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Diamond Technology Reviews '08
New Solutions Worth Checking Out

Important note: For the Diamond Technology Reviews 2008 program, "Broadband Gear Report" invited vendors to submit products that had been released or upgraded since June 2007. Not all of our panelists reviewed every product, but we assigned each entry to at least three of the six judges (listed below). To help ensure fairness, similar products from different vendors were reviewed by the same group of panelists. Judges based scores and comments on written material provided by vendors, as well as their own experience with or knowledge of the specific technologies.

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

By Laura Hamilton

In Broadband Gear Report's Fourth Annual Diamond Technology Reviews ("the Diamonds"), our judging panel of top engineering execs (listed below) didn't pull many punches - perhaps more this year than in any of our past programs. Candid and hard-hitting, the judges obviously took their duties seriously as they reviewed some of the latest groundbreaking products for HFC networks. What follows are the entries they named as most worth the industry's careful consideration.

Tom Gorman, VP Operations Engineering, Charter Justin (Jay) Junkus, President, KnowledgeLink Inc. Andy Parrott, Corporate VP of Technical Operations, Suddenlink Pragash Pillai, VP Strategic Engineering, Bresnan Michael L. Smith, Senior Manager, Plant Engineering, Time Warner Cable Tim Templeton, Manager, Network Design and Documentation, Sunflower Broadband

Judges used the following scale to determine Diamonds 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 standard for performance and provides groundbreaking and new technical milestones

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

Scores of 3 or above are considered outstanding and reflect a very positive opinion from the panel. Only products receiving 3 Diamonds or above are included in this article.

Congratulations to all the entries that made the Diamonds grade, and in particular, to the highest scorers in this year's program - our "elite three" - that enjoyed a stellar 4.5 Diamonds. They included Alloptic's MicroNode transceiver, Aurora Networks' Node PON, GE4132M and Trilithic's EasyIP network receiver.

Alloptic MicroNode Transceiver: 4.5 Diamonds

The Alloptic MicroNode RFoG (RF over glass) concept is to extend fiber deeper into the network - to the sub's location from a headend or hub - while continuing to use the embedded HFC/DOCSIS infrastructure. At the subscriber premises, a MicroNode transceiver connects the fiber to the existing in-building wiring, using the same cable modems, set-tops and other CPE. At the headend, existing infrastructure also is leveraged. The same QAM modulators, laser transmitters, CMTS and EDFAs continue to be used along with current operating and billing systems.

"This is one of the smartest methods I've seen to support RFoG implementations," one of BGR's judges said. Another commented: "[This] transceiver convinces me that the future footprints of MSOs' networks will be a strong blend of FTTH and HFC over the next few years as companies like Alloptic make it simple and cost-effective to build new developments with a simple solution that directly ties into our existing headend infrastructure."

Aurora Node PON, GE4132M: 4.5 Diamonds

Aurora Networks' Node PON, GE4132M, is a module designed to work in all Aurora nodes. It enables GEPON functionality to be available from a standard cable TV HFC node. Using this module, the cable op can cost-effectively migrate their installed HFC network to a standards-based GEPON FTTH network - but only if and when it is justified by the revenue growth.

"The ability to deploy GEPON standard CPE where needed in addition to reaching customers with cost-effective HFC is an ace up the sleeve for cable operators facing competition," a judge stated. "Aurora's configuration and monitoring for its products are also feature-rich and inexpensive to deploy." Another panelist seconded that thought and added that the product "is the perfect solution for MSOs that need a blend of HFC and FTTH to coexist on their current core infrastructure. As statewide franchised overbuilders are hand-picking the developments they want to build into, we the MSOs now have an aggressive solution to exceed the competition's network."

Trilithic EasyIP Network Receiver: 4.5 Diamonds

Trilithic's EASyIP network receiver is a stand-alone EAS receiver that can be placed anywhere on a cable op's network. It can solve bad reception problems, remote LP monitoring and leased audio lines for EAS networks. The EASyIP network receiver has two or four internal radios that can be programmed to monitor AM/FM/NOAA stations. It processes EAS alerts and stores the audio message, then contacts the main EASyPLUS encoder/decoder over IP to deliver the EAS message. The EASyPLUS decodes, encodes, and delivers the alert to set-tops, TVs, PNCS servers, digital simulcast encoders, and any other devices, even in remote hub sites.

All of the judges that reviewed this solution pointed to its flexibility and adaptability. One of our reviewer's summed up the panel's impressions with the following: "This truly is a needed upgrade to the laborious process of managing EAS systems in multiple headends, hubs and geographies."

Aurora Smart Media Converters: 4 Diamonds

The judges all used one adjective when describing these: "Great product." "Great option." "Great solution." Aurora Network's SMART media converters enable cable ops to deliver 100 Mbps or 1,000 Mbps Ethernet connections over fiber to a business or a high-bandwidth residential user. This enables ops to simply extend their existing HFC network to tap into this new revenue stream. Aurora just upgraded this product family to be MEF-compliant.

"The Aurora Networks SMART media converter is a necessary device for any MSO facing increased commercial data account growth that is asking for 100 to 1,000 Mbps and struggling with limited fiber availability," a panelist noted. "I love the idea of SMART media converters using CWDM across 15 different wavelengths. This is a great solution."

Ciena G10/G10X Ethernet Service Module: 4 Diamonds

One panelist called this "an incredibly flexible way to transport the gamut of digital signaling in broadband networks seamlessly across multiple, disparate physical interfaces - all in one platform."

The Ciena G10/G10X Ethernet service modules integrate Ethernet aggregation and switching into the CN4200 platforms, combining the functionality of two boxes into one. Ciena's new G10/G10X Ethernet service modules provide full Layer 2 Ethernet aggregation and switching, with advanced QoS, OAM and software flexibility. The addition of these modules to any CN 4200 platform enables the integration of Layer 0, Layer 1 and Layer 2 functionality on a single platform. A reported benefit they bring to cable ops is capital and operational cost reductions and network efficiency increases for metro transport, Ethernet switching and IP routing equipment. This applies to both a cable operator's residential triple-play and business services operations.

EGT VIPr-TRx: 4 Diamonds

The EGT VIPr-TRx video transcoder is a network appliance that provides broadband cable with the ability to carry more HD content per QAM without sacrificing video quality. MPEG-4 encoded HD content may be converted to MPEG-2 HD through the use of intelligent transcoding to provide a minimum loss transition from one encoding format to another. As a network appliance, the EGT VIPr-TRx can migrate deeper into the network allowing operators to transport MPEG-4 content closer to the edge. The transcoder uses an intelligent recoding process that provides improved video quality over traditional decode/re-encode methods. It also incorporates closed-loop statistical multiplexing in the same process to eliminate multi-generational losses.

"Superb technical design and implementation addresses the immediate need for advanced technology in a current market space," a panelist commented. "I see the potential for this product for MSOs that are required to receive MPEG-4 content from programmers but could only support MPEG-2 content for distribution to their customers (lack of MPEG-4 CPE)."

EXFO Power Blazer Test Modules: 4 Diamonds

The EXFO FTB-8120NGE (2.5/2.7 Gbps) and FTB-8130NGE (10/10.7 Gbps) Power Blazer test modules are compact, integrated multi-service test solutions specially designed for the turn-up and maintenance of next-generation DWDM and ROADM networks. These modules provide a wide range of SONET/SDH, next-gen SONET/SDH, OTN, Ethernet and fiber channel testing capabilities inside what is reportedly the industry's most compact form factor - a solution built for field installation teams. Housed in the FTB-200 platform, this multi-service testing solution is less than half the size of the closest comparable solution.

A judge said this tool "will be critical in maintaining high-availability as high-speed digital optic signaling moves deeper in the network." Another stated that it "will be of great benefit to the various business services engineers during turn-up, test and troubleshooting."

To view the rest of the story, click here.

Laura Hamilton is editor-in-chief at "BGR." Email her at laura.hamilton@comcast.net.