NV Buyers Guide
This Buyers Guide lists vendors that may be of service to assist your purchase. This list is not comprehensive, but serves as a starting point. Just like buying a telescope, camera, or mount, there are always “extras” involved. The three things most commonly sought are NV devices, filters and adapters. Due diligence is needed before deciding what vendor you should select and this list does not suggest that CN endorses any of these vendors. This list has been compiled from posts within the NV forum and from other web based searches.
CN thread discussion, "Where to buy a Night Vision Device" by FoxIslandHiker, discusses personal buying experience with several vendors, 2022
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/814484-where-to-buy-a-night-vision-device/#entry11763729
New NV Devices:
This web based link provides an overview of various channels to build an NV device:
http://www.ar15.com/...y/-/18-322481/?
The following links include vendors with whom NV astronomers have done business. Contact names are given where known but may not be current:
http://www.ultimatenightvision.com (Rich)
http://tnvc.com/shop...ries/astronomy/ (CN Vendor Clutch5150)
http://www.wilcoxeng-res.com (Ed)
http://www.nvincorporated.com (Glynn)
http://nait.com (Ken)
http://nightvisionuniverse.com (Bruce)
https://www.nocturnalitygear.com/
https://www.jrhenterprises.com/
In Europe:
https://actinblack.com/eu/ (Luxembourg)
https://alpha-photon...mod-ab-2-959-e/ (Germany)
https://www.ovni-nightvision.com/en/ Jonathan (France)
https://www.falconclaw.eu/ Krister (Estonia)
Used NV Devices:
Understanding performance levels and model designations will allow you to determine the approximate performance, and therefore value, of an intensifier tube. This link explains generations of intensifiers:
http://www.ar15.com/...y/-/18-317705/?
Used NV Marketplaces:
http://craigslist.com
Do It Yourself:
With a few tools, some knowledge and following YouTube videos, you can assemble an NV device. This link by CNer Eddgie explains how to purchase components and assemble a PVS-7 biocular device for under $2,000.
http://www.cloudynig.../?hl=pvs
“DIY Intensified IIT setup for around $200 project.” by cj7hawk (2011)
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/341592-diy-intensified-iit-setup-for-around-200-project/
Filters:
1.25” and 2” astronomy filters can be used with NV and are available from nearly all astronomy vendors. Determining what filters work best for your needs may be found in the NV Filters section of this pinned thread. The following links are a sampling of vendors who make or sell filters.
Adapters:
NVDs offering versatility, usually require adapters or connectors. The following links may be of help to find adapters that are commonly needed:
http://tnvc.com/shop...ries/astronomy/
Repairs:
Simple NV repairs can sometimes be completed by the vendor from whom the NVD was purchased. More complicated repairs require a specialist:
Ed Wilcox Engineering and Research
located in California; contact is by email only, see website:
Outer Edge Optics, Tom Lyons
located in Midlothian, Texas; you can contact Tom through FaceBook or use the phone number within his FaceBook listing to call.