I'd like to keep this topic updated from time to time, I think their are a bunch of us with our fingers on the trigger waiting for the 'right' system to be developed. Lets keep this on topic and no hijacking pls. Here are what I think are relevant posts from the last thread:

From Member YHR:
I have added IR battle sytems to my tanks, all the parts were scrounged from old Lazer Challenge systems. As I was searching the net I stumbled on to this site

DIY Laser Tag Systems

This is a very exciting product and I have been talking to the developer about catering to the tank crowd.

For $80 you get an IR sound board that blows away the competition. THe ability to copy WAV. files to the sound module means that you can add any wav. file you can get your hands on. Wav files from computer games or websites can be programmed to be played at specifc event sequences. Programmable game play, as well has ammo strength and armor strength is all within the grasp of this card. This will absolutely blow away the Tamiya system with a range of features that are amazing. Have a read on this electronic card and what it is being used for in the Lazer tag field, and then use your imagination to transfer those abilities to RC tanks. I think ,like me, you will be very interested in what this could be used for.

If enough interest is shown, a version could be built that caters to the RC tank crowd. I.e preprogrammed tank sounds, and other tank game features specifically to meet our needs. There needs to be an interface with the drive motors, but I believe this would be fairly simple to do. I suggested a relay switch option that would cut power to the tank motors once the damage points accumulated to be fatal. If this relay was a DPDT, the power from ESC to the motors could be rerouted to a fuse that would ignite a Estes rocket/smoke pot device. A hatch would be blown by a short rocket blast straight up in the air, then the secondary burn ,usually used to pop open a parachute, could then be used to ignite wadding soaked in smoke oil. A fatal hit would then trigger this contraption that would give you an awesome effect. Just picture it. A hatch being blown open by a jet blast followed with billowing smoke. I want one.

I encourage you to follow the link and read what this little board can do, then let your imagination run wild. It is also a good IR parts source. As the board currently stands you would have to invest in a PIC programmer to make the neccesary changes, but if enough interest was generated I image tank sounds could replace the hand held arms fire that currently is being programmed into it.

I always thought the Tam system was a little limited considering the abilities we could have if someone done it right, much like your suggestions YHR. I have been actively looking for a good IR combat system, thanks YHR for this find. Did you check out this system? http://www.rcmodels.org/csm/Airwars.htm
I like the post combat abilities to do reporting, this system looks very promising. If you have ever checked into what the RC Warship combat guys are doing you'll find they are very organized and have a national event, perhaps one day the tankers will be able to do the same.

From Member Ksoc:
The coded signal of the "AirWars" system would be nice. You could track down the source of the friendly fire and have a "chat" with them after the battle.

We have some club members trying out the www.tankhobby.com battle circuit. Another built a Tamiya compatable system that used the Tamiya TBU apple. The trouble we have is we have 25+ club members, most who own two or more Tamiya tanks. Any new battle system would need to be backward comptable with the Tamiya system. Additionally, once you start allowing for a lot of customization, you open the door to people bending, or outright breaking the rules. It is amazing what a few people will do to win.

That being said, anything that can get more people on the battlefield can't be all bad.

Kevin O
<S.C.A.T.>

tankzone in the uk will be selling a IR combat system soon as well, here is a link to the page; http://www.tankzone.co.uk/cart/hl_egs.htm

ACG - Good idea for a thread.

The 'Apple' remindes me of old German A/C units from the 70'. They worked great in the Black Forest, but what about the full sun of the American Southwest? Think they might have Fin / Louver upgrade?

Are we any closer to knowing when they might make it to this side of the pond?

Kevin O
<S.C.A.T.>

Yes it appears as if systems are becoming available. I am still holding out for the MILES system, as I think the technology is the most advanced. However if no effort is made to tweak it for RC tanks, then I may be swayed.


Bottom line is the industry needs to make the carrier wave standard to ensure hits can be registered on all the systems. Since Tamiya is established, their carrier frequecy should be adopted.

Someone needs to develop a National Model Tankers Association (NMTA) set of standards that all third parties attempt to met to ensure compatibility.

If anyone knows what frequency Tamiya uses they should let this board know.

Wavelenght 940 nm
Modulation 38 KHz

Suitable IR LED for any combat system (including Tamiya):
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...t&tab=features

It's not cheap, costs...... 1.79 USD OMG!

For the electronics hobbist, this info is key for reconstructing the battle sysytem:

Tam IR data:
http://heatarmor.com/joomla/index.ph...d=73&Itemid=29

Compatible system:
http://heatarmor.com/joomla/index.ph...d=75&Itemid=29

Hope to see a few of these next month in Danville!

Never used an IR system before. I prefer coold steel bb's as opposed to light beams but I guess I may need to become a bit civilized[sm=bananahead.gif]
How accurate are they? Do you aim in the vacinity or do you really have to nail the shot? How about range?

The farther away you are, the more accurate you need to be. Not always the most accurate, but not bad.

It gets real interesting when you have the enemy lined up, then you realize that 3 or 4 others are trying to hit you!

Kevin O
<S.C.A.T.>

Range is about 100 feet +/- 10 feet and accuarcy is maximally 10 feet off axis at about 60 feet.

if you can find a lens in a small enough diameter to use with any IR system you can tune it to create an accurate straight beam instead of the wide spread beams.

its just a matter of getting the lens the correct distance away from the IR led, there is alot of info about this on the miles tag optics page; http://www.lasertagparts.com/mtoptics.htm

Reading the manuals for the latest Miles system it looks like it has the capability to be programmed to approximate most things for tank combat, with the exception of only being able to light a led when a tank is 'out'. It can simulate reload times, armor value to reduce hit effectiveness, ammo carried, damage done by a round, programmable sounds - settings can be saved for a custom gun type. A section on the site deals with using optics to increase the range of the ir emitter.

Gentlemen,

I thought that I would weigh into the fray and add my 2cents worth.

Has anyone else besides me used the combat circuit offered by Tankhobby?

Here is the URL http://pages.cthome.net/chioc/index.htm

With the latest upgrades the system is even easier to install than before. The kill/shutdown relay connections now just solder directly to the circuit board no additional electronic parts required.

It comes complete with the IR dector board which has 4 IR sensors mounted, along with a hit indicator LED, I understand that another update is planned to make the hit LEDs easier to see in bright daylight conditions.

The only parts that are not supplied are the sound module and amplifier/speaker. Thease are off the shelf units and cost around $20 total to add.

I have setup and used a total of 4 such units and compeated in the club battles. They are Tamiya compatible which means that they will take and give hits to Tamiya equipped tanks.

The only flaw that is noticed right away is that the Tankhobby unit does not degrade the throttle when hit, the excellent points are that rate of fire and number of hits are indpendantly set. Also there is no automatic restart, this requires user interface.(must manually push the reset button to restart)

Ok, so much for my soap box ranting.

Regards,

bullyhys

HAHahahahha. Buy something that works with no modification. Are you crazy we're Heng Long tankers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bullyhys thanks for the post.

I'm working on a connection that will allow using the Tamiya TBU (apple) with the system. This way one doesn't need to figure out a way to mount the detectors and hit LED. It will require the purchase of the TBU separately and utilize just the apple portion.

As far as reducing the speed that is a little more complicated as there are several ways to do it and problems with each. Most people using non Tamiya tanks will use the electronics that came with the tank or a separate ESC. They all differ, in addition the motors may be different, whether stock or aftermarket ones are used. So to design something to reduce speed by 25% or 50% becomes complicated. I will need to look and test more.

Nick, please keep us informed when your 'apple' connected system is available!

Bumping this to see if any updates are available, I remember RealZardoz was talking about a Tamiya compatible system he was working on. Anyone hear from him or any other new IR systems?

I have performed the Tamiya TBU interface with the Tankhobby combat circuit following Nick's instructions and the setup works just fine.

No problems have been encountered so far. Tests continue, and live fire exercises being planned soon as well.

Regards,

bullyhys

bullyhys

I'd be happy to provide the fire, if you want to provide the target

Looking forward to seeing the Jag in action. Remind me to run my Tiger, and not my Sherman....

Kevin O
<S.C.A.T>

Kevin,

Ya gots ta be target too in order to make the test vadid, "mite be dangerious..you go first"

bullyhys