Beta-Tester!?!?!?!

marc Inspired · 22nd December 2007, 05:52

I just want to know, what is the job of a Beta-Tester and do you have to inform the factory or will the factory choose you?

marc

Mark Chase · 22nd December 2007, 06:33

Quote: (Originally Posted by marc Inspired)

I just want to know, what is the job of a Beta-Tester and do you have to inform the factory or will the factory choose you?

marc

I believe at present you have to pay the factory between £5000 and £8,000 where upon they send you the equipment. Then you have to pay £1000 for their induction course whether you need it or not.

Finally if during testing and development things go wrong with the unit you have to pay for postage back to the manufacturer and contribute to the cost of the repair and the associated labor and return postage.

As i understand the present situation the factory's are very happy to have hundreds if not thousands of beta testers in all parts of the globe so the product can get decent field testing.

ATB

Mark

***caveseeker7*** · 22nd December 2007, 07:12

Ain't that the truth ... I shouldn't even be laughing ...

Always wondered, you have a t-shirt saying
"Be afraid! Chasey is testing YOUR equipment next!"?

decoweenie · 22nd December 2007, 07:45

Mark,

That's too funny, and not too far from the truth...

To answer the OP seriously, the manufacturer choses you to test their equipment.

Back about 7-8 years ago, most people were real crash-test dummies by default due to the limited number of divers using the equipment. Now, it is limited to those who could remain quiet when (not if) the equipment fails.

***caveseeker7*** · 22nd December 2007, 09:40

Okay, we're being serious for one moment.

Actually, both ways.

There are professional consultants that can be hired to analyze RBs, or parts of them, both in and out of the water. Usually they have engineering backgrounds of some sort, as well as plenty of experience.

More frequently though, I gather, testing is done by people close to the manufacturer, either friends and/or customers who are experienced and the manufacturer trusts. Given that most manufacturers have rather limited resources that is the more likely scenario.

But Mark's reMark is actually not far from reality: Customers, to some extend, are guinea pigs for most companies, to what extend differs from one to the next. Even a high volume manufacturer like APD gets feedback of problems from their customers that were not caught in either factory or CE testing, like the occasional electronics/software problem.

As far as becoming Beta Tester, I suggest you either:
- do a lot of Rebreather diving while getting an engineering degree
- become respected and trusted friend of your local Rebreather manufacturer
- buy the least tested, new rig offered by some wrench jockey out of his garage
- sign up to be Chasey's adlatus.

Or just build your own, of course.

PCDiver · 22nd December 2007, 11:30

do a search for "beta tester" on this forum. You'll find a couple of VERY long threads.

Mixaddict · 22nd December 2007, 19:54

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

I believe at present you have to pay the factory between £5000 and £8,000 where upon they send you the equipment. Then you have to pay £1000 for their induction course whether you need it or not.

Finally if during testing and development things go wrong with the unit you have to pay for postage back to the manufacturer and contribute to the cost of the repair and the associated labor and return postage.

As i understand the present situation the factory's are very happy to have hundreds if not thousands of beta testers in all parts of the globe so the product can get decent field testing.

Mark

Mark,

This is one of your better all time posts! Have some green!

db8us · 25th December 2007, 04:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict)

Mark,

This is one of your better all time posts! Have some green!

I agree, so as a Christmas present i also added some green to him

Michael

**Gill Envy** · 25th December 2007, 07:46

if you are lucky, the problems happen in the first year when the unit is still under warranty, then you only have to pay shipping in return for your services...well and only loose, what was it?...3 months of the warranty. Better to not be open to others about your experience, lest the manufacturer imply to others that you "tinkered" with the unit, trying to brand you as a case of "use/misuse" while telling you that you simply had a extraordinarily bad case of "bad luck".

22nd December 2007, 05:52	#1 (permalink)
marc Inspired New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 20	Beta-Tester!?!?!?! I just want to know, what is the job of a Beta-Tester and do you have to inform the factory or will the factory choose you? marc
(Offline)

22nd December 2007, 06:33	#2 (permalink)
Mark Chase I go down for ages Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,418	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Quote: (Originally Posted by marc Inspired) I just want to know, what is the job of a Beta-Tester and do you have to inform the factory or will the factory choose you? marc I believe at present you have to pay the factory between £5000 and £8,000 where upon they send you the equipment. Then you have to pay £1000 for their induction course whether you need it or not. Finally if during testing and development things go wrong with the unit you have to pay for postage back to the manufacturer and contribute to the cost of the repair and the associated labor and return postage. As i understand the present situation the factory's are very happy to have hundreds if not thousands of beta testers in all parts of the globe so the product can get decent field testing. ATB Mark __________________ Is it supposed to make that noise ? I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit. Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt "Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System
(Online)

22nd December 2007, 07:12	#3 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,287	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Ain't that the truth ... I shouldn't even be laughing ... Always wondered, you have a t-shirt saying "Be afraid! Chasey is testing YOUR equipment next!"? __________________ Cheers Stefan Be Water, My Friend - Bruce Lee Sponsor Lou in Race For Life! Last edited by caveseeker7 : 22nd December 2007 at 09:20.
(Offline)

22nd December 2007, 07:45	#4 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,510	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Mark, That's too funny, and not too far from the truth... To answer the OP seriously, the manufacturer choses you to test their equipment. Back about 7-8 years ago, most people were real crash-test dummies by default due to the limited number of divers using the equipment. Now, it is limited to those who could remain quiet when (not if) the equipment fails.
(Offline)

22nd December 2007, 09:40	#5 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,287	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Okay, we're being serious for one moment. Actually, both ways. There are professional consultants that can be hired to analyze RBs, or parts of them, both in and out of the water. Usually they have engineering backgrounds of some sort, as well as plenty of experience. More frequently though, I gather, testing is done by people close to the manufacturer, either friends and/or customers who are experienced and the manufacturer trusts. Given that most manufacturers have rather limited resources that is the more likely scenario. But Mark's reMark is actually not far from reality: Customers, to some extend, are guinea pigs for most companies, to what extend differs from one to the next. Even a high volume manufacturer like APD gets feedback of problems from their customers that were not caught in either factory or CE testing, like the occasional electronics/software problem. As far as becoming Beta Tester, I suggest you either: - do a lot of Rebreather diving while getting an engineering degree - become respected and trusted friend of your local Rebreather manufacturer - buy the least tested, new rig offered by some wrench jockey out of his garage - sign up to be Chasey's adlatus. Or just build your own, of course. __________________ Cheers Stefan Be Water, My Friend - Bruce Lee Sponsor Lou in Race For Life! Last edited by caveseeker7 : 22nd December 2007 at 09:42.
(Offline)

22nd December 2007, 11:30	#6 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! do a search for "beta tester" on this forum. You'll find a couple of VERY long threads.
(Online)

22nd December 2007, 19:54	#7 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 415	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) I believe at present you have to pay the factory between £5000 and £8,000 where upon they send you the equipment. Then you have to pay £1000 for their induction course whether you need it or not. Finally if during testing and development things go wrong with the unit you have to pay for postage back to the manufacturer and contribute to the cost of the repair and the associated labor and return postage. As i understand the present situation the factory's are very happy to have hundreds if not thousands of beta testers in all parts of the globe so the product can get decent field testing. Mark Mark, This is one of your better all time posts! Have some green! __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
(Offline)

25th December 2007, 04:43	#8 (permalink)
db8us Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 223	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict) Mark, This is one of your better all time posts! Have some green! I agree, so as a Christmas present i also added some green to him Michael
(Offline)

25th December 2007, 07:46	#9 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Diver Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,226	Re: Beta-Tester!?!?!?! if you are lucky, the problems happen in the first year when the unit is still under warranty, then you only have to pay shipping in return for your services...well and only loose, what was it?...3 months of the warranty. Better to not be open to others about your experience, lest the manufacturer imply to others that you "tinkered" with the unit, trying to brand you as a case of "use/misuse" while telling you that you simply had a extraordinarily bad case of "bad luck". __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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