Roadtesting stats

I don't know if there is a formula for success buried in here but for those that are interested:

I have applied for 25 road tests.

I have been successful on 15 applications. The 12 listed on the Road Tests Authored page only go back to 2015.

I was only successful on 1 of the first 4 applications.

I was successful on 4 out of the first 10 applications. Only one of these was expensive - a Cel Robox 3D printer.

I had been road testing for 4 years (20 applications) before I got to road test an R&S oscilloscope.

I have been successful on 9 of the last 10 applications.

I know my applications have improved over time although the road tests themselves may only be slightly improved - it depends on the device.

My credibility has definitely improved over time. Putting a big effort into some minor road tests helped a lot. Always putting forth a good effort was crucial.

Increased general participation on the forum also helped significantly.

I don't know if there is a formula for success buried in here but for those that are interested:

I have applied for 25 road tests.

I have been successful on 15 applications. The 12 listed on the Road Tests Authored page only go back to 2015.

I was only successful on 1 of the first 4 applications.

I was successful on 4 out of the first 10 applications. Only one of these was expensive - a Cel Robox 3D printer.

I had been road testing for 4 years (20 applications) before I got to road test an R&S oscilloscope.

I have been successful on 9 of the last 10 applications.

I know my applications have improved over time although the road tests themselves may only be slightly improved - it depends on the device.

My credibility has definitely improved over time. Putting a big effort into some minor road tests helped a lot. Always putting forth a good effort was crucial.

Increased general participation on the forum also helped significantly.

Thanks for the tips Douglas Wong! I won my first roadtest after the 4th attempt too. But I've also seen some low rank, low participation members scoring multiple thousands dollar equipment, so I guess its still possible to get expensive stuff right from the start.

You've inspired me to check in much the same way ...

• RoadTests Won - 14 [1 in progress, 2 awarded awaiting commencement]
• RoadTests Published - 11
• RoadTests Applied - 26
• Number of RoadTests applied to before I got awarded my first - 3
• Successes in first 10 applications - 5
• Successes in latest 10 applications - 7
• Time to R&S Oscilloscope - 22 applications, 10 delivered reviews, 7 years since the first application.

I definitely think that I've become slightly more selective but also become more proficient at writing applications leading to a marginally greater chance of success. But overall, there were quite a few products I've applied to and didn't get - but that's not a bad rate overall, all things considered. I think I've actually improved quite a bit and the "snowball" effect is starting to take effect - namely that those with previously awarded test equipment are the ones with the equipment to test the new equipment and compare them, making it more likely to lead to an interesting and informative review, and increasing my chances of being chosen.

- Gough

Those are great stats (not just personally) but showing the progression and why you may have more than others.

Thanks for sharing

Cheers

Mark

For me its more than 50 applications over nearly 6 years now (although that also includes the proposals  for the design challenges). Looking back at the first ones I wrote makes me wondering how I ever got one accepted... It took more than a year and 10 applications (although I got accepted for a design challenge in the meantime - maybe that helped).

May acceptance rate for development kits / boards is quite good, but for test equipment its quite bad. Seems I need to work on my skills in that area... (sometimes I wish I could get some feedback on why I was not accepted, but I know its way too much work to do that)

sometimes I wish I could get some feedback on why I was not accepted, but I know its way too much work to do that

That is one of the reasons I've been advocating the publishing of the selected testers applications.

I publish mine in a blog post at the time I submit them.

I'd really think twice about submitting a proposal if it were to be publicised - I wouldn't accept that with my commercial proposals, and not just for the pricing element, but for all the thinking through the process, the approach, the risks, etc, and to an extent I do the same with a readiest. It wouldn't be as commercially sensitive, of course...

I agree with the sentiment, getting some feedback would be great (as with proposals I submit but don't win....), but it's a lot to ask I think. Randall and Pauline have done a good job posting guidance, and Jan's blogs are a good insight too.

Maybe more of a conversation between the selected roadtesters and Randall or the sponsoring organisation would help, and then the Roadtesters could voluntarily publish some of what were highlighted as key aspects of their proposals in the review? I'd be happy to do that.

A

But in truth, sometimes it's nothing you did wrong per-se, just that there's a limited number of X and that someone else had something to offer which you might not have. Or maybe a commercially motivated "I prefer their approach to yours". But since every RoadTest is a little different as the company sponsoring may be different, there's no one size fits all. As long as the proposal is decent by Randall's guidelines, you're in with a fighting chance.

That's why I suspect that feedback wouldn't be that useful (or a possibility due to the time constraint). Sometimes some of these decisionmaking processes can't be "aired" in the open because of the element of strategy that may be involved. Sometimes, winning is about guessing what that strategy might be ...

- Gough

fully agree!

I was myself curious to see an reflection on what contributions and failures I have.

So Here it is,

I am road testing since dec 2013

And I have applied for 26 Roadtests. 

I have been successful on 15 Roadtests.

I have successfully completed 12 Roadtests and I am currently working on 1, out of 15.

My most of the road tests are of Development boards, and IoT Kits. And I have never won an Expensive Roadtest most of them were below 100$.

I had taken a break from 2016 to 2017 as I was on continuous move that year and was not in a position to do road tests.

In past year 2017-2018 I have applied for 10 Roadtests and was selected for 7 Roadtests out of which I have reviewed 6 Successfully and One is under Review [So happy to complete all of the reviews ]

In terms of design challenges, I have applied for 2 Design challenges and was selected for 1; for which I got an finishers prize

So, Whatever interests me as tech enthusiast and I am pretty sure I can accomplish I do apply.

Finally I do think My credibility has improved, but moreover it is based not only on the Reviews but the value I think I contribute. That I think may be a good way to get acceptance and gain credibility with the community.

Regards,

GS GILL

P.S> Some times it gets really challenging and Difficult to complete an successful roadtest on the community. And for this reason I would like to thank the Roadtest Program Manager rscasny and He tries to understand and accommodate