networks Universal Digital Return Cisco Systems Videoscape Envivio 4Caster C4 Gen III Harmonic ProMedia Suite JDSU Field View QAM JDSU SmartID Advanced Coax Probes	Motorola DCX3600M Media Gateway SeaChange Nitro Multiscreen User Interface Software Sunrise Telecom RxT Smart Productivity Test Platform with realGATE Trilithic EASyCAP Encoder/Decoder, IPAWS CAP Software and/or Integrated Server Zanaware Technologies Auto Backr Pro
4 Diamonds
ARRIS VIPr Video Transcoder (audio normalization feature) Aurora Networks MDU CPE BigBand Networks MSP2800 with the MSP QAM Ciena 3931 Service Delivery Switch ComSonics Recon-CIS Elemental Technologies Elemental Live Envivio Halo Network Media Processor Ericsson Media Delivery Management System Harmonic NSG 9000 HectoQAM	IneoQuest Technologies Cricket QAM Plus with OOB IneoQuest Technologies IQDialogue ASM JDSU PathTrak WebView 3.0 RGB Networks VMG-8 Sandvine Traffic Management Dashboard within Network Analytics product Spirent TestCenter Live Sunrise Telecom AT2500RQV4 Zanaware Technologies Channel Lineup Pro
3.5 Diamonds
Blonder Tongue EQAM-420A IneoQuest Technologies Expedus ASM Motorola Televation	RGB Networks TransAct Packager Sunrise Telecom CM3000 Series Tektronix Sentry

BTR's staff played no role in the judging of the submitted products. Review panelists were informed that scores/comments would remain anonymous.For the second year running, the Diamonds parlayed the vast experience of cable engineering stalwart Steve Johnson of Johnson Telecom (formerly of Time Warner Cable). Johnson spearheaded the program and recruited yet another remarkable panel of judges, who were frank and open with their opinions and eager to share their insights on these technologies and solutions. What follows are the Diamonds 2011 entries named by the judges 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 Diamonds or above are included in this article.Diamonds Judges 2011 (in alphabetical order):