Unchained Preppers
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: cornkiller1 on February 01, 2013, 07:35:54 PM
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Half of the day is dark. Imagine WROL, Street lights don't work. Only candles.
Now how many of you have night vision and what kind of night vision? I believe having night vision is a critical prep in surviving during the night. You can't see him you can't shoot him.
I've invested into 2 night vision set ups. ones for just spying at night, general Recon and the others a head mount device. I do have a surefire flashlight with a IR filter on it.
One is a Bushnell stealthview and the others an ATN viper head mount.
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Question.
How much have you used night vision and how familiar are you with it? Not just wandering around your house and yard either :P
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a little bit with the national guard. I think they were the PVS-7's. I had a set issued to use for night ops, shoots and blackout driving.
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Nice to have in specific situations. But way down low on my list.
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well share, what's on your list?
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a little bit with the national guard. I think they were the PVS-7's. I had a set issued to use for night ops, shoots and blackout driving.
Man.... the 7bravo's are my bitches man.... I fucking love those damn things. I hate the PVS14's makes me all lopsided feeling.
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well share, what's on your list?
food, water purification, medical supplies.....
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MNT, you don't have those yet? I know you can't have enough but I recently hit 6 months. I'm still lacking on my antibiotics..
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Because it takes 60 min. or longer for your eyes to adapt to the dark and much longer for full adaptation (and the older you get the longer it takes).
Then why not use a monocular instead of binocular. The pirate method was to wear an eye patch above deck and when you go below to switch the patch to the other eye so you always have an eye adjusted to the dark.
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I got some red lens tape from the auto parts store to put on some cheap back up flashlights for low light discipline situations.
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I got some red lens tape from the auto parts store to put on some cheap back up flashlights for low light discipline situations.
Same here, definitely redneckin' it lol
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As always Walker your input is well appreciated. Thanks
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walker must have wrote some pretty gnarly papers in highschool/college.
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I almost failed out of high school, and I have Lysdexia. No shit.
Did ya hear about the dyslexic agnostic that suffered from insomnia? He sat up all night, wondering if there really is a dog.
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If you are interested but can't afford to play check out Lucid Science (http://www.lucidscience.com). Under their Projects (http://www.lucidscience.com/pro-showall.aspx) tab you will see all sorts of home brew active NODs.
I know they are Active not Passive, if you want to have that discussion let know.
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that is actually really interesting TG. I can see how that knowledge can be beneficial.
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Yeah cornkiller! Someone wants to look behind the curtain.
So how Night Vision Devices or Night Optical Devices work is they make the Infrared spectrum of light visible.
The early gen stuff was all Active meaning that it used an IR Illuminator because the tech wasn't there to amplify the ambient IR. That's cool because IR isn't visible to the naked eye but it stops being cool when other players have NVD/NOD gear.
That spurred the tech to catch up and now all the modern gear is using Light Amplification instead which requires no Illuminator.
Now we've all seen that tricky little laser/illum on high speed dude's rifles. What's that for?
That is a critical piece of gear, even passive sets can't see in total darkness. So you'll need an Illuminator for house work. The laser pointer is because you can't get your eye behind the sights worth a fuck even if you could see them.
You got it?
I wanna talk about NOD and prepping but you got to understand all that jazz first.
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Oh yeah makes total sense. I guess that's the big difference between the gen 1's vs the gen 2's.
The active being a lot cheaper. I wish I could afford a passive set like you speak. But most average people don't have any type of night vision. Something is better than nothing.
I was actually thinking of getting one of those high speed lasers to take shots at nights.
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You're right that you are better off then most folks for sure. Against the unwashed masses your sets with work just fine.
You might want to read what Lucid Science has to say about it. For next to nothing you could make a laser sight/illum that could rival a commercial model.
I've got another long day (today was 13 hours long) ahead of me tomorrow so I'm going to have to ask you to stand by on the next installment of thatGuy's rants and raves.
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I can't sleep...
So let's talk about a couple of things that could be done to make you're equipment more effective for you.
One of the first things I would look into is making an illuminator that mounts to your rifle and adding a waterproof micro switch to your head mounted set so you can shut off the illuminator on it. If you run against anyone with NODs you might not want to have a beacon on your forehead, right?
Another thing I would look into is making IR flood lights for around the house and yard. Not only will this let you use your headset passively but it will blind anyone with a true passive set forcing them to take pot shots at your lights. That is a win, win in my book.
Not only will it allow you to see what you are doing but it will really unass anyone who is using a illbegotten passive set. Without the proper understanding of what is happening they will no doubt assume their set has quit working and be left with no recourse but to remove them leaving them worse off then if they had never put them on.
Once again Lucid Science will show you how to make a laser into an illuminator and laser sight.
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You know TG, you are brilliant! I just bookmarked that site. Thanks [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co
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Another thing I would look into is making IR flood lights for around the house and yard. Not only will this let you use your headset passively but it will blind anyone with a true passive set forcing them to take pot shots at your lights. That is a win, win in my book.
Not only will it allow you to see what you are doing but it will really unass anyone who is using a illbegotten passive set. Without the proper understanding of what is happening they will no doubt assume their set has quit working and be left with no recourse but to remove them leaving them worse off then if they had never put them on.
^^^Brilliant concept^^^
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Even a blind hog finds a nut from time to time.
Thanks guys.
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Since I have a high speed connection at the work place I thought I would look up some vids to show you guys.
This first one is of a home build Active set using a low lux spy cam. Skip to 3:30, what I want you to notice is the IR illuminator on her rig. Target indicator for sure. Especially if someone raises their own NODs and sees only darkness out there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HkaRhI6s9mQ#t=211s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HkaRhI6s9mQ#t=211s)
This video is kind of hectic but it was what led me to start thinking about NODs. See the illuminators and lasers everywhere.. If you had a Active set with no illum running you would still see those beams.. bad times.
GRAPHIC firefight with Insurgents in Iraq with night vision cam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13xpZbMa1Mc#ws)
This is a fantastic video for glint tape, ir chems, illums and lasers.
U.S. Special Forces Hunting Terrorist Leader !! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwzjMGfS-GY#)
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Pretty cool man. I just got a optic Cabelas catalog and you can buy a monocular night scope for $200.00.
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That is amazing TG! Reminds me of the scene in one of the Predator movies where they hunting for the alien in a freezer facility.
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Been busy for the past couple days. I've really taken into consideration of putting up IR flood lights around my house. It's as simple putting an IR filter over the lights. I already have some IR light coming from my Security Camera system. I have 8 cameras all NV compatible that emit their own IR Light.
For my Bug out Vehicle I'm planning on installing some IR Lights so I can drive in complete darkness and the normal sheep couldn't see me coming.
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For my Bug out Vehicle I'm planning on installing some IR Lights so I can drive in complete darkness and the normal sheep couldn't see me coming.
That's what I am talking about!
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Infrared night vision digital camera/camcorder (http://www.instructables.com/id/Infrared-night-vision-digital-cameracamcorder/?ALLSTEPS)
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Hey guys, I was looking for cheap NV equipment, and when I say cheap I truly mean cheap, I'm talking under 200 bucks, and I found the Bushnell Nightwatch
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bushnell-NightWatch-2-0x-Night-Vision-Monocular-260224-/310529166657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484cfb0d41 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bushnell-NightWatch-2-0x-Night-Vision-Monocular-260224-/310529166657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484cfb0d41)
It would be nice to use it with the awesome idea ThatGuy suggested of planting IR illuminators in your property, you can buy security camera illuminators on dx.com really cheap, around 4 bucks each.
But in a review I read that the bushnell's IR Led is visible to the human eye, and that it looks like a red led, do you know why is that?
At which distance do you think someone would notice the red led? And finally, has any of you seen one of those monoculars before?
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Dana Carvey - George Bush (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1m8d7)
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I went looking for a "poorman's" NV solution last year and found that most Gen1 monoculars were very poor, almost unusable without a 1/2-full moon.
I was trying out a Gen1 Yukon against a PVS14 to see the separation between the two and if some NV was better then none. Most will tell you that it's Gen2+ - Gen3 or nothing.
I disagree.
There is no doubt that the PVS14 is very nice and auto-gating is the way to go, but $3000+ is a steep price tag unless you have tons of money and all your preps are set already.
The Gen1 monoculars I tried were barely better than adjusted eyes and without an IR source, worthless unless there is 3/4-full moon out.
I ended up going with a NV scope that had gotten good reviews online (the Yukon NVRS Tactical 2.5 x 50 Generation 1 Night Vision Riflescope (http://www.opticsplanet.com/yukon-nvrs-tactical-2-5-x-50-26014wlt.html)) and am pleased with it. The ability to focus is HUGE on a scope and most Gen1 models do not allow this, or do not do so as easily as this model. It gathers light well and the IR is a good beam.
Wanting something I could wear on a helmet, I saw the Armasight SPARK monocular (http://www.opticsplanet.com/armasight-spark-core-night-vision-monocular.html) come out and the initial video from it looked like Gen2 (which it has specs for even though it's Gen1) and so I purchased it and a helmet setup, only to learn that without an IR laser using it to shoot while mounted to a helmet is NOT going to happen.
The SPARK is a great unit for the price though and at 1/2 the cost of a low end Gen2 monocular, it fits the prepper's niche well. You can't go wrong buying top shelf in NV, but do you really need it?
In my case I've settled on the SPARK and will be using it passively ONLY while taking listening breaks or while in an OP.
The use of an IR source is the equivalent of using white light and with NV so cheap these days, I expect more than myself to have it. I think one is better served using natural adjusted eyes for movement at night 90% of the time and just as I would not allow WL ad's while patrolling, it is a big risk to think that an IR ad is somehow acceptable.
The odds are on your side until they are not!
I've made a few videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/dvcprepper1 (http://www.youtube.com/user/dvcprepper1)) that don't really do the two devices justice, but give a good comparison between the two. The 1x SPARK is sharper and brighter by 30% if I had to guess. The scope on a suppressed 300 Whisper is one bad ass OP rifle though. :)
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DVC,
is the scope you described used as a magnifier for your holographic sight or independent of it? Heck you may not even have a holographic sight :)
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Just out of curiosity, aside from night vision gear (which is awesome, of course, and I'm pretty sure Mr. WPW has a pair around here somewhere - he loves those kinds of gizmos), what can be done for night time prepping? I mean, I have 9.5 acres and despite what some of the ever-so-stable folks on Doomsday Preppers say they're going to do, I'm not booby-trapping the whole area to stop intruders.
My ideas:
Dog(s) - the right one will make lots of noise. I'm thinking of a livestock guardian dog like a Great Pyrenees for our flock when we get the alpacas
Fences - not that they will deter people or animals who really WANT to get into your area, but they are a clear visual marking so no one accidentally trespasses (and then gets accidentally shot when they freak me the heck out!)
Trip wires - not the kind that do major damage, but the kind that make noise - someone trips it and a slew of tin cans comes showering down with a clank
What are your thoughts?
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Fences and dogs are a must.
You can install some flood lights in the perimeter, so if your dogs get crazy at night you'll be able to see from the inside of your home.
Just remember that if you have dogs, dogs will trigger the trip wires.
Doomsday Preppers is more stupid everyday, it only shows nut cases, I'm not seeing anything useful in it lately.
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I do not have a dog and I am too looking for the right one. I do have two catz. One is a true hunter and isn't afraid of 'jack' including brothers Dachshund, Molsen Lite. That ended the first time they met with a heft swat from Max to Molsen's shnozola. The other one is scared of her shadow. ;D
Wellie your dog does not need to be big to be a good alarm. Moslen lets us know if ANYTHING comes within 75-100 yards of the cabin. He is also a router and kills his share of mice around the cabin while outside. He doesn't eat much however is a bit family possessive. He will bite strangers if we don't intro the stranger to him. Never really roams past that 75-100 yard radius I previously mentioned.
On another note check out this video:
12 Gauge Booby Trap Trip Wire Alarm Review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afwsJG_dvwc#ws)
Just remember to put the trip wire at 5' or so rather than 8-12" above the ground. Otherwise deer will trip it. You can buy flares at West Marine or any marine chandler.
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I think having a dog(s) is a great step for perimeter alarm options.
I'm also a fan of arranging your property to funnel potential 'visitors' to an area that can be covered visually and potentially with overlapping fields of fire. JM mentioned stone walls and having an abundance of stones around this property in another post. Try to use what the land has available to build-up your defensive perimeter. Sure it's not foolproof, but every little bit helps.
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Stone walls and raised planting beds can be used as cover/concealment, you should be careful with its placement.
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DVC,
is the scope you described used as a magnifier for your holographic sight or independent of it? Heck you may not even have a holographic sight :)
Sorry, didn't see this. The scope has a lit reticle in it and is a stand alone.
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What are your thoughts?
For noise makers that have a great range, I'm finding that the 3 Guinea Hens we got this year will do the trick. The female is constantly making noise during the day though and sounds much worse then the males. Get only males if you want to keep your sanity.
http://youtu.be/o_B2lMEyBsk (http://youtu.be/o_B2lMEyBsk)
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I would trully love to have a GEN3, but in leu of a unknown rich uncle passing it's not gonna happen anytime soon.
I have a GEN1 monocular but it is barely better than the naked eye without going active- and going active is next to suicide. I assume everyone has a set of GEN1- and that makes your IR searchlight a beacon, as TG describes. The only reason I keep the GEN1 in my field kit is to know if someone is looking for me with a IR light and that it is able to spot people with poor light discipline at a much further range.... scouting and AO from a hide sight or the like.
Having GEN1 and IR search lights is not a bad idea for that very specific situation.