Posted: 1/9/2024 9:03:13 AM EDT
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One of these is getting ordered this week. Which one should it be? https://jrhenterprises.com/index.php/product/uanvb-katana-dual-tube-night-vision-binos-white-phosphor-autogated/ https://lowlightinnovations.com/products/llul-21?variant=47296338198823 |
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Quoted: One of these is getting ordered this week. Which one should it be? https://jrhenterprises.com/index.php/product/uanvb-katana-dual-tube-night-vision-binos-white-phosphor-autogated/ https://lowlightinnovations.com/products/llul-21?variant=47296338198823 We are switching over to the new Katana R the ruggedized housing, so it will be a few weeks since those housings won't start shipping in quantity for a little while. I would call the order in, that way we can delay the charge till the order is ready to ship. We have the YH high grade Elbit tubes, white phosphor 3rd gen. We do not offer the chinese tubes. Feel free to give us a call 9am to 7pm Eastern, or email or PM if you have any other questions. Thanks Robert |
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Quoted: The katana does not come with an IR illuminator? Should that be a concern? Most onboard illuminators are very short range. I rarely use any of mine. Honestly, we see more problems with people burning their tubes blasting IR from their onboard illuminators at walls. The IR reflects off the wall back on the tube and usually leaves a tell tale ring that matches the output of the illuminator. We have several warnings about not doing this in our emails and paperwork that comes with units, but a few people have still done it. |
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Quoted: The katana does not come with an IR illuminator? Should that be a concern? I know it sounds like an echo in here but I bought my PVS-14 from JRH and it’s been awesome. I’ve also never used the onboard IR illuminator except once on the range just to see what it did. Underwhelming and nearly useless are the best words to describe it. I’ve never used it since. I did buy several of those $12 zoomable 850nM flashlights from Amazon and they are truly remarkable for the price. I have one mounted on a .22 and one mounted on my helmet. |
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Quoted: Nope. Onboard sucks. Quoted: Quoted: The katana does not come with an IR illuminator? Should that be a concern? Nope. Onboard sucks. I think it's a feature that they're not onboard.. they always sucked in my experience for the most part. Sometimes they're handy but not a dealbreaker |
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Photonis, Elbit, L3, or Omni 7 or 8. <- those tubes are good to go with a proven track record. The NNVT tubes vendors are pushing now are totally unproven and realistically nobody knows how long they'll actually last avoid those IMO. The Katana is the better housing no question. |
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I vote neither. JRH is a good place to deal with, he has helped out alot in the NV community and forums on here. good guy for sure. Somewhere else to look is Nocturnality gear. Scott runs it an he is a member on here, super nice guy and very knowledgeable. As for the systems themselves, lots of people have the katana's but I just dont like them and have trust issues with them. The power supply in them is just kinda weird. The circuitry looks like something I would solder up at the kitchen table and slap it all together - at least the one I looked at was like that. maybe it was an early model. Ive never dealt with LLI and dont know them, but ive been a member on here hanging out in the NV forums for a long time and im a member of all the FB night vision groups and dont see a lot of people talking about them. most of the dual tube options people go with are 1431's, 31A's, katana's, DTNVS, and BNVD's. I myself bought BNVD's from Scott. Proven housing and electronics from one of the oldest manufacturers of NVG's. It may not be the lightest new fancy thing on the market but they work and are solid - plus manual gain control and at the same price point you are looking at. |
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Don't have experience with those duals, but I will say that I love my RNVGs. They're of course not articulating but I like not having to really worry about them. I personally have never had a time where I wished I could flip one or the other tube out of the way without just flipping them up, but YMMV. Just another option to look at. Also, WP is absolutely worth the money over GP in my opinion. Attached File |
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Quoted: Get one of these if you want a task illuminator. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/451403/SmartSelect_20240109_075619_DuckDuckGo-3087730.jpg This. Beats onboard IR and gives you a white admin light as well. |
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Quoted: Don't have experience with those duals, but I will say that I love my RNVGs. They're of course not articulating but I like not having to really worry about them. I personally have never had a time where I wished I could flip one or the other tube out of the way without just flipping them up, but YMMV. Just another option to look at. Also, WP is absolutely worth the money over GP in my opinion. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/68140/1000007273_jpg-3087762.JPG That's what I run too - I love my RNVGs. I've tried articulating duals and I don't like having to play with the pods or having them move when I don't want to. Obviously different strokes, different folks but I'm on team non-articulating. |
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As far as a small IR task light goes- the Princeton helmet lights are very nice. I like the little Photon lights also, they come in IR as well as normal colors. I've used these since the 90's- back in the "check the map under a poncho with a filtered light" good old days. The IR on this light is just right for smaller tasks. I use it a lot for checking targets at night at classes. Edited- it also has a "lock on" feature. This could be useful as a cheap IR beacon or short term marking set up also. I have a few attached to packs with the output taped over. If need be to mark I could remove the tape and lock on the Photon light- making a small but noticeable IR marker out of it. Not as strong as a Phoenix beacon but sometimes you might not want a huge IR signature either. Or you may want to leave one on for "reasons"  A quick of one with some mail laid by it for size comparison-  We have to order a couple hundred batteries a couple times a year so I normally just get a few at a time from Battery Junction with battery orders. |
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Quoted: That's what I run too - I love my RNVGs. I've tried articulating duals and I don't like having to play with the pods or having them move when I don't want to. Obviously different strokes, different folks but I'm on team non-articulating. Ive never had the pods move on my BNVD's when I didn't want them too. Hell even when I want them to its more difficult than I expect it to be. I could legit play a game of basketball wearing them and the pods would never move. If i'm navigating in the woods and not just walking on a path its super handy to roll one side up and you basically have a pvs-14 so one eye its naturally adjusted to darkness. |
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Quoted: Get one of these if you want a task illuminator. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/451403/SmartSelect_20240109_075619_DuckDuckGo-3087730.jpg Quoted: Quoted: The katana does not come with an IR illuminator? Should that be a concern? Get one of these if you want a task illuminator. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/451403/SmartSelect_20240109_075619_DuckDuckGo-3087730.jpg I'll second this. |
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Quoted: I'm going to pass my 14 on to my son. What are helmet options for tiny head humans? You might want to check out a Crye nightcap, I'm not sure how small they adjust down, but then it could be useful for him also as he gets older. Versus if you find say an XS helmet, it may not fit him in a couple years. Edited- have you tried a military head mount aka "skull crusher?" Let me know if you need one I'll pop one in the mail to you at no charge. Not the most ideal solution, but should work unless he's really young. |
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Quoted: You might want to check out a Crye nightcap, I'm not sure how small they adjust down, but then it could be useful for him also as he gets older. Versus if you find say an XS helmet, it may not fit him in a couple years. Edited- have you tried a military head mount aka "skull crusher?" Let me know if you need one I'll pop one in the mail to you at no charge. Not the most ideal solution, but should work unless he's really young. I havent tried one, but I think I may have one or someone around me will have one I can try. Thank you for the offer though! |