Any "CHANCE" Silverdog ?

[Qiaozhi]

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Thanks for clearing the air on unwritten FORUM DOCTRINE.

Let me see if I have this straight: Analog - OK, Through Hole - OK, Projects, 100% nailed down - OK --- All other is Nonsense.
Got it!


With all due respect: MONEY is not the root of all evil, The LOVE of money is the root of all KINDS of evil - Timothy 6:10

Essentially, Sinclairuser is just venting his frustration about projects that are, in some way or another, not complete. Either the design is not fully tested (as will often be the case when only one or two units have ever been constructed), the source code is not made available, the hex code is only a demo version that can time out and needs to be reloaded, or numerous other reasons that make it difficult to replicate the design.

Unfortunately that sort of comes with the territory, since this is a place where hobbyists meet and discuss metal detector technology. We all have other [more important] things that need to be done, and producing a well documented complete metal detector design for free, can be a long drawn out affair. Ask Carl how long it took him to design and compile the Hammerhead article, complete with PCB layout, enabling you to build a detector that actually works. I bet he didn't do it over a long weekend.

The bottom line is that we all need to be aware of the expression "caveat emptor". Which in this case can be modified to mean: "Constructor Beware". You have to accept that there could be some unintentional mistakes, and (in some cases) even attempts to protect IP as a means of generating cash. Please also be aware that one of the hazards of being an early adopter, of any novel and interesting projects, is that they could suddenly vanish without a trace. That's a risk you must be prepared to take.

[geoscash1]

I for one am new here but enjoy the hec outta this forum, I have learnt more in the last few months reading stuff and trying things here than I have in 20 yrs of messing with electronics (uneducated messing with electronics).



Didnt mean to get any pro or con arguments/debates going.. I had asked Qiaozhi awhile ago about the mini pulse and knew that it was next in line as far as something being posted here to be able to build. I had just been reading quite a bit about the "chance PI" and thought it sounded like a neat machine so I just tossed the question out about it.


I am way more than willing to wait for it as I am sure others are too. I am here more for the learning experience and understanding of this cool hobby and hope it never goes away, and yes, because I cant afford to go and buy a high end manufactured machine for myself so building one is the next best option....


If I was smart enough I would try to do my own (been trying) just to be able to say "I did that" but lack of real education has limits on guys like me so places like this are not only a great learning experience but are well worth the education from guys that truly know what they are talking about..



Whatever the case, its all good and if it does end up being available, then awesome, if not, then thats the breaks too I guess...

[vbeeeks]

My take is to create "Technology/Software" thread ... which may be used to publish source code snippets pertaining to the MD model micro-wise. It can vary in taste like C, Basic, Assembly etc. We can also analyze some open / un-copyrighted code for the benefit of members. Currently many contributors have kept their source as an IP, we have to respect their efforts. Here open-source codes shall only be allowed and be educational purpose only. May enrich many souls in the micro-MD efforts like me first--- and also young and old. So many micro development platform has evolved here PIC, dsPIC, ATMEL, ARDUINO, RASPBERRY, FPGA, DSP, tablet - laptop-mini etc., courtesy many benevolent Guru's in their respected fields. My suggestion only.

[kt315]

sorry, Andy_F alias does not share source code on all his projects. you can not change a program, you can use only HEX file. this forum still has not gurus you are meaning.
Minelab will kill any guru in this field, so was with bigwhiskers who did QED. do you see QED free anywhere here? NOT. it is restricted. that will be with ALL projects.

[baum7154]

Essentially, Sinclairuser is just venting his frustration about projects that are, in some way or another, not complete. Either the design is not fully tested (as will often be the case when only one or two units have ever been constructed), the source code is not made available, the hex code is only a demo version that can time out and needs to be reloaded, or numerous other reasons that make it difficult to replicate the design.

Unfortunately that sort of comes with the territory, since this is a place where hobbyists meet and discuss metal detector technology. We all have other [more important] things that need to be done, and producing a well documented complete metal detector design for free, can be a long drawn out affair. Ask Carl how long it took him to design and compile the Hammerhead article, complete with PCB layout, enabling you to build a detector that actually works. I bet he didn't do it over a long weekend.

The bottom line is that we all need to be aware of the expression "caveat emptor". Which in this case can be modified to mean: "Constructor Beware". You have to accept that there could be some unintentional mistakes, and (in some cases) even attempts to protect IP as a means of generating cash. Please also be aware that one of the hazards of being an early adopter, of any novel and interesting projects, is that they could suddenly vanish without a trace. That's a risk you must be prepared to take.

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Thanks for putting some oil on the waters Qiaozhi. This thread was started as a simple question form Geocash1 if Silverdog would produce any more CHANCE boards of the latest release. We have not heard any answer from Silverdog on that point.

It is my fault for suggesting any changes to the latest version of CHANCE boards, thinking those would be desirable in the long run. Little did I know that this would set off a little storm of unfounded fabrications about CHANCE "never working as intended", "having DEMO software", and generally not being a working detector.

I want to clear the record by saying that a CHANCE built from the latest version of a Silverdog board, using the Version 1.2.1 software, and preferably a much faster and properly damped coil, IS a working detector. Without mods it is only a so-so detector for small gold as originally designed even though it will sample down to 8us. I have worked the past three years to make it a better detector for small gold and my CHANCE is far better today than it was originally. I am not done with it yet and don't forsee that happening in the future because like Silver Dollar, I believe its microcontroller based architecture gives it a much more flexible and durable future than other designs. In short the core of a good detector is there. Also the V1.2.1 software is not DEMO software and has never quit or needed to be reloaded in my CHANCE.

Is any detector ever ever fully perfected? I seriously doubt it because human nature is to constantly improve on existing technology and this is unrelenting. That is why many of us wish for the release of the source code and in truth that my never happen. Whether that ever happens does not prevent CHANCE from being a useable detector for everything from 1/2 gram gold to battlefield relics providing the builder is willing build a better coil and to do the necessary mods for the small gold. From the looks of the forum there are all kinds of folks out there constantly building better coils for every detector I can imagine including CHANCE. This is certainly nothing out of the ordinary for the forum members! It is all about committment to the technology.

Thanks,

Dan

[Koala]

I am ready to open esspecial section in http://md4all.ru for Bugs, Doug and Aziz IN ENGLISH! nobody can touch them there! get OFF your DIRTY HANDS from DIY projects!!!!

Help

though I would have a look at this site but google translate fails with a "This page was not retrieved from its original location over a secure connection." error. Bing translator work for the first page but click on any forum and it loops back to the home page.

sorry of target

Back on track

Have to look up the chance project again last time I look it was not worth building it was good idea that worked very poorly and had done so for some time. Have to revisit and look into these upgrades. I know projects can take time to mature and develop.

[baum7154]

Help

though I would have a look at this site but google translate fails with a "This page was not retrieved from its original location over a secure connection." error. Bing translator work for the first page but click on any forum and it loops back to the home page.

sorry of target

Back on track

Have to look up the chance project again last time I look it was not worth building it was good idea that worked very poorly and had done so for some time. Have to revisit and look into these upgrades. I know projects can take time to mature and develop.

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Good luck on that search but you may not find the all the mods there.

Dan

[Qiaozhi]

We have not heard any answer from Silverdog on that point.

I'll ask him about the status of the Chance boards when I send over the Minipulse Plus Gerber files. That will probably be on Friday evening (UK time).

[baum7154]

I'll ask him about the status of the Chance boards when I send over the Minipulse Plus Gerber files. That will probably be on Friday evening (UK time).

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Thanks!

[sinclairuser]

for starters i'm glad you stuck with the chance and made it work, before others were not so lucky, you see the chance is andy f's project, no one here has the right to play with his code but him, thats why he restricted it.
there is a need for a digital design here, but the kind of design all can have input on, and thats the problem, when its been tried before it has allways collapsed.
if you think the chance concept has legs, design an arduino shield based on its hardware, that way we could all have a go at writing code for it.
you can modify the hardware till kingdom come, as with a lot of these projects, but not having the freedom to modify the code turns off the more advanced and pro users.
and thats the point, there is a wealth of different talent and trades here, but really if projects dont appeal to all users or at least the majority then they often stay uncompleted.