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Please accept an apoligy for the tone of my prior e-mail. Dean was quite correct in pointing out that my response to the original post was too combative. The response from Adrian contained part of what I requested but it neglects to define the technology utilized, or the supporting research. If sensor performance has been imperically validated in a range of soils and applications, then that is just as valid as a detailed research program with published results. However, it also implies that each installation may require significant special consideration. The original Aquaflex post was openly commercial, so I felt no inhibition to providing a counter to the comparison with TDR. Over the past five years, we have faced the same issues with TDR (and now TDT) and we are much more careful in our application definition these days. Such sensors are sold to both professionals, and to other users with limited experience. Blanket statements supported by testimonials are taken with a grain of salt by professionals; but others may have expectations based on a "universal solution" to estimating soil water content, only to find that their conditions are a "special case". The environment is full of "special cases".....often it becomes money spent, time wasted, and another credibility problem for people who approach each application with a tool kit approach to system application. I do not imply that Aquaflex is not a valuable tool in the kit. My intention was to point out that testimonials are not valid unless they are supported by verifiable data. We are "always learning" in the attempt to better define the environment we are trying to measure. Just when you think you have a universal solution you find it isn't quite as "universal" as originally thought. Regards and thanks to Dean, John Johnston At 07:46 PM 8/6/98 GMT, you wrote: > >[Bruce comments: I also want to thank all who have resisted the temptation >to use sowacs as a promotional vehicle - or as a virtual sales battleground! >With our mailboxes already overloaded with unwanted promotional litter, far >greater benefit can be had by sharing genuine users' stories and questions >on sowacs - after all - that is why I started sowacs and why it is still around.] > > >Adrian, > >Thanks for your information. I was perturbed by ESI's "competitors" put >down. We >are here to see what is available and how well it works or where applicable. >We are >not here as a sales battleground. I applaud Aquaflex for not responding to >this >"challenge". > >Dean > >owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za wrote: > >> NOTE: To get off this list, send email to majordomo@aqua.ccwr.ac.za >> with the body of the message containing the line: >> unsubscribe sowacs >> >> > Interesting stuff, sounds like a new "black art". What has been published