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Night Gear Solutions · Knowledge base

Night vision & thermal imaging knowledge base

Practical and sourced: a database of tubes and housings, how to read the specs, how to choose a device, how to check a used one and what the law says. By Night Gear Solutions.

Night vision database

Every tube, housing and maker – with production years

Find out how old an “Omni” tube really is, which tube fits which housing, and what each housing maker built and improved. Sourced, neutral, updated.

64 housings20 housing makers15 tube contracts23 tube lines
Tube production years & contractsOmni I–VIII, DLA buys, product launch yearsTube formats & compatibility18 / 16 / 25 mm, MX numbers, what fits whereHousings database64 monoculars, binoculars and panoramics comparedHousing manufacturers20 maker profiles – history, models, successorsTube manufacturersL3Harris, Elbit, Exosens/Photonis, Harder…
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Guides by topic

Tubes

Devices & setup

Thermal

Buying used devices

Care & glossary

Law & regulations

Free tools

Tube datasheet decoder →Thermal range calculator →Build configurator →

Ask the community

International English forum for night vision and thermal users – builds, tubes, mounts, care.

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Have a device checked

Buying used or not sure about your tube? We test it and give you a written report.

Device inspection →

Night vision and thermal for hunting in Slovakia: the rules for the 2026/2027 season

Slovak hunting law bans night vision and night-shooting sights. The Ministry of Agriculture grants temporary exceptions for wild boar and selected other game – the current ones run until 28 Feb 2027.

Night vision and thermal laws in Europe: export, military list, ITAR and 17 countries

What applies to buying, owning, reselling and hunting with night vision and thermal devices in the EU – including what Gen3, 4G, 5G and ITAR free mean, with sources.

Night vision and thermal for hunting in Czechia: the rules from 2026

What changed with the new Czech Weapons Act No. 90/2024 Coll. and Act No. 220/2025 Coll., which removed the night-sight ban from the Hunting Act – observation devices, clip-ons and riflescopes, with sources.

Night vision and thermal glossary + FAQ

FOM, SNR, EBI, halo, shroud, NETD, pixel pitch, ITAR and more explained in plain language – plus answers to common questions.

Night vision and thermal care and troubleshooting

Batteries, moisture, storage, light protection and lens cleaning – and what to do when a device won't switch on, flickers or looks blurry.

Clip-on vs. handheld vs. fusion: choosing a thermal setup

When a handheld thermal monocular makes sense, when a clip-on for your day scope, and when fusion with night vision.

How thermal imaging works and how to read the specs

Resolution, pixel pitch, NETD, lens, field of view and Hz – what each thermal spec means and how to compare them.

Helmet night vision setup: helmet, shroud, mount, counterweight and common mistakes

What a helmet night vision setup consists of, how to put it together and which mistakes to avoid – from shroud to counterweight.

PVS-31 / BNVD binoculars: benefits, weight, counterweight and IPD setup

When a dual-tube binocular is worth it, what it weighs, why it needs a counterweight and how to set it up for your eyes.

PVS-14: the complete guide to the night vision monocular

How the PVS-14 is used handheld, on a helmet and in a setup – and what to ask when buying: tube, datasheet, housing, optics and IR.

Monocular, binocular, biocular, panoramic: night vision device types

How monocular, binocular, biocular and panoramic night vision devices differ in weight, depth perception, price and use.

Tube blemishes: black spots, chicken wire, edge glow and what is normal

Black and bright spots, chicken wire, edge glow: which image defects are cosmetic, which are operational, and how to check for them yourself.

Tube generations explained – and what is available in the EU

Gen 1 to Gen 3 without the marketing: what generations mean, why FOM matters today, and which tubes EU civilians can actually buy.

White vs. green phosphor: the difference and how to choose

P43 (green) and P45 (white) phosphor: what the manufacturer says, what is subjective, and how to choose for your use.

Thermal imager range calculator (detection, recognition, identification)

Calculate the theoretical range of a thermal imager from the lens focal length and sensor pixel pitch – and understand why it differs from manufacturers' figures.

How to read an image intensifier tube datasheet: FOM, SNR, EBI, halo (+ decoder)

What the numbers on an image intensifier tube datasheet mean, why FOM alone isn't enough, and how to check that a datasheet belongs to your tube.

Second-hand vs. authorised dealer: what you get and what you risk

A fair comparison of buying used night vision from a private seller and from an authorised dealer – including price.

Buying used night vision: risks and a checklist

What to watch out for when buying used night vision from a private seller – and 10 things to check before you pay.
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