simplified ERM

[woodbob123]

Had the ciccuit diagrams of the EPE unit (thanks satdaveuk) a few months ago having no experiance of digital systems i was very worried about any problems that may (would) arise. Decided to make a simplified unit on vero board first. Built a square wave osc 137Hz using a 555, removed the neg supply gen and voltage regulaters just have 2 x 9V batts, using a multimeter to measure output V which changes a I move across my small lawn.

Now have to take it out and field test it which i hope to do over next week, only a small 20 x 50 meters area note down readings and then manually input results into Snuffler.

Have then to build or buy a data loger hope to use one of the ardueno or similar systems, regulate the supplies etc.

Any ideas circuits or program sources,

[ivconic]

Had the ciccuit diagrams of the EPE unit (thanks satdaveuk) a few months ago having no experiance of digital systems i was very worried about any problems that may (would) arise. Decided to make a simplified unit on vero board first. Built a square wave osc 137Hz using a 555, removed the neg supply gen and voltage regulaters just have 2 x 9V batts, using a multimeter to measure output V which changes a I move across my small lawn.

Now have to take it out and field test it which i hope to do over next week, only a small 20 x 50 meters area note down readings and then manually input results into Snuffler.

Have then to build or buy a data loger hope to use one of the ardueno or similar systems, regulate the supplies etc.

Any ideas circuits or program sources,

Tough to find easier but that good project as EPE RM.
Just make EPE RM and don't worry.
Nothing problematic in making it. PIC16F876 is very easy to flash.
Use this one, it is easy and already checked on many PIC's:

http://www.sprut.de/electronic/soft/...2.htm#download

But pay attention on PIC's type!
I think i will be first here to mention this; ONLY -04 will work with EPE code, -SP will NOT!
So;do insist on obtaining STRICTLY PIC16F876-04!
I faced this problem twice so far. Didn't payed attention and instead -04 i bought -SP version.
So it was flashed properly and it is "working" with LCD but not corresponding with outer world at all!? Acts like there is no signal at it's inputs.
I wasted money for 2 of those and still keeping them, not knowing what to do with them!
I don't know why is that. I tried to troubleshoot it but without success.
So to void such issues just obtain -04 version and enjoy!
Next important thing: Quartz is 3.686 and NOT 3.2768!
Everything else is piece of cake.
Cheers!

[woodbob123]

Hi ivonic may be a peice of cake for you digital always turns into a tough nut for me lol
my plan is once i get it working to build a magnetometer or gradiometer, live 20Km from speake sensors so logical i should use there's. Then hopefully can find a design for data logger and build that. Money is my biggest problem not time. After a lack of understanding of course but getting better.

[ivconic]

Hi ivonic may be a peice of cake for you digital always turns into a tough nut for me lol
my plan is once i get it working to build a magnetometer or gradiometer, live 20Km from speake sensors so logical i should use there's. Then hopefully can find a design for data logger and build that. Money is my biggest problem not time. After a lack of understanding of course but getting better.

I am complete novice considering "digital" and that still not stoping me to make some of those simpler designs. Why it should stop you?
Like i said; nothing to worry about at EPE resmeter and gradiometer.
Pretty straightforward designs.
Most "delicate" part is not device itself but PIC programmer!
Brenner5 from the link i provided turned to be very easy to make. Working nice.
It's software runs even on pentium I at 160Mhz with win98SE OS.
So all you have to do is to make programmer and than flash PIC.
The rest is piece of cake.
For epe rm and grad. pcb's you can talk with Silverdog.
His pcb's, i've seen so far, were state of the art!
Give it a try.
Cheers!