user19603: I am building a laser tag system with an Arduino in each gun.
I want the guns to be linked during game play for many different reasons:

Start/Stop game
Nearby teammates
When a flag is captured
etc.

I don't know how to link the guns to one another during game play because the field may be large (e.g. a park). Wifi has too short of a range, cellular would cost, linking to a phone via bluetooth would drain the phone battery (and require each player have a smart phone to play). 
Can you think of another way to link the guns? Radio transmitters? 
Thanks!

user11529: You can use nRF24L01+
The chips offer:

Really high range with power amplifier (1km open field radius (776 acres if I'm right) , but fairly high power consumption 100-150mA @ 3.3V) 
High range with PCB antenna (50-80m open field, low power consumption 14mA peak)
Low cost (0.8£-6£ a piece)
Many easy to use libraries available, possible to create a mesh network
High usable voltage range (direct Li-Po for example without step-up)


19603: <p>I am building a laser tag system with an Arduino in each gun.</p>

<p>I want the guns to be linked during game play for many different reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li>Start/Stop game</li>
<li>Nearby teammates</li>
<li>When a flag is captured</li>
<li>etc.</li>
</ol>

<p>I don't know how to link the guns to one another during game play because the field may be large (e.g. a park). Wifi has too short of a range, cellular would cost, linking to a phone via bluetooth would drain the phone battery (and require each player have a smart phone to play). </p>

<p>Can you think of another way to link the guns? Radio transmitters? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>
 11529: <p>You can use nRF24L01+</p>

<p>The chips offer:</p>

<ul>
<li>Really high range with power amplifier (1km open field radius (776 acres if I'm right) , but fairly high power consumption 100-150mA @ 3.3V) </li>
<li>High range with PCB antenna (50-80m open field, low power consumption 14mA peak)</li>
<li>Low cost (0.8£-6£ a piece)</li>
<li>Many easy to use libraries available, possible to create a mesh network</li>
<li>High usable voltage range (direct Li-Po for example without step-up)</li>
</ul>
