| recreational users of night vision equipment, don't know | | | | vision tube inside the housing. ATN typically uses a |
| the first thing about the technology itself. They end up | | | | lower cost Russian image tube in most of it’s |
| purchasing night vision equipment that is substandard | | | | night vision systems, and in turn offers their equipment |
| and not what they expect to get. I put this article | | | | at a lower price. Let’s face it. Night vision is |
| together to help steer them in the right direction. | | | | expensive. Lower costs are appealing. But when lives |
| Questions to ask when buying night vision? | | | | are on the line, or decisions need to be made in a |
| 1. Who/what company made the night vision tube in | | | | critical situation, you want the best equipment available. |
| the (goggle, monocular, scope – whatever it is | | | | Russian and other European tubes just don’t |
| that you’re buying)? | | | | match up to the U.S. made night vision tubes. |
| 2. Was the night vision tube manufactured in the United | | | | There’s a reason why the U.S. military |
| States? | | | | purchases almost all of it’s night vision |
| 3. What generation is the tube? (I suggest purchasing | | | | equipment from ITT. That includes the aviator’s |
| generation 3 device) | | | | goggles, which are typically even more expensive |
| 4. Is there a warranty on the tube? | | | | (sophisticated) than the ground-based systems. |
| 5. Is there a warranty on the system? | | | | Consumer apathy: |
| Points to remember: | | | | I’ve heard that some night vision companies |
| Don’t be swayed by the exterior housing or | | | | bank (or do business) counting on the fact that |
| overall look of the night vision device. Many night vision | | | | consumers will buy a piece of night vision for $300.00, |
| system housings look the same. A knock-off ATN | | | | use it once, only to find out that it doesn’t work |
| housing may look exactly the same as an ITT housing. | | | | that good, put it in their chest of drawers, and never |
| For good reason, the housings look the same, | | | | bother to return it to get their money back. That |
| sometimes with small variations, to enable the device | | | | consumer will never realize the full potential night vision |
| to reach it’s intended end user. For example, | | | | technology has to offer. A pretty good business model |
| ITT makes the monocular (the PVS-14) that most of | | | | for an uninformed consumer market. |
| our military uses as a compliment to the day sight on | | | | My suggestion would be to do your research and buy |
| it’s weapons. ATN, and many other night vision | | | | a U.S. manufactured generation 3 image tube night |
| companies, make a similar one in the hope that they | | | | vision device. And, if you can’t afford one, then |
| can sell their version to the military as well. | | | | save your money. |
| The problem ends up in the performance of the night | | | | |