User Panel
Posted: 2/23/2020 5:57:34 PM EDT
Just received my new set of DTNVGs. Tubes seem to be solid and spec sheet with them gives them pretty good specs. However, when I’m looking into the tubes with the lights on and the nods off I can see what appears to be a fingerprint smudge and possibly a spec of dirt in the housing in the tube lens... sigh.... .This is on the side that has the L3 printing on it. Both of my tubes have a blem in zone 3. However I can’t see anything in the other tube and the blems are almost in the exact same spot. This doesn’t seem normal, I shouldn’t be able to see the blem with the tubes off correct?
Tried to get a few pics of what I’m talking about but it’s proving to be difficult. |
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Definitely should not be able to see the blem with the tube off. Lenses clean on the outside I presume.
Must be on the inside of the eye piece. Who's the vendor? Warranty? |
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I had something similar with mine, vendor kinda made it right. I would suggest getting a hold of them and seeing if they could clean and send them back.
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Thanks for the responses. Looks like im shipping them back to vendor tomorrow. Yes they have a 10 year warranty.
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It's not uncommon for blems to manifest in the fiber optic screen itself. In such cases, you can see them with the unit being turned off. I would prefer that condition over a blem in the module itself.
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Quoted:
It's not uncommon for blems to manifest in the fiber optic screen itself. In such cases, you can see them with the unit being turned off. I would prefer that condition over a blem in the module itself. View Quote |
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Quoted: Roger that. This is a brand new unit. Would something like this be typical? After cleaning pics from vendor seemed to show the dot and fingerprint gone. View Quote ive seen dust specs and stuff but never anything like a fingerprint that you posted. when I got my 14 it was absolutely spotless. I looked at a while wall for a good 5 minutes and couldnt find a blem or even as much as a dust spec in the tube. lenses were spotless also. my guess is the vendor had an "oops" moment. maybe they were texting the wife/gf while finishing assembly and couldnt text with a pair of gloves on. |
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my guess is the vendor had an "oops" moment. maybe they were texting the wife/gf while finishing assembly and couldnt text with a pair of gloves on. View Quote Yeah, it's an oopsie by the assembler, but the fact that they didn't double check after might say something. Since OP won't mention them, I'm assuming they're a smaller shop. |
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Quoted: Sounds very specific, like you've done something similar. LOL. Yeah, it's an oopsie by the assembler, but the fact that they didn't double check after might say something. Since OP won't mention them, I'm assuming they're a smaller shop. View Quote I just know you cant text with gloves on |
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looks like a finger print. i always wear gloves when i assemble electronics. odd that a vendor's tech wouldn't.
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Vendor was Steele Industries since everyone is interested. Vendor did clean and return them. Also refunded me for overnight shipping cost. Kudos for that. However, they did ship them back with a battery in them? Seems odd a vendor would do that..... In addition, installed 11769 tubes instead of 10160s.
Steele Industries: Pros: Easy to get ahold of via phone Low prices Did clean and return with refund on shipping Cons: -Misleading inventory...2+months for things that were “in stock” Still don’t have comtacs that were supposed to ship a month ago. -Sent out new dtnvgs with fingerprint on tube?? -11769 vs 10160s in dtnvgs this is not normal -Was told I could “pick” tubes, was not able to. (Mentioned to him I wouldn’t mind a small blem for high FOM. Ended up with good FOM but pretty big blems .009-.012 in both zone 3 and few other small blems...wasn’t able to pick from anything like promised) according to his website I shouldn’t have had any blems in .009-.012 for 1701s and i did. Others have messaged me with similar stories... |
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Tubes seem to be solid and spec sheet with them gives them pretty good specs. View Quote |
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Quoted: What sorta specs did you end up with? SNR/res/gain/EBI/halo? Been hearing good things about those new tubes coming out lately. I have seen sheets come in locally in friend’s goggles with the same size zone3 blems in 1701s too, so probably not completely out of the ordinary. View Quote 35.2 and 35.9/ 72lp/ EBI .9 and .6/ halo .7 Gain was 60.2k and 62k. In terms of my last post I mentioned the blems because it was outside of minimum spec per their website. Steele messaged me about the post since someone informed him. Everything I said was factual, take it or leave it. The post is for everyone on here at this point. It does nothing for me. I already made my decision and went with Steele. I wish them well, I’m married to them for 10 years... |
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Quoted:
Vendor was Steele Industries since everyone is interested. Vendor did clean and return them. Also refunded me for overnight shipping cost. Kudos for that. However, they did ship them back with a battery in them? Seems odd a vendor would do that..... In addition, installed 11769 tubes instead of 10160s. Steele Industries: Pros: Easy to get ahold of via phone Low prices Did clean and return with refund on shipping Cons: -Misleading inventory...2+months for things that were “in stock” Still don’t have comtacs that were supposed to ship a month ago. -Sent out new dtnvgs with fingerprint on tube?? -11769 vs 10160s in dtnvgs this is not normal -Was told I could “pick” tubes, was not able to. (Mentioned to him I wouldn’t mind a small blem for high FOM. Ended up with good FOM but pretty big blems .009-.012 in both zone 3 and few other small blems...wasn’t able to pick from anything like promised) according to his website I shouldn’t have had any blems in .009-.012 for 1701s and i did. Others have messaged me with similar stories... View Quote |
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Quoted: I am one of the ones with that same exact experience. Except my wait was 4 months for 20UA and they sent one Ether eyepiece that was broken or misinstalled because it did not focus. Had to drop ship to Heat Inc for him to fix it and back to me. They were fast to respond but there are a few shady things that made this transaction kinda rough. Still do not have light pipes either, supposedly it is too hard to do with Ether glass. Was not too happy about getting 11769 format tubes in a dedicated bino but specs are 2600+ FOM so its kinda moot as long as he exists long enough to hold true to a decade of warranty. View Quote |
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Was not too happy about getting 11769 format tubes in a dedicated bino but specs are 2600+ FOM so its kinda moot as long as he exists long enough to hold true to a decade of warranty. View Quote UPDATE 3: L3Harris replied to my email that this does not void the warranty as long as no damage happened during the removal. UPDATE 2: According to TNVC_Augee unplugging them voids the warranty unless L3Harris does it then it's totally okay UPDATE: Per TNVC_Sam, unplugging the pigtails DOES NOT void the warranty. This is a big concern IMO within the first 2 years in the event you had to rely on L3Harris' standard 2 year warranty vs the dealer's warranty. This is for others who might have missed it: According to TNVC, L3Harris will void the warranty on any 11769 that has the pigtail unplugged/removed to be converted to 10160 format. I think it's a stupid policy focused on sales & not technical reasons based on info from someone at L3 and others that the tubes were designed this way intentionally and suffer no adverse affects with the pigtail removed. But it is what it is so people should fully know the risk that you'll have to rely solely on the dealer's warranty. I hope L3Harris reverses this position because removable pigtails are a huge benefit to L3Harris 11769 tubes compared to their competition. |
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Quoted: This is a big concern IMO within the first 2 years in the event you had to rely on L3Harris' standard 2 year warranty vs the dealer's warranty. This is for others who might have missed it: According to TNVC, L3Harris will void the warranty on any 11769 that has the pigtail unplugged/removed to be converted to 10160 format. I think it's a stupid policy focused on sales & not technical reasons based on info from someone at L3 and others that the tubes were designed this way intentionally and suffer no adverse affects with the pigtail removed. But it is what it is so people should fully know the risk that you'll have to rely solely on the dealer's warranty. I hope L3Harris reverses this position because removable pigtails are a huge benefit to L3Harris 11769 tubes compared to their competition. View Quote |
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Quoted: You can remove the pig tails and not void the warranty as per HarrisL3, just dont clip them with a pair of snips as that'll void the warranty. View Quote Thanks for clearing that up Sam ETA: @TNVC_Sam can we get this "confirmed confirmed"? I'll have to search for the thread but I was pretty damn specific when I asked if simply removing the pigtails voided the warranty, which Vic said it does. ETA: Someone smarter than me will have to find that thread. |
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Well shit, that would've been good to know originally Thanks for clearing that up Sam ETA: @TNVC_Sam can we get this "confirmed confirmed"? I'll have to search for the thread but I was pretty damn specific when I asked if simply removing the pigtails voided the warranty, which Vic said it does. ETA: Someone smarter than me will have to find that thread. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: You can remove the pig tails and not void the warranty as per HarrisL3, just dont clip them with a pair of snips as that'll void the warranty. Thanks for clearing that up Sam ETA: @TNVC_Sam can we get this "confirmed confirmed"? I'll have to search for the thread but I was pretty damn specific when I asked if simply removing the pigtails voided the warranty, which Vic said it does. ETA: Someone smarter than me will have to find that thread. |
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Quoted: Glad to have that sorted out. Was trying to google for “chop shop” or “back alley” if I recall correctly, but not finding it... lol. Now we just gotta wait for someone to demand L3 provide a notarized letter stating as much View Quote My interest being that it'd be pretty handy to know if I still have a warranty not to mention avoiding giving out bad info. |
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Quoted: Not exactly sorted out IMO. What we got are two different answers and neither are from L3Harris. At this point I'm going to try and get it from the horses mouth. My interest being that it'd be pretty handy to know if I still have a warranty not to mention avoiding giving out bad info. View Quote |
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Quoted: I too have been trying to find this out, and have asked those in the know as well. I never got that response so I too am waiting, regardless Dom reached out to make good on my missing parts so that helps for now. Agreed with your last sentence too. Its fine if L3/Harris does not mind the egac getting removed during a qualified install as long as it does not affect the end user(in this case me). View Quote No luck so far by phone. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll answer my email. Behemoth of a company so hopefully they're using software to route the email to the right place. Hopefully that's not the dumpster |
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Quoted: @KPog No luck so far by phone. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll answer my email. Behemoth of a company so hopefully they're using software to route the email to the right place. Hopefully that's not the dumpster View Quote |
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Quoted: Especially when they are a manufacturer, and they don't have the capability of handling the huge influx of questions they get constantly. View Quote It's a big deal IMO. This isn't pocket change and people should be informed what they're getting into. For example, in your situation, does the dealer cover the warranty 100%, and if so does the warranty carry over to the next buyer? If L3 doesn't warranty it, do you feel comfortable taking the risk in the event the dealer goes out of business. Shit can happen just look at AI. ETA: It'd be great if @TNVC could provide more information on this considering the two conflicting answers came from TNVC. |
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We have had a long-standing policy of not doing "11769 to 10160 conversion" work dating from before the removable pigtail on L3Harris tubes, and have conveyed as much to a number of people via PM and e-mail.
Per our conversations with L3Harris, removal even of the current "plug-in" pigtails by anyone other than L3Harris will void the tube's warranty. Our position and practice has always been to install the correct, as-spec'ed tubes in all of our systems, even if it means we have to wait longer for the correct tubes. ~Augee |
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We have had a long-standing policy of not doing "11769 to 10160 conversion" work dating from before the removable pigtail on L3Harris tubes, and have conveyed as much to a number of people via PM and e-mail. Some of it is an abundance of caution from having been at this for a while, some of it is related to professionalism in terms of putting the right tubes in the right systems, and finally some of it is related to the fact that 10160 and 11769 format tubes are not built or held to the same specs (not the ones you're seeing on your spec sheets) based on their different applications. We will try to seek some clarification from L3Harris for academic purposes in the interests of education, but in the foreseeable future, it will not change our policy regarding using the correct, as-spec'ed tubes for the correct systems, even if it's simply a matter of unplugging the pigtail. I have not had any personal dealings with this particular dealer (I believe Sam has met him), and have heard both the good and bad things in open sources like everyone else. ~Augee View Quote Thanks Augee. |
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@will-1
I've edited my post. At least per our contacts at L3Harris who handle our tubes and our tube warranties, the warranty is voided if the pigtail is removed by anyone other than L3Harris. ~Augee |
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The pigtails in question were removed by L3Harris at their factory as substitutes for 10160s, which I have documentation for, and are fully covered under L3Harris's warranty.
Thanks, Dominick Steele |
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The Specs Augee is referring to is that the 10160 has a .006 centering requirement of the tube within the housing for use in a collimated (bino) system. The 11769s have a .20 centering requirement, as it inst critical for a monocular such as the PVS-14.
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So here’s a question. When we purchase L3 filmless tubes and they come with a tube warranty is that a warranty through L3, the distributor, or the vendor?
When I buy a new Ford truck I buy it from a dealership but my warranty is with Ford. Is this how the night vision world works? If so can I call or email L3 and get verification that my tubes have said warranty? |
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The pigtails in question were removed by L3Harris at their factory as substitutes for 10160s, which I have documentation for, and are fully covered under L3Harris's warranty. Thanks, Dominick Steele View Quote No one really buys pigtails... Or maybe they do, and I have no idea what I am talking about |
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So here’s a question. When we purchase L3 filmless tubes and they come with a tube warranty is that a warranty through L3, the distributor, or the vendor? When I buy a new Ford truck I buy it from a dealership but my warranty is with Ford. Is this how the night vision world works? If so can I call or email L3 and get verification that my tubes have said warranty? View Quote |
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So here’s a question. When we purchase L3 filmless tubes and they come with a tube warranty is that a warranty through L3, the distributor, or the vendor? When I buy a new Ford truck I buy it from a dealership but my warranty is with Ford. Is this how the night vision world works? If so can I call or email L3 and get verification that my tubes have said warranty? View Quote |
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What sort of warranty claims are you concerned with? Most of them say the warrantee “guarantees this product to be free from manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use” or similar. I can’t imagine too many claims occur past 2yr from issues that stem from manufacturing defects. I might assume L3 figures most tubes that have issues after that have been abused in some manner or just used excessively and don’t want to get involved. So the cost to NVG outfits to extend that warranty against original defects can’t be too significant (unless it lets them do some accounting tricks). These aren’t Vortex warranties...
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FOLLOW UP:
I received a response today from L3Harris regarding the warranty policy (L3Harris 11769 tubes converted to 10160 by unplugging their pigtails). I will not post the email/transcript. They do not recommend substituting 11769s for 10160s in applications calling for 10160s, however, the warranty WILL NOT BE VOIDED as long as no damage was incurred in the process of removing the pigtail. "Damage" most likely includes anything happening to the exposed ports. This is regarding L3Harris' warranty. My opinion is that this is a HUGE feature advantage for L3Harris 11769's over competitors and I'm shocked it's not used as a selling point. I've used my 11769 tubes in dual PVS-14s, a Sentinel, and Anvis-9. I can keep using these tubes in any housing whether it has gain control or not as long as I have the pigtails. I love these tubes and I don't need to sell them to switch housings. I won't speculate why there has been conflicting information. It's entirely possible it could be with L3Harris. Anybody who's worked in a large company (small companies too) understands "left hand/right hand". I guess let's see where this goes, lol. My only interest is wanting to know & share the correct information so did what I said and contacted L3. @KPog @sheepdog697 |
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FOLLOW UP: I received a response today from L3Harris regarding the warranty policy (L3Harris 11769 tubes converted to 10160 by unplugging their pigtails). I will not post the email/transcript. They do not recommend substituting 11769s for 10160s in applications calling for 10160s, however, the warranty WILL NOT BE VOIDED as long as no damage was incurred in the process of removing the pigtail. "Damage" most likely includes anything happening to the exposed ports. This is regarding L3Harris' warranty. My opinion is that this is a HUGE feature advantage for L3Harris 11769's over competitors and I'm shocked it's not used as a selling point. I've used my 11769 tubes in dual PVS-14s, a Sentinel, and Anvis-9. I can keep using these tubes in any housing whether it has gain control or not as long as I have the pigtails. I love these tubes and I don't need to sell them to switch housings. I won't speculate why there has been conflicting information. It's entirely possible it could be with L3Harris. Anybody who's worked in a large company (small companies too) understands "left hand/right hand". I guess let's see where this goes, lol. My only interest is wanting to know & share the correct information so did what I said and contacted L3. @KPog @sheepdog697 View Quote |
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FOLLOW UP: I received a response today from L3Harris regarding the warranty policy (L3Harris 11769 tubes converted to 10160 by unplugging their pigtails). I will not post the email/transcript. They do not recommend substituting 11769s for 10160s in applications calling for 10160s, however, the warranty WILL NOT BE VOIDED as long as no damage was incurred in the process of removing the pigtail. "Damage" most likely includes anything happening to the exposed ports. This is regarding L3Harris' warranty. My opinion is that this is a HUGE feature advantage for L3Harris 11769's over competitors and I'm shocked it's not used as a selling point. I've used my 11769 tubes in dual PVS-14s, a Sentinel, and Anvis-9. I can keep using these tubes in any housing whether it has gain control or not as long as I have the pigtails. I love these tubes and I don't need to sell them to switch housings. I won't speculate why there has been conflicting information. It's entirely possible it could be with L3Harris. Anybody who's worked in a large company (small companies too) understands "left hand/right hand". I guess let's see where this goes, lol. My only interest is wanting to know & share the correct information so did what I said and contacted L3. @KPog @sheepdog697 View Quote |
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I've been asked to post the person's info/email. I won't do that because I've seen the aftermath that can happen when someone's email ends up on the internet. I have emailed the person asking for permission to post their email or any additional info on this policy I can share.
I said above that I was going to try and get it from the horses mouth which i did by contacting L3Harris. I have zero "in" with anyone there and just used an online form. I honestly was not expecting any response so thank you to the person who replied. |
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No I didn't ask to post the persons email, I simply asked in a private PM who the person was to check with our head guys, to substantiate the claim and assist the community and you refused.
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