VOTE Now! on the 2017 element14 RoadTesters of the Year

Agreed.

The RT experience is very fulfilling.

three-phase

I like both of your suggestions, but number 2 has the most potential IMO.

It is hard to compare a RT on an Arduino kit, with a some of the hugely more expensive Test Equipment.

While either could produce a minimal review, or a very comprehensive review, it's more likely that the more expensive one will have a lot more content.

Hopefully our discussions have refocused the award onto the review and not reviewers, and also to allow all of that year into the voting.

I think a random draw of 4 completed reviews for acknowledgement is another thought.

This means anyone could be a winner/acknowledged.

Mark

All Roadtesters are winners!

Especially those who receive expensive kit.

Those who have posted great reviews in the past have had the privilege of participating in Roadtests of equipment of higher value such as Doug and Inderpreet who road tested a 2.5GSPS Digital Oscilloscope.

Software licenses or firmware upgrades are an excellent example, quick and relatively inexpensive for a manufacturer to provide. I have a Rigol power supply next to me that comes with a standard 10mV resolution, but you can purchase an upgrade code to give it a 1mV resolution. Standard 10mV resolution for road test item, with best road test getting the 1mV upgrade code.

Interesting that the road test you linked to specified some requirements for the review, such as the unboxing video. This doesn't seem to happen with the ones I have looked at, leaving it more to what the proposer offers to do. I guess not specifying the requirements gives more innovative applications but makes it harder to know that the manufacturer's expectations for the road test are being met.

Kind regards

Interesting concepts. I like the idea of additional incentive after the equipment is delivered. Software licenses might be a good example.

This format is already possible - and there have been road tests where there were prizes for the best road test.

TI and Würth Elektronik LED RoadTest+

I think it results in more creative and comprehensive road tests.

Just some thoughts on ways of rewarding the road testers based on the comments so far. This isn't meant as a dig at anyone, the manufacturers or element14, so please don't take it in that way.

1) Could the manufacturers offer a prize for the road test they thought was the best? For example, for the insulation tester that was reviewed, would Megger have been prepared to pick the best out of the three reviews and then send that reviewer the rechargeable battery upgrade for the unit, or a set of fused test leads? I am thinking something small that enhances the product already supplied that the reviewer would appreciate. That may also encourage a higher quality review and indeed to get the review done within the 60 days. Alternatively, I know Megger have a monthly industry circular, if people prefer further recognition for their efforts, could their review be included as an article in the next circular? Just depends on who the manufacturer is and what they are able / prepared to offer. I am also thinking that this would allow a manufacturer to offer more basic units for road test, which would reduce their costs / risks and then offer upgrades for the best road test or even completed ones.

2) A different idea, more driven by element 14, would be to select the best road test monthly and then have those 12 reviews entered into the end of year poll. So I am thinking that in February 2018, all the road tests posted in January 2018 are reviewed by element14 staff and may be include some of the top members on a rolling basis and the best road test selected. Then in March 2018, the best selected from those posted in February 2018 and so on. Finally in January 2019, the best from December 2018 can be selected and then all 12 voted on by the entire community. That way the recognition can be spread throughout the year and there is less likelihood of a good review either at the beginning or end of the year missed. Could be a small monthly prize similar to the first idea and then a larger prize for the best of the year or best three etc.

These are by no means complete solutions and they each have their pros and cons, they are just ideas floating around in my head after reading various posts.

Kind regards

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I think when we talked about it initially, we wanted to reward individual members for their contribution to the roadtest program.

I think I need to re-assess the requirements next time. It wasn't solely mean to be who gets the most votes. Nor was it meant to be who did the most roadtests, either. But we surely wanted members to have their voices heard. Enthusiasm, timeliness, creativity, the fun factor, frequent updates, participation in commenting on other peoples' roadtests all were on my mind when I proposed this award. If I only did it for for the reviews, I think some of the more subtle considerations of the winners would be missed.

I guess I need to clarify things a lot more.

Randall

but I definitely find this format a bit confusing.

In the past we voted for the best specific road test.

I'm with you!.

This is the text from the nominations NOMINATIONS OPEN for the 2017 element14 RoadTesters of the Year

I invite you (at your leisure) to go through your favorite roadtests and reviews. Take some time and read the reviews. Then post a link to the review in the comments section below. The links should represent the best of the best RoadTest Reviews for any RoadTest launched in 2017.

 

Here's what I will do with them:

1. I will aggregate them and my team will go through them and prune them down to the top 20 nominations.

2. I will then create a poll where you can vote for your single and most favorite review.

3. After the poll closes, we will tabulate the results and announce the 2017 RoadTesters of the Year.

No 2 definately suggests we would be voting for a "single and most favourite review".

There was some discussion around entries not included in the list but this one changes all sorts.

The roadtests we launched in at least novemeber and december probably won't have reviews since the 60 days will be up. Something we have to live with.

So as someone else pointed out, we might have excluded the RT's that kicked off in 2016, but also we've excluded some of the RT's that were launched in 2017 because of a rush to start the voting before holiday season.

Mark

I doubt it would change the voting much, but I definitely find this format a bit confusing.

In the past we voted for the best specific road test.

Here we seem to be voting for the road tester, which implies voting for the body of work by the road tester, which is fine.

However the poll doesn't list the entire set of road tests for each of the road testers, which is the confusing part for me, but the list is still more or less representative of the body of work.

One perennial problem is the timing of the poll doesn't allow great road tests like the recent Keysight road test by rachaelp to be included. I hope that one makes it into next year's poll.

Shabaz has 4 chances, Inderpreet and Doug have 2.  Will their scores be scaled accordingly?