Affordable working range finder.

NovallTalon

Well-Known Hunter
Ok guys and gals...not sure how many of you are going to use this. I've been able to build a working SMALL range finder for just a touch under $100.

Now, when I say small I mean that this RF unit is pretty much the same size as a regular boba/jango RF. The screen inside of it is around 3/4 of an inch, which when I first found this little gem...I was not convinced it would work as good as it does. It is a black and white module, but it's also backlit which means you can see it when it's dark. Couple a night vision camera to it and you have a nice Night Vision RF =)

I'm currently writing up the WIP on this and will have it included in the Mercs tutorial library. I'll have a link up no later then this weekend with pictures. There is one slight modification you have to make to the vid controller board, basically removing a resistor and bridging the gap it leaves.

So, everyone who's ever thought about having a working RF...prepare yourselves =D
 
NP guys. I will probably have more time to work on it this week as I'm waiting for my tilt switches to get her for it. I've still gotta get that hollow RF from Bobamaker also.

One thing about this project. It is possiable to put this in a slightly oversized boba/jango RF casing. The only problem is with eye focus. In the casing that comes with it, you have some adjustability with the magnifier on the optics that enlarges the picture. Another thing also is that the IR and blinking LEDs on the IR plate will have their own power source. I don't want the RF having a tremendous power drain.
 
Thanks for pointing that out CD. I've sent out a ton of PM's regarding this place but overlooked it in the tutorial. Partially due to excitement, and the major rush I'm in currently. I've fixed the tutorial to make sure they have credit for what was used from that site =)
 
I've also discovered that you can flip the board and optics inside of this, so if your going for a left side RF (Like my new helmet) you don't have to mod the display case with a new wire hole.
 
I can't tell from the pics, is the display attached to the board? I wonder if you could move some of the electronics inside the helmet, wired through a hollow RF stalk?
 
The display has has a small ribbon cable (about 1.5-2 inches long) that connects it to the board. It's possiable, but you would need to get a ribbon cable long enough to stretch from the controller board to the optics piece. I'm thinking about getting another of these to see if I can take the optics housing off (I don't want to ruin the one I'm working on now.) so it can be put into an actual hollow RF head. I believe Terminal Fettler makes a RF head slightly larger then BM...and it may fit in that size with some slight modifications. I don't think trying to run the board to the helmet is going to be viable because of the ribbon cable. It's possible, but probably not practical.

Here are 2 pics that show the size difference between 2 common RF's and the display RF.

Solid cast resin RF, Bobamaker hollow RF, Display RF.

DSCF0400.JPG


DSCF0401.JPG
 
I probably could in small quantities. I've got to do some testing with the BM hollow RF stalk to see if I can get a couple more wires through so the IR and blinking LED can be powered separately from the unit (saves battery life).
 
you should beable to fit some 5 or 6 strand through that hollow stalk.. with the loads being pulled you dont need any sort of heavy duty wiring.
 
Thats what I'm thinking aswell. The RF module wire will fit through already without any problems, just need to make sure theres enough room for more.

The only problem with making these in quantity is individual eye focus. Since this is only viewable to 1 eye, you have to figure out where that focus range is for that eye since the optics use a circular magnifier. It wouldn't be an issue if the screen was being projected onto the very front of the piece. The LCD itself is super tiny and is at the back of the optics housing, being magnified by the magnifier so you can see it. I had to tweek the screws that held the optics in so that I could turn the optics into focus for my left eye.

Thats really the only worry I have about producing these for people. I don't want someone to get one thats been set to the normal position and they not be able to see anything...and think it's ****.
 
How much do you think a pre-made setup will cost? I wonder if there a way we could figure out our individual focus setings so all u half to do is set it?
 
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