Which schematic has WORKED the best?

[m w]

I am currently trying to figure out which MD schematic to try and make for my first project.

I have downloaded every schematic I could find including some italian ones even.

Being unfamiliar with MDs in general I was wondering if anyone has built their own and what has worked best.

I am also needing any info on coil design and construction as in nearly every schematic this aspect seems to be overlooked.

I am fairly versed in electronics and have my own scope and freq counter.

thanks for your time and ideas
Mark W

[Carl]

Re: Which schematic has WORKED the best?

My suggestion is to start with a PI design. The coil is easy to make, the circuitry is relatively straightforward, and you can end up with a PI detector as good or better than any you can buy.

Drawback: no discrimination - it does not make a good general purpose detector. But then again, none of the IB projects that I've dug up are as good as some of the cheapest available units you can buy.

If you don't want to mess with a microcontroller, try Mark Stuart's older PI, or the Proscan design. If you want a microcontroller, the later Mark Stuart design or the GoldPic are good choices. Nice thing about the GoldPic is you can order the PC board and the PIC chip from Trevor Hill.

- Carl