Should a reviewer keep a $20K Oscilloscope?

Clearly such road tests are good for the person testing the instrument. They also benefit the forum by attracting more members, although perhaps not that many more. There is a question about benefit to the manufacturer, but I am sure all manufacturers carefully evaluate the total benefits versus costs for every road test. There is a potential issue with members who feel disappointed that they don't have much chance of participating in high end road tests, and the bigger picture result that it tends to stratify road testers. The high end road testers end up with more high end instrumentation and more experience, which enables them to better test other high end instrumentation, effectively relegating some members to only qualifying to test lower end instrumentation. Bridging the gap becomes harder and harder.

This is a complex situation that is similar to many other sectors of life. It may not be possible to change this type of situation. Many have tried but the new systems never seem to work. element14 does "take a chance" on some unproven road testers, which helps, but the best way to get ahead within the system is to expend a disproportionate amount of effort.

Clearly such road tests are good for the person testing the instrument. They also benefit the forum by attracting more members, although perhaps not that many more. There is a question about benefit to the manufacturer, but I am sure all manufacturers carefully evaluate the total benefits versus costs for every road test. There is a potential issue with members who feel disappointed that they don't have much chance of participating in high end road tests, and the bigger picture result that it tends to stratify road testers. The high end road testers end up with more high end instrumentation and more experience, which enables them to better test other high end instrumentation, effectively relegating some members to only qualifying to test lower end instrumentation. Bridging the gap becomes harder and harder.

This is a complex situation that is similar to many other sectors of life. It may not be possible to change this type of situation. Many have tried but the new systems never seem to work. element14 does "take a chance" on some unproven road testers, which helps, but the best way to get ahead within the system is to expend a disproportionate amount of effort.

I feel the term "stratify" is appropriate. My analogy is those that have the skills to swim in the deep end verses those paddle around tin the shallow end. I'm the guy hanging onto the rope separating the two pools.

Professionally, I read the reviews from the deep end and are envious. The skill, knowledge and expertise to accomplish the task is beyond my capabilities. I feel some of the reviews are commercial grade, that would be paid for.

RS and the selection committee has a tough job. RS has made the program even better by focusing effort into improving the selection process. I hold out hope that originality in RoadTests will get me an application win occasionally.

I look for the content from those that win. If those in the stratosphere produce quality, I can say it is not fair but hey I have played sports where I have had to sit on the bench while the more skilled players take to the field. I get the reward of reading their review.

I wouldn’t personally say the high-end road testers are stratified based on knowledge, experience, and personal access to test equipment. I suspect the regular road-testers are the most motivated to invest in the application process (what drives that motivation, not sure). How many individuals are interested in spending 10+ hours authoring a road-test proposal (based on the applicant count very few…) to maybe be selected.

Presently only 15 people want experiment with a new state of the art oscilloscope:

Now, there are still 5 days remaining, but I do find the number of applicants mysterious.

Again providing a broader view of the situation there are going to be (Applicants - Kits ) individuals who are going to be very disappointed and hopefully not too disenfranchised with the e14 community. That's just the math and the reality of the situation, not saying there is an clear answer there either.

I expect almost everyone to want the scope, but few think there is any chance at all of being selected even if they give it their best shot.

I think that is a huge loss to the program/community. I know there are far,far more than 15 people who would be capable of addressing the product specifications I am skeptical, misunderstood, and excited about.

If a roadtester can test a 6.5 digit smu with a 5% power resistor... I truly believe their are large number of members who could form an intelligent objective opinion of the product. Is their review worthy of keeping the product, well I don't know...

I think it depends on what the provider of the equipment is looking to get out of the review. A $20k oscilloscope is far out of the reach of most hobbyists - and many of the features that push the cost that high are generally of professional interest.  Without expertise and supporting equipment, it isn't possible to actually review the product in depth for those use cases. To really get the most of out it, you want access to differential probes, power rail probes, etc. These can easily be $5k each. Experience with other mid-range oscilloscopes in the $20k-100k range would also be beneficial to provide a point of reference - how does it compare to the competition?


If you want to really push the performance envelope of the equipment and see if it performs at that level, there's a minimum barrier to entry.

It's because most roadtesters are American and they don't want to pay the taxes on the gear.

I think that a minority is American.

 rscasny  What nationality are most RoadTest applicants?