Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Our credits have been used up but we don't have an order number or anything on the website.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I'm really frustrated that the login password is not available on TIMS. It seems ridiculous to remove the password from there. I was hoping to log in to check order status for "shipping" but I don't have any ability to do that now.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

The order list is distributed via email. It is rolling out from Noon EST, but I got mine at 12:23 EST.

We won the PDP lottery, pretty excited about that.

Best of luck everyone!

-Mike

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Wow, we got almost everything we wanted, up until the 600 credits ran out!

We were in for Victor 888's, PG71's, and a variety of small bits and pieces like cylinders, shaft collars, couplers, ring lights, encoders, battery cables, to get us started. The big stuff - Talons, Victors, battery, and stealth wheels - were all gone but that meant we chewed right through the list of smaller items. Woot!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Our "what we got" email came in at 11:43am ET

Missed out on a Talon SRX, but got everything else.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Ours came in at 12:30 est, got just about everything from the top of our list, other than the Talon SRX, but I figured we would probably miss that one. Just need our AndyMark voucher for the KoP opt out now so we can get our season orders started!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

First Choice lottery favored the Tators! Only missed one of our top choices: 1 PDP; 1 PCM; 1 VRM; 1 Victor SP; 0 Talon SRX and 2 Victor 888....

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

They are still sending out confirmations, ours came in at 1:13PM EST.

Didn't miss on anything.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Just got our confirmation about 30 minutes ago. All of our top 5 items came through, 1 battery, the crimp tool, 4 victor 888s, 1 PG71 w/encoder, 2 cylinders, and 2 couplings. We figured the odds of winning the lottery on getting the PDP, VRM, and Pneumatics module were low so we didn't list them in the hopes of better odds elsewhere, looks like it worked!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

1 12v battery
1 pneumatic control module
1 pdp
1 voltage regulator module
1 ratcheting wrench set
2 battery connectors
1 compressor
1 15-ft Ethernet cable

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We did well in receiving the following:

1 PDP
1 VRM
1 PCM
4 Victor 888s

Only missed on the battery. Pretty pleased with the results.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Robokong is pretty happy with our FC results

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

just received ours at 12:40 Central

1 PDP
1 Compressor
1 PCM
1 VRM
2 Motor and Harness
3 Air Tanks (wanted 4)

missed on the Talon SRX and Battery. I'll take it.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Yay! 2781 got a TON of great things, including a PDP! Woohoo for saving $200!

RoboPride wants to express our sincerest gratitude to AndyMark for facilitating FIRSTchoice again and to all the generous donors.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We never did receive a confirmation a couple days ago.

Today, however, at 12:17pm EST, we received our "order confirmation." Looks like we prioritized our choices correctly. We received our top 8 requests, with no missed items at all!

1 - Talon SRX (fc16-064) - qty 1
2 - Freelin-Wade Transparent Blue Tubing (fc16- 042) - qty 2
3 - Digital Multimeter & DVD 2538790 (fc16-038) - qty 1
4 - Power Distribution Panel (fc16-023) - qty 1
5 - Pneumatic Control Module (fc16-022) - qty 1
6 - Green Ring Light (fc16-099) - qty 2
7 - Parker Fitting Kit (fc16-104) - qty 1
8 - Battery Connector from Anderson Power Products (fc16-008) - qty 1

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Is there a way we can check it in TIMS or on the website? We haven't received an email and I want to make sure we didn't forget anything.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I missed the two motors with encoders we received. :rolleyes: It's exactly 600 credits of stuff.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We just received confirmation and it is a wonderful help for this rookie team.

It can't be said enough: Thank you AndyMark!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

If you have your firstchoice log in password, you can check there. If you look on the my credits page, it will show the number of credits used & an order number. I don't see a way of actually looking at the order with the link from the email.

We got a compressor, 4 air tanks, a livecam, a pdb, 2 green ring lights, a ratcheting wrench set, and the drylin linear guide system.
Only missed the srx which we weren't expecting and a proximity sensor.

Pretty happy with everything

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

You can see your order using the Order Number without any leading characters,
e.g.,
http://firstchoicebyandymark.com/orderdetails/ordernumber

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Where is the confirmation email sent to? I don't have my team's password and haven't got anything yet, I'm written as the Lead Mentor on TIMS.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Whichever address was used when filling in the FIRST Choice website, I think.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Team 980 is very happy with getting our top 5 FIRST Choice picks (600 credits):

1 Talon SRX
1 PDP
2 Victor 888
1 PCM
1 Victor SP

Sometimes the blind squirrel finds a nut!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

This redirects me to a login screen.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

You do have to login to the FIRST Choice system using your team # & password.
If you are already logged in it goes right to the order list (or maybe it just likes me).

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Just got email notice that my FIRST Choice order is packed and ready to ship!

Honestly surprised by the quick turn-around, well done AndyMark!

-Mike

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Worked for me.

Make sure you are doing it correctly (it took me a few reads for my tired brain to get it).

Make sure you're logged in

Get the Order Number from: https://firstchoicebyandymark.com/customer/credits (should say something like "Redeemed for order #CH12345")

Then go to http://firstchoicebyandymark.com/orderdetails/12345 (where you substitute in the correct number)

Note: You cannot view other teams' orders so make sure you type the correct order number

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Good haul - got everything from the top ten but the SRX and Battery.

Code:

---

Pri FC #    Name                    Credits # # Total
1  fc16-005 PG71 Gearmotor With Encoder  100 2 2 200
2  fc16-029 Encoder Kit AMT103-V          10 2 2 20
3  fc16-099 Green Ring Light              10 2 2 20
4  fc16-021 Air Volume Tank, 32 cu. in... 20 4 4 80
5  fc16-102 Compressor, Model 90C        100 1 1 100
6  fc16-064 Talon SRX                    100 0 1 0
7  fc16-036 12V Battery NP18-12          50 0 1 0
8  fc16-052 Lead Screw w/ Nut            20 6 6 120
9  fc16-084 1/2" Hex Shaft Collar...      10 2 2 20
10 fc16-085 1/4" x 1/4" Rigid Coupling... 10 4 6 40

---

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Team 423 is very happy! We got everything we wanted.

• 1 PDP
• 1 VRM
• 1 PCM
• 2 Encoder Kits
• 2 6 ft Encoder Cables

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

1038 got:

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

3339 got:
PDP
4X Pneumatic tubing
Compressor
Ratcheting set
Ring Light
Parker Kit
2X Bettery connector
4X Pneumatic cylinder
Microswitch set of 10
3X Teflon tape
2X Snow Blower
Camera

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

The top 10 most desirable items in Round 1 were:

#Taken -- Credits -- Max Qty -- Item
1200 ------- 20 --------- 4 ----- Air Volume Tank, 32 cu. in., Black Plastic AVT-PP-35 (fc16-021)
1000 ------- 10 --------- 2 ----- Encoder Kit AMT103-V (fc16-029)
500 -------- 100 -------- 2 ----- PG71 Gearmotor With Encoder (fc16-005)
500 -------- 100 -------- 1 ----- Talon SRX (fc16-064)
500 -------- 100 -------- 1 ----- Victor SP (fc16-066)
500 -------- 50 ---------- 1 ----- 12V Battery NP18-12 (fc16-036)
300 -------- 10 ---------- 2 ----- Freelin-Wade Black Tubing (fc16-039)
300 -------- 10 ---------- 2 ----- Freelin-Wade Blue Tubing (fc16-040)
205 -------- 10 ---------- 2 -----1/2" Hex Shaft Collar - CL-8HX-A (fc16-084)
200 -------- 20 ---------- 2 ----- Proximity/Gesture Sensor (fc16-103)

A total of 22 items sold out.
Items I thought would have sold out first, e.g., control system components, did not.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I noticed that the FIRST Choice password is posted again in TIMS.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I noticed that "good alliance partners" aren't on the list...

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Looks like only around 50% of teams submitted lists.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Last year, I think for round 2, 1689 teams submitted lists.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Hey Mark,

Your Top 10 list doesn't seem to have the actual top 10, but Top 10 that sold out.

For example:

919 Victor 888s were taken
848 PDPs were taken
799 4" Stealth Wheels were taken

...

You get the point.

Was this on purpose to highlight the sold out items? I am just curious.

Thanks,
Paul

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Last season's round 1 of FIRST Choice had 1806 teams on the submitted list or ~62% of the team headcount at the time.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Hi Paul,

I indeed highlighted the sold out items first, sort of treating them as a percentage sold vs available.
It wasn't meant to be a top ten volume, since it was a random volume restricted list, but a top ten popularity.
The high volume, max quantity limited, high credit per piece, sold out items were obviously most in demand.
However, the more limited quantities of most of those out-of-stock items impact judging whether they would have "sold" a lot more or not. That's also why I limited the list to ten and cut off the lower end of items that had fewer than 200 originally available.

We'd need a bunch more people to post their complete results lists (with misses too) to tell us which round some of the items ran out, hence their more absolute popularity. For instance, we know from posts approximately which pass the Talon SRX's or the air tanks ran out.

That's why I posted the entire list, so people could do their own sorting and interpretations of the results.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

The Goats are pretty happy with our haul.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Interesting. What do the other 38% do? Just do open ordering after the priority rounds? Are there perhaps teams that don't realize this option is available to them?

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

My pure suppositions include:

• Some teams haven't actually paid or gotten a PO to FIRST, and aren't eligible yet.
• Others don't like to put their own credit card up front and are trying to find a way for the school business dept to pay for shipping instead of the teacher/mentor.
• More teams are still organizing or don't really start until Kickoff.
• Some Main Contacts just don't know or are extremely busy with pre-holiday class load/running other clubs and meeting other deadlines.
• Procrastinators

Even shepherded a couple of rookies through the process last year, neither one ordered on time, even when I offered to pay the shipping.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I was at an event on Saturday with a few rookies, we walked them through and made sure they were all set up with a priority list. The big problem for rookies is knowing what to get - if you've never built one of these robots before, don't know what you're getting in the KoP, and don't have any stock yet it's really hard to know what is going to be valuable for you. I know the teams I helped with had no clue what to put on the list.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Any stats on what percentage of FIRST Choice Credits go unused each year?

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We're much more intentional at pre-season planning this year than we were last year. For 2015, we did not order anything except a second control system until after kickoff. In 2012-2014, due to limited resources we waited until we knew the game before ordering anything above what we already had on hand.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I'm also curious how much stuff doesn't get claimed each year. I suppose it simply gets added to the next year's inventory. Perhaps they give out more FIRST Choice credits than they have stuff, knowing they won't be used?

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

The answer to part of that is easy:
https://web.archive.org/web/20150914...com/everything

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Hmmm, a lot of familiar looking items on that list, which implies the answer to Aren's second question.

"Any parts is better than no parts" was kind of our rallying cry here, but we did look carefully at last year's kit of parts to see what we might expect to receive this year, and used our FIRST Choice credits to augment that list.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I hope teams who didn't get a PDP in FIRST Choice did so knowing they would not receive one in the tote this year.

Any team pre 2014 probably understands you don't get the control system in the KOP.

But rookie teams from the 2014 and 2015 may very well not understand.

Our team personally only use fc credits on the PDB. We purchased the VRM, and Robo Rio separately.

One thing I wish they had this year in FC was the new radio. Would have been nice to have a spare without having to spend money on it.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I have been in FRC 8 years and this is the first year we will not have a power distribution board of any kind in the kit since i joined. Unless I dreamed the last few years, I'm pretty sure every team got the Blue NI PDB in the kickoff tote every year until 2015, when we switched to the black CTRE PDP. This year, non rookie teams will not have a new one in their physical kit.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Not really happy about not getting a PDP in the KOP, but I understand. As FRC continues to grow, the KOP will continually get smaller. The growth of FRC teams will put pressure on teams to do 'more with less'. It is a downside of FRC growing so dramatically.

I guess that means teams' marketing/PR squads will become more valuable as they service the team's sponsors.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

What were teams doing with a new PDP every year (but none of the rest)? Move the Rio but leave everything else?

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

With a new PDP and digital sidecar? Cluttering up our space - we should have at least 6 each, with only two each actually on robots.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I missed that this was happening, but fortunately we got one in FIRST Choice anyways.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I know for some of our robots, control systems are still on (and ...well, mostly functional...) we use our 2013 & 2014 robots for demonstrations all the time.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Basically, yes. We had a few spares, so we could keep several robots functional at once. We would just move the 4-slot cRio to the new robot every year and make room for a 6-slot if we wanted to keep the robot up and running. It was pretty nice, because you didn't have to mess with too many wires or plugs - disconnect power, Ethernet, the cable to the sidecar, and any breakout boards and your set. Then that stuff plugs into the replacement easily enough without having to worry about screwing up port numbers. It's not that easy with the roborio, though.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Our air cannon outgrew the 4-breaker maxi block and automotive accessory fuse panel we had been using, so we upgraded it with an old PDP. It has an arduino brain, so we didn't need the RIO or sidecar.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I would suspect it'd go one of a few ways:
1) Keep previous years robots intact for demonstration (or showcase). This is what I hope to do with Pearadox, and will drive me to continue to purchase a new PDP every year that it doesn't come in the kit. It's really neat seeing the progression of some teams for low/middle of the pack end robots to top-tier, or if they're an old team that's been successful for a long time what a top-notch team in 2005 looks like compared to a top-notch team in 2015. It also gives newer students a first-hand, up-close look at past solutions to problems.
2) The old PDPs had a metric screw and I know we occasionally had students try to force a 1/4-20 nut on it (or maybe I have that backwards...I already can't remember) and it could cause the bolts to sheer off. We occasionally need a replacement part.
3) side projects, such as a t-shirt cannon.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

The stud on the old PD board was metric.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Since no one else wants to do the math...

The quantities and credit values represented in round 1 of FIRST Choice

• 2,038,160 Max round 1 credits (quantity available * credits per item)
• 3396 = number of teams those credits would be equivalent to (Max round 1 credits / 600 credits per team)
• 1,896,000 Max team credit (600 credits * 3170 teams)
• 948,000 credits were in play (50% of teams participated so 1,896,000 * 50% equal to less than half the available items)

So there must be left over items.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

FIRST Choice goodies arrived from Andymark today 12/12! Nice fast shipping from our pals at Andymark!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We got ours at 4:00 on Friday, which is really fast delivery! I wasn't expecting them until mid-this week. I hope this trend continues into the build season.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Ours arrived yesterday. I was rather surprised - I figured with them having to assemble and ship so many orders all at once, it would be another week before it arrived.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Well, we missed the deadline on the 6th for priority lists. Not a big deal for us this year, I figured, we will just get in on round two starting on the 11th. I logged in today and found that we have 0 credits listed. Anyone know why this might be, and what could be done about it?

Thanks. I realize this sounds ridiculous, but if possible we'd like to not completely miss out.

EDIT: Never mind, I figured it out.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

I believe there is a requirement that your Registration fee has been paid in order to receive your credits.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Yes, we were paid up. The issue was that I read the top of the page wrong; I thought "0 credits" meant that's what we had to spend, not how many were in use in the shopping cart already. My bad.

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

Great! Good Luck!

Re: FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices
 

We received our FIRST Choice stuff from AndyMark as well. I already spent the AndyMark PDV, too.

AndyMark is providing well over a million in product to teams in addition to everything else they do. That's pretty huge!