Poll: How Can I Get You More Active In The RoadTest Program?

How about an opt-in mailing list to notify members.

I watch the RoadTest forum rather closely. There has been times when I missed a new RoadTest to discover it sometime later. I also find RoadTest updates have me looking at RoadTests thinking they are new but actually just updated.

If I get an email indicating a new RoadTest, it motivates me to look.

Sean

Hi!

Not that I get it right always, but for what it's worth, if you'd like me to review your next (or any current) application just to offer some honest suggestions just from my perspective, feel free to PM me and either paste it in the PM, or I can send you my e-mail address if PMs don't allow so much text.

There are a couple of reason to why I don't apply to too many roadtests.

One is that I only apply to products that I'm very interested in, and when I can spend enough time to test them and write a proper review in a period of 2 months. This has limited me in the past for instance to applying to FPGA roadtests, because I didn't think I would be able write a review in a period of 2 months, and I didn't want to write a review of "unpacking and running existing examples on an FPGA without having a clue of what's going on". 

Another reason is that my success rate is low (2/8) and it usually takes me a lot of time and effort to write an application. When applying I first download all available documentation of the product (user manuals, datasheets, comparison to alternative products, brochures, etc), then I carefully read it (a process that takes me several hours), then I think about interesting experiments that could show the main features of the product, then if possible I preliminary test the proposed experiments or look for information in the net to see if they actually make sense, and finally I write the application, proof read it (this takes me time too, because I'm not a native english speaker) and send it.

Also related to the last point, I many times feel a bit lost on how to write a successful application. As there is no feedback, its very hard for me to know what went wrong in an application. What I've been doing is, taking my Keithley DMM6500 application as template or model to write new ones, but that hasn't worked for me even when I thought the applications were as good or better. On the other hand it appears that some members have completely figured it out and are pretty good at getting selected when applying to a product, so there must be something wrong with my applications but I still have to figure it out.

So how much time would you like to do a roadtest?

Randall,

For me, the mix of products offered up for roadtest is very diverse and extremely interesting.  The issue that I face is too many conflicting commitments for me to dedicate the necessary time to do a good review.  I hope that I can, in the near future, work through my backlog and free up the time to handle a roadtest review.

Rod,

I ask a question in the application about equipment. I guess I expect them to have basic equipment (e.g., access to an soldering equipment, o'scope, multimeter, that sort of thing). I have on a limited basis provided "equipment." I recall on a couple of roadtests that people wanted a special cable and I did get it for them. If there is something that wasn't included in the kit and would be useful to have --prototyping board etc---just tell me and I can usually get it. but I probably would not get you a whole BOM of basic electronics consumables, as I categorize them. But it's a case by case basis. Now for the antenna roadtest, i would NOT get you an anechoic chamber! But ask and I'll see if it is viable.

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

The toughest roadtest I recall was the Molex 2.4GHz / 5GHz Antenna Kit as I believe there were many possible candidates who wanted to test the flexible antennas but did not have the required equipment, as was discussed in the comments. I was going to sit that roadtest out myself until there was a second call for roadtesters as the uptake was so low. However what followed was IMO some great fun and ingenuity to test these products in other ways and I believe it was a great learning exercise .

Apart from that I do not think think huge amounts of equipment are required for many of the roadtests, especially the development boards, and so that should not be holding people back. Perhaps you could have a section in the roadtest application where people can state if they feel they would need something else and depending upon budgets etc they could get that extra kit if selected and their request seems reasonable and justified?

I will admit that it does require knowledge (sometimes in a specific domain) to produce a roadtest review, especially of a complex product. But I try to offer a wide range of products, so everyone feels they can participate at some point. element14 tries to attempt to offer knowledge-based content to help our members expand their knowledge. I have been offering projects for the specific goal of getting people more comfortable with the technology yet without the pressure of a stiff deadline. If you would like to participate in the roadtest program, message me, tell me about your background. I think we can work together to find a product or group of products that you would feel comfortable roadtesting.

Here's an inside tip: the best roadtesters are the ones are committed to completing the review. If they don't know something, they ask. I have had a few Einsteins as reviewers and they often don't have the fortitude to stick it out and complete the review.

If anyone else has a thought about this, feel free to comment.

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager