HVACPROTech® T&I Evaluation Thread Protocol and Policies

This thread may be edited, changed or modified as required - if an edit or modification is made to this original post, they will be made as replies so the edits will appear as new posts.

HVACPROTech® and it's members are fortunate enough to participate in, in-field Tool and Instruments [T&I] evaluations. T&I OEM's and their respective representatives often contact the site Administration with inquiries regarding advertisment on the Forums. As most of you already know and for those that do not, HVACPROTech® has never, nor will it ever accept advertisment from any equipment or T&I OEM. We do however, offer the T&I OEM's and reps an alternative to advertising. Our evaluation threads.

Evaluation threads are essentially a win - win situation for everybody involved - provided the tool or instrumet is a quality piece. The OEM's get alot of exposure that is directly targeted at you guys - at all of us. The technicians, the ones that are buying and using their products every single day. Every single active member of this site has the opportunity to participate in the evaluation threads. When you participate in the threads, each member recieves whatever T&I we may be running the evaluation on, they keep it for two weeks and use it in the field. The only obligation the evaluating member has is to post results of the evaluation in a dedicated thread during the period that he/she is evaluating the tool or instrument. Following the evaluation period the member with possession of the instrument agrees to forward it to the next provided members mailing address at their own expense. These thread updates are critical to inform members who may not be participating in the evaluation or those that may not be eligible to participate, of the quality of the piece being tested. Is it reliable, does it perform as it should, features that were valuable, those that were not, what you would like to see changed with the design, would you buy or recommend it to a fellow technician - all of those things are what the technician is interested in learning before an investment is made in new instruments and new technologies.

For the most part, outside of any personal opinions of the specific T&I being evaluated the content of the evaluation threads are factual performance oriented posts. The instrument can do this, but it won't do that, as an example. Evaluation threads are not the facility to voice differences of personal opinion based on OEM branding or OEM features. As an example every viable digital gauge manifold is either currently or in the process of being represented with their own evaluation thread. The OEM's of these digital sets, or any T&I being evaluated are displayed prominently on our homepage with an image link of the instrument leading to that thread. Dedicated OEM evaluation threads are not the place to make comparisons of features or lack thereof of similar products. If a comparison of features is in order then go to the appropriate Forum or Sub-Forum and start a civil discussion on the feature in a new thread. As an example obviously the Testo 523 has capabilities that the MasterCool digitals cannot compete with - everyone may not require the capabilities of the 523 and the MasterCool or fill in the blank for yourself, may be better suited to that technicians task requirements - it is an unfair comparison and one that will no longer be tolerated in dedicated evaluation threads. The members here are more than capable of going to the homepage and making feature comparisons themselves simply clicking on the sets they want to compare and reading the threads. At such a time as any given evaluation has run it's course and is concluded, at that time in that specific thread a complete list of available features, unavailable features and approximate costs will be summarized - throughout the thread is not the appropriate time to make comparisons.

There are two exceptions to the comparison rule and those exceptions will be comparisons made between analog versions of a digital instrument, I mean after all isn't that among the reasons we run the evaluations, to see what digital can do for us as technicians that analog cannot. The second exception is comparisons between OEM models and generational upgrades or changes. As an example if you want to compare the features and capabilities of the Digi-Cool BTD to their DRSA 1100 or 1200 models feel free - or the original Testo 523 to the second generational version[s] of the 523, be our guests. Anything outside of these two exceptions will be considered off topic and promptly removed. If the comparisons continue from the same individual[s] stronger actions will be taken.

Disagreements are to be expected in threads like these, most folks have a preference for one brand over another with most things - Ford and Chevy are classic examples. Gauges, tools and equipment seem to result in the same type of disagreements in this industry. I am guilty of it myself - but with that said the boards are not the place to discuss and argue personal issues. If you have nothing nice to say to the person you are replying to or cannot express yourself in a civil manor, the best bet is to not make the post or reply to begin with. Either let it lie, or handle it through PM's at the board or privately via phone or email. No one wants to see these boards nor the bandwidth chewed up with personal conflicts and grievances. This type of posting casts an unsavory, unprofessional light upon all of us, and they simply will not be tolerated any further.

Participate in the evaluation threads, ask questions, disagree - but when you disagree provide some support for your disagreement and disagree civily - as professionals.

HVACPROTech® T&I Evaluation Thread Protocol and Policies

This thread may be edited, changed or modified as required - if an edit or modification is made to this original post, they will be made as replies so the edits will appear as new posts.

HVACPROTech® and it's members are fortunate enough to participate in, in-field Tool and Instruments [T&I] evaluations. T&I OEM's and their respective representatives often contact the site Administration with inquiries regarding advertisment on the Forums. As most of you already know and for those that do not, HVACPROTech® has never, nor will it ever accept advertisment from any equipment or T&I OEM. We do however, offer the T&I OEM's and reps an alternative to advertising. Our evaluation threads.

Evaluation threads are essentially a win - win situation for everybody involved - provided the tool or instrumet is a quality piece. The OEM's get alot of exposure that is directly targeted at you guys - at all of us. The technicians, the ones that are buying and using their products every single day. Every single active member of this site has the opportunity to participate in the evaluation threads. When you participate in the threads, each member recieves whatever T&I we may be running the evaluation on, they keep it for two weeks and use it in the field. The only obligation the evaluating member has is to post results of the evaluation in a dedicated thread during the period that he/she is evaluating the tool or instrument. Following the evaluation period the member with possession of the instrument agrees to forward it to the next provided members mailing address at their own expense. These thread updates are critical to inform members who may not be participating in the evaluation or those that may not be eligible to participate, of the quality of the piece being tested. Is it reliable, does it perform as it should, features that were valuable, those that were not, what you would like to see changed with the design, would you buy or recommend it to a fellow technician - all of those things are what the technician is interested in learning before an investment is made in new instruments and new technologies.

For the most part, outside of any personal opinions of the specific T&I being evaluated the content of the evaluation threads are factual performance oriented posts. The instrument can do this, but it won't do that, as an example. Evaluation threads are not the facility to voice differences of personal opinion based on OEM branding or OEM features. As an example every viable digital gauge manifold is either currently or in the process of being represented with their own evaluation thread. The OEM's of these digital sets, or any T&I being evaluated are displayed prominently on our homepage with an image link of the instrument leading to that thread. Dedicated OEM evaluation threads are not the place to make comparisons of features or lack thereof of similar products. If a comparison of features is in order then go to the appropriate Forum or Sub-Forum and start a civil discussion on the feature in a new thread. As an example obviously the Testo 523 has capabilities that the MasterCool digitals cannot compete with - everyone may not require the capabilities of the 523 and the MasterCool or fill in the blank for yourself, may be better suited to that technicians task requirements - it is an unfair comparison and one that will no longer be tolerated in dedicated evaluation threads. The members here are more than capable of going to the homepage and making feature comparisons themselves simply clicking on the sets they want to compare and reading the threads. At such a time as any given evaluation has run it's course and is concluded, at that time in that specific thread a complete list of available features, unavailable features and approximate costs will be summarized - throughout the thread is not the appropriate time to make comparisons.

There are two exceptions to the comparison rule and those exceptions will be comparisons made between analog versions of a digital instrument, I mean after all isn't that among the reasons we run the evaluations, to see what digital can do for us as technicians that analog cannot. The second exception is comparisons between OEM models and generational upgrades or changes. As an example if you want to compare the features and capabilities of the Digi-Cool BTD to their DRSA 1100 or 1200 models feel free - or the original Testo 523 to the second generational version[s] of the 523, be our guests. Anything outside of these two exceptions will be considered off topic and promptly removed. If the comparisons continue from the same individual[s] stronger actions will be taken.

Disagreements are to be expected in threads like these, most folks have a preference for one brand over another with most things - Ford and Chevy are classic examples. Gauges, tools and equipment seem to result in the same type of disagreements in this industry. I am guilty of it myself - but with that said the boards are not the place to discuss and argue personal issues. If you have nothing nice to say to the person you are replying to or cannot express yourself in a civil manor, the best bet is to not make the post or reply to begin with. Either let it lie, or handle it through PM's at the board or privately via phone or email. No one wants to see these boards nor the bandwidth chewed up with personal conflicts and grievances. This type of posting casts an unsavory, unprofessional light upon all of us, and they simply will not be tolerated any further.

Participate in the evaluation threads, ask questions, disagree - but when you disagree provide some support for your disagreement and disagree civily - as professionals.