So, what's thiis all about then?

I started up Heretik forge, as details on the About page, for the main part to make an Infra-red based combat system for larp, based on the time tested Worlds of Wonder Lazer-Tag system from the late 80’s

Why that one?

Simple – it’s the one I’m used to using, and it’s one that’s been taken apart, examined and replicated a few times, by the group of SF Larp clubs that has evolved into the UK Lazer Tag Association (UKLTA)

At it’s heart, it’s a fairly simple system that consists of:

• An Emitter (The “Gun”) circuit which emits an Infra-Red signal consisting of a 57.6kHz signal and an 1800Hz signal modulated together, 
• The Receiver(The “Sensor”) that registers a “hit” at a maximum rate of 1 per second. Once the sensor hit 6 hit’s it would trigger a siren indicating you were “dead”.

See.. Simple.

Over time, the sensors were modified to enable them to have extra diodes so they could take hits from 360 degree’s and they were successfully copied and cloned several times.

The problem is, once microcontrollers were introduced, it became a lot harder to make the things and the amount of people making kit shrank until there was essentially just one person doing it.

And the information on how to build the microprocessor controlled kit was never released for various reasons, which was fine.

Up until said person decided they didn’t want to do it any more.

So, as mentioned previously, I’ve decided to learn how to build the kit – I’ve a background as a software programmer, so the code for the microprocessors isn’t much of a challenge, but the hardware side is.

And I’ve made a few boo-boo’s climbing the learning curve.

Not actually me.....

 

At present, I’ve got a working basic Gun circuit, and sensor circuit that are compatible with “legacy” kit.

I’m working on the documentation for them so the information is out there for anyone that wants to use it, as well as offering pre-programmed microprocessors for those that don’t want to program the microprocessors, but do want to build their own circuits. 

This will be finalised in September more than likely as the next round of field-tests and the first field-test for the sensor will be at the LOTNA game that weekend, courtesy of Shaun/Starlore 

I'll be off in a different field.