Lazer Tag - Pictures of Built Tagger

Well, the first tagger is built. Wow, I have much more appreciation for these littler guys.

It's still in works. Currently having the following issues:
> internal pull-ups - sometimes they seem to work, sometimes they not
> IR drive level on the transmitter seems lower than original breadboard - need to look at supply voltage and current limiting resistor

Things that could be better:
> there is audio feedback for receiver (when gun is tagged), audio could be cooler
> would be cool to have audio feedback during transmission (i.e. when gun fires) - the transmitter is already set for this, and the receiver has the I/O necessary; need to modify receiver code
> the tactile feedback for the trigger could be better - right now the feedback is provided by a pushbutton switch (it's ok, but doesn't have the cool spring/recoil to it).
> more lights - the LEDs currently in there are hard to see

Overall it does work (with a range - limited by transmitter) of about 20ft.

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Update:
After playing some more with the taggers I'm still not thrilled with the performance. The receiver has about 100ft, but the transmitter still about 50ft. This is even after I increased the voltage from +4.5V to +6V. I think this should be better, but I have to look into this more.

Also on the list of things is to connect the transmitter trigger output to the receiver for sound to be added.

Code attached for transmitter and receiver functions.

Update (8/21):
Decided to give this another try and figure out where I went wrong. Well, I can now honestly say I'm stumped. The two taggers I built work fine over 50ft (somewhere around 70-75ft) when using them against each other (i.e. one homebuilt tagger against the other homebuilt tagger). But once I try the use them with the Phoenix LTX taggers, the homebuilt transmitter will not tag an LTX gun at distances greater than about 20-25ft. An LTX transmitter will tag the homebuilt receiver at distances above 50ft (didn't try to max it out), but the homebuilt transmitter does not reciprocate such range with the LTX receiver.

Two things came to mind once I confirmed this. Crap, I did all the original testing with higher voltage, which means higher current (based on how the design is implemented), which means higher radiant power. Well, no luck; changed from +4.2V to +6V with virtually no difference. Next thought was; oh double-crap, the initial prototype testing was done with 40kHz not 38kHz. Maybe the LTX taggers are not really 38kHz. Wrong again, the LTX taggers couldn't care less it seemed like.

So I'm stumped. I now have two original taggers (Phoenix LTX) which are great. I also have two homebuilt taggers; which also not as great, but still pretty cool. Unfortunately they can be used quite nicely by themselves, but not as great when we mix and match them. Will definitely look more into this when time allows. For now, the tagger world is at peace and the family is happy "tagging" along.