Entering data into Restarters.net

You can input the data on what you repair once you have created an event in the Fixometer area of Restarters.net. You can do this at any point from during the party to long after the party – even if the party hasn’t previously been entered in the Restarters.net (just create the party in the past and enter the data).

To access the data entry page from your dashboard, find the event you want to add data to. You can either find events from your group’s page or on the Events page.

You will then be able to enter the details from your party in the Edit Party interface. At the top of the screen you can enter:

• the number of Participants at the event (under the address in the event details box). Participants are people who are attending your event regardless of whether they have brought an item to fix.  This number should not include volunteers who are helping with repairs or with running the event. This figure is used to calculate the total number of people who have participated in a community repair event.

• the number of Volunteers at the event (in the attendance box). These are Restarters who helped out at the event, for example by fixing devices and/or helping to host or run the event. A Restarter can be a participant only if they have brought an item to work on with another volunteer. This figure is used to calculate the total number of hours volunteered at community repair events (number of volunteers multiplied by the number of hours for each event, plus nine hours of preparation and cleanup time for each event). Clicking Add volunteer allows you to add other members of the community who are signed up to the platform as well as anyone not yet registered. Any Restarters who had RSVPed before the event will appear here automatically and can be removed if they didn’t make it on the day.

Entering your electrical devices

Once these figures are entered, you can start to enter in the gadgets repaired at the community repair event by scrolling down the event’s page to the Devices section at the bottom. Then, just start adding the devices you saw at the event to the bottom of the table:

Remember, for now you can currently only enter electrical devices into Restarters.net.

Device Category

Use the below table to fit the device you’re repairing into the appropriate category. 

What if my device doesn’t fit any categories?

If a device does not fit in any of the categories, you have the option of choosing “None of the above” at the end of the drop-down menu. You will then be encouraged to estimate the weight of the device.

Please use this option only as a last resort.

Device Details

Use these fields to record the brand, model, and age of the device.

Repair Comments

Here you can tell us the story of the repair.  Include such information as:

• What was the fault or issue with the device?
• What steps were taken to find the fault and repair the device?
• Was the repair successful?  If so, why?
• If the repair wasn’t able to be completed, what advice was given to the attendee?
• If the repair was unsuccessful, what did the attendee choose to do with the device?
• Were there any spare parts needed?  If so, what were they?

Repair Status

Choose between Fixed, Repairable, or End of Life.

If a device is repairable, you may also choose to provide more detail:

• More time needed – there was not enough time available to complete the repair at the event
• Professional help – the device needs to be attended to at a professional repair shop
• Do it yourself – the attendee notes they will attempt to fix the device in their own time based on advice and experience given

Does “Fixed” include devices which were improved?

We include work-arounds and solutions that satisfy device owners. For example, if a device owner came with a “slow” laptop, and seems satisfied that the problem is solved, or that they have a coping strategy, we include this as “fixed”. There is a fair degree of subjectivity here. Our main interest is in knowing whether we have prevented the purchase of another device, that is, will this device still be used?

What is the difference between “End of Lifecycle” and “Repairable”?

End of lifecycle is for devices that owners have given up on. When a participant tells you they have given up, and are going to recycle a device, please designate this “end of lifecycle”. Often this happens when there is no insight into what is causing the fault, or when spare parts or professional repairs are too costly. Or simply when people have tired of trying to fix it.

If on the other hand, an owner of an unrepaired device tells you they will try to fix it at home, come back to another Restart Party, get help from a friend or a professional, then we call it repairable. You’ll notice we also ask what is the most likely follow-up.

Spare parts

Tick the box if a spare part was/would have been required to complete the repair successfully.

Ticking this box does not indicate that the repair was completed successfully, nor does it indicate that a spare part was available to make use of at the event.

If you tick this box, be sure to indicate in the Decription of problem/solution field what spare part was needed and what steps or advice was given on locating the spare part.

Repeat this process for each new device until all devices have been entered.  Devices are saved automatically once they’ve been added.

Next: Viewing your impact

Jump back to the start of the Restarters.net Users’ Guide