This is one avenue I am intending to investigate as part of the
project.
I have about 10 "dead" CD ROM drives all with IR lasers in. Dead CD
ROM drives are junk box items these days - this overcomes the price
problem.
.
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter L. Peres <plp@ACTCOM.CO.IL>

>Ok, now that almost everything that was to be said has been re:
laser
>safety, I'd like to meekly add that I've been there and that normal
IR
>lasers used in CD pickups, used without any kind of lens, will give
>hardly credible ranges in combination with SHARP GP1-XXX remote
control
>detectors and 40 kHz modulation. 20 meters is very easy, provided
you have
>a steady hand (as in shooting ;). The cost issue, however...
>