Mirage PI Project, anyone interested?

[SVEN1]

The Mirage PI is a modified version of Carl's Hammerhead.

After about 4 years of revisions, trials and errors, the final version I think is the best.
Fairly easy to build and if built accordingly without modifying as well as building the search coil as described. It makes a wonderful PI.
I have built a good number of them in land and water versions and so far everyone loves them.

With the latest version is about as far as I am going to take it and I am very satisfied with its performance.
The PCB is pretty well marked so it would be hard to make a mistake installing parts. Just have to watch you don't put a 47K resistor in a spot that calls for a 4.7K, simple mistake we all tend to make, no matter how careful we are......

Because its such a nice build, not to difficult build, I feel that it can be offered here on Geotech as a matured project.

Please take a look at my website http://www.treasurelinx.com/projects.html

http://www.treasurelinx.com/mirage_pi.html

The latest version July 2016 PCB Mirage Ultra 1 MDD, was designed to be built for a mono coil or with a few added parts can be used with a DD coil. DD coil use is still experimental.

I have a number of extra PCB's I can offer and can have more made if needed.
I will offer them to Geotech members at $18.00 each plus $8.00-11.00 shipping depending upon destination.
Can also offer a component parts kit, unfortunately it takes time to put them together, so I will want $35 plus shipping.
If you have your own sources or parts on hand, it would cost you less.

So if there's interest, please post. This will be something I can give back to Geotech..........................Have to thank Ivonic, way back when, taking the orig. schematic and laying out the first PCB Sprint file for us. The orig. was build on a bread board. With Ivonics help went from breadboard to a real PCB. Which was revised about 12 times and that improved its overall performance

Below is a picture of January 2016 version PCB

[WM6]

Nice work SVEN1. Congratulations.

Where to find modified schematic? Do you you intend to sent schematic along with PCB?

[SVEN1]

Nice work SVEN1. Congratulations.

Where to find modified schematic? Do you you intend to sent schematic along with PCB?

Yes a DVD will also be included

[geoscash1]

Excellent project and nice detector

I can attest to this being an excellent project and a nice build when finished, I have built 2 so far and both work excellent. Instruction is clear with scope shots and verbage to walk you through the build process.. A great build even for first timers or beginners.

1st build



second build

[ivconic]

http://www.treasurelinx.com/misc.html
http://www.treasurelinx.com/tesoro.html
http://www.treasurelinx.com/fisher.html
...
I took from there many nice scans from old magazines and catalogs once.
What a fantastic and splendid collection!
It is real treasure batch there!
How you managed to collect all those?
Real online museum! I enjoy listing those pages indeed.

[WM6]

I can attest to this being an excellent project and a nice build when finished, I have built 2 so far and both work excellent. Instruction is clear with scope shots and verbage to walk you through the build process.

Nice build geoscash1.

Are those frequency buttons 10x turns? Is there an adequate reason for multi-turn frequency button?

[geoscash1]

Nice build geoscash1.

Are those frequency buttons 10x turns? Is there an adequate reason for multi-turn frequency button?

Hi WM6, thank you for the compliment on the builds

Yes, they are for frequency fine tuning and are 10 turn pots. If I remember correctly (sven can correct me if I am wrong) As far as reasoning, they are so you can dial in the frequency with out over adjusting to be extremely precise, which makes the unit very stable and makes it run really smooth in the small gold or normal modes. I believe (if memory serves me) that the unit is calibrated around 1khz and can be adjusted out to 1.5khz as well so it does not interfere with the audio frequency used too.

I set mine for use where I hunt and haven't needed to mess with them much since it works very well where I have them.

[württemberger]

Hi Sven,

this is my mod. Version from your Mirage 2014.
It has a simply Disk and a DC-DC Converter

[WM6]

Hi Sven,

this is my mod. Version from your Mirage 2014.
It has a simply Disk and a DC-DC Converter

Very Pro design.
With "Disk" you mean discrimination? Which part of circuit serve like this?
Is "Disk" genuine Sven solution or your mod?

[württemberger]

It´s not realy a Disc... With my mod. you can only check if the signal
Ferro or Non-Ferro Metal. The Test-Button only shift the 1. Sample delay to 85µS.
It´s very simple, but effectiv.

[WM6]

Nice distinguish solution for small parts of nonferrous metal (with short TC).
For bigger parts (like say: bronze statue) it is better to discriminate by eyes.

[SVEN1]

The German Forum a few years ago used an early version as a winter project build. Think Bernte One. headed up the project and I believe they all made up their own PCB from the Sprint files I supplied. http://www.detektorforum.de/smf/eigenbaugerate_tuning/mirage_pi_das_winterprojekt_2013-t66670.0.html;highlight=mirage

The latest version has a number of PCB changes, trace changes, part value changes and part positioning.........
We removed the pinpoint button option. Pinpointing is fast and easy with out it, nice but feature , not needed. I rarely if ever needed to use it.
The iron check we talked about long ago, we didn't think it was worth the trouble or was needed but, could be added at any time. We were trying to keep
the panel controls to a minimum. We didn't want to end up with a detector with 100 different adjustments like the Blisstool.

Yes, a 10 turn frequency pot makes a big difference in tuning, at times a micro adjustment is only needed. With a 1 turn pot, its very hard for many to make such a small hair line adjustment.
[IMG][/IMG]

[homefire]

Could you please post a parts list ?

[hecbom]

Sven

Can the Mirage work in the sub 10us range? I'm asking because at our Club's claim near Quartzsite Az. my GMT will not work in the highly mineralized soil at this location. As I'm sure most in this Forum know, a PI is the only way forward. So after much thought and trying to justify the expense of buying either a White TDI SL or a ML GPX 4500 I decided to build two PI to see how they would work at this location. My first PI an SM Pro will not pick up the small Gold in this area and either did my second PI 1 (page 163) from (Inside the Metal Detector) both built and tested before hitting the field. A typical gold sample at Quartzsite would be in the range of 1 to 3g and if you are lucky, you might hit a larger specimen. BTW both detectors were tuned for a "Razorback" 6" mono.

Cheers!

[Qiaozhi]

Sven

Can the Mirage work in the sub 10us range? I'm asking because at our Club's claim near Quartzsite Az. my GMT will not work in the highly mineralized soil at this location. As I'm sure most in this Forum know, a PI is the only way forward. So after much thought and trying to justify the expense of buying either a White TDI SL or a ML GPX 4500 I decided to build two PI to see how they would work at this location. My first PI an SM Pro will not pick up the small Gold in this area and either did my second PI 1 (page 163) from (Inside the Metal Detector) both built and tested before hitting the field. A typical gold sample at Quartzsite would be in the range of 1 to 3g and if you are lucky, you might hit a larger specimen. BTW both detectors were tuned for a "Razorback" 6" mono.

Cheers!

You might also want to try the Minipulse Plus with KRinAZ's modifications.
Minipulse Plus REV-D
Completed Minipulse Plus Projects by Geotech members (look at Post #7)