malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on May 6, 2022 18:17:06 GMT 10
Experimenting with turning a couple of car cams into a set of night vision gear.
So far, the IR lighting on the car cam is rubbish, the range is only a few meters at max, so its a external IR led pak, probably from an old security camera, if not, I will make a array from some IR leds removed from dead remote controllers.
Yes, I know its not true night vision and I will stand out like dogs b...s, to someone with the 'proper' night vision gear, but I cant afford the several thousand dollars for a 'proper' night vision and anyway, the gen 3 or 4 micro-channel stuff can't be exported from the US.
If that doesn't work, I will investigate modifying a phone camera by removing the ir filter and adding a set of ir leds.
Then further down the line will be a full ir camera setup around the houses, as I have 8 cameras and a controller.Unfortunately, they all need 12 v dc and video cabling back to the central control, so that's an issue.
I have an ir camera on the radio room caravan and its got a range of about 20 meters, in dark, so 4 cameras should do the job,with a few spares. The controller apparently has zones that can be set up to warn of movement, so it can be automatic. Once again though, the ir illumination will stand out to someone with a camera or phone,but the deterant value should be there if they suspect someone may be watching them.
Stay tuned.....
You know you own an old tractor when.....You know just where the sweet spot is to belt to unstick a float valve.
|
|
frostbite
VIP Member
Posts: 5,468
Likes: 6,982
Member is Online
|
Post by frostbite on May 6, 2022 19:22:29 GMT 10
I have a gen3 NV monocular and a good quality thermal riflescope (a Night-tech ms-42).
The thermal unit is miles ahead of the NV unit.
|
|
|
Post by spinifex on May 9, 2022 18:06:09 GMT 10
What do you want this NV tech to do for you MWT?
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on May 10, 2022 9:41:55 GMT 10
What do you want this NV tech to do for you MWT? Observe covertly the nocturnal activities around the farm, be they normal (animal movements), or abnormal (those bent on doing mischeaf).
I realize that covert surveillance means no use of IR illumination as you will stand out, but the budget doesn't stretch to FLIR gear. Maybe when I sell some of the antique electronics gear (Oscilloscopes, valve radios/stereos etc), I have I may be able to buy some gear.
Update on the car cam mods.
Well, that didn't work too well.
Pulled the case apart, easy, 4 small screws. Found the camera was plugged in to the main board with a solid connection. Easy so far. Even the lens was screwed to the tiny PCB with small screws. Easy so far. Undid the screws and removed the IR filter. Easy so far. Reassembled the camera and switched on to be greeted with the message that the sensor had failed. HMMMMM. Pulled it apart again and reseated the camera connector. Still indicating a failed sensor. Re soldered all the joints on the main board and reassembled again.It worked !! But....grosley out of focus. The lens was attached with a screwed thread, but it had been glued together and even heat would not shift it. I unscrewed the whole lens arrangement again, and maneuvered it whilst the camera was on, to work out weather the mis-focus was too long or too short. Turned out it was now to long a focus, so I carefully filed a small amount from the plastic lens base and re assembled the camera. Still out of focus, so take it all apart again and discover I had removed a shade too much from the plastic base, so I experimented with a couple of pieces of plastic as spacers. Success, in focus, now to see what the low light performance was like.
Before removing the IR filter, the camera could only see a few inches in total darkness using the 6 inbuilt IR leds, which were working as they did show up on the mobile phone camera when I held it near to them.
After the modification, the camera could see about 1 meter in front of it in total darkness, so the next step is to add more IR illumination and see if I can get it to work at least to 10 meters or so.
If that doesn't work, I have 1/2 doz mobile phones, collected from the tip, with cameras to experiment with.
You know you own an old tractor when......It feels good just to stand there and watch it run.
|
|
|
Post by spinifex on May 10, 2022 21:16:35 GMT 10
If you want to observe wildlife just use a high powered spotlight with a red filter. Works pretty good at a fraction of cost.
Mischief makers can be deterred by other means. Electrical, mechanical and biological. we dont really need to see things in order to hurt things ... we just need to predict what they'll touch and where they'll move.
|
|
spatial
Senior Member
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 1,509
|
Post by spatial on May 10, 2022 22:28:22 GMT 10
I put up 6 security cameras around my house was like $500, installed myself, quite a learning experience two of the cameras have thermal imaging. Swann was the brand that I used. Has 30m night vision, recording functionality, motion sensor 10m, etc.. You might be able to get a second hand one or cheap Chinese equivalent. au.swann.com/swpro-3mpmsb/
|
|
|
Post by ausprep130 on May 11, 2022 9:16:40 GMT 10
If you want to observe wildlife just use a high powered spotlight with a red filter. Works pretty good at a fraction of cost. Mischief makers can be deterred by other means. Electrical, mechanical and biological. we dont really need to see things in order to hurt things ... we just need to predict what they'll touch and where they'll move. Alas, booby traps are illegal and likely to invite civil law suits on top of criminal charges. But in SHTF scenario, the rule of law is out the window.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on May 15, 2022 10:53:22 GMT 10
Update, obtained a brand new, non smart phone from the tip. Fired it up, charged the battery and tested it for IR sensitivity. Pathetic, pulled it apart looking for an IR filter, but the lens assembly is in one piece and not pull apartable. Its got a reasonaby good FM radio in it that has a small aerial so doesn't need earphone.
Back to the car cam. Tested its IR sensitivity with some IR leds from a security camera. Better, but still only a few meters, so more IR illumination needed. Ill fry whatever I'm trying to see yet !
You know you own an old tractor when.....At the local parts store the counter person asks for the model number and make and you reply "that it doesn't matter, it wont be in your book anyway."
|
|
|
Post by corgiking on May 25, 2022 18:33:23 GMT 10
A lot of low powered leds will be less effective than one bright one
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Mar 13, 2023 16:37:13 GMT 10
Just about given up on NV, all the gear available as 'surplus' (junk) needs IR illumination, so is totally unsuitable for stealthily monitoring unsavory visitors at night, who may have 'real' NV gear.
Turning now to IR (heat) sensing gear. The sensors are available from the states for a reasonable price, but you are not allowed to import them !
Looking at budget models, XD mini II, HiKMicro Lynxpro, Lynx LC06 and several others. All less than $1 K, so a reasonable investment, even if not the ultimate model wanted. Sometimes on special for less than $600 if you are quick.
Have used IR NV in various occupations and it is the best, so giving up of conventional NV using IR illumination. It does work for observing nocturnal wildlife visitors, but totally unsuitable for use WTSHTF.
Whilst adapters are available for some of the above monocular models to attach to a scope, its not recommended as the recoil from the rifle could damage the sensor, and that's not usually covered by warranty.
From the New World Order - Jacinda Arden - New Zealand PM. "Unless you hear it from us, it is not the truth. Dismiss anything else. We will continue to be your single source of truth."
|
|
alan308
New member
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
|
Post by alan308 on Mar 26, 2023 16:07:45 GMT 10
Experimenting with turning a couple of car cams into a set of night vision gear.
So far, the IR lighting on the car cam is rubbish, the range is only a few meters at max, so its a external IR led pak, probably from an old security camera, if not, I will make a array from some IR leds removed from dead remote controllers.
Yes, I know its not true night vision and I will stand out like dogs b...s, to someone with the 'proper' night vision gear, but I cant afford the several thousand dollars for a 'proper' night vision and anyway, the gen 3 or 4 micro-channel stuff can't be exported from the US.
If that doesn't work, I will investigate modifying a phone camera by removing the ir filter and adding a set of ir leds.
Then further down the line will be a full ir camera setup around the houses, as I have 8 cameras and a controller.Unfortunately, they all need 12 v dc and video cabling back to the central control, so that's an issue.
I have an ir camera on the radio room caravan and its got a range of about 20 meters, in dark, so 4 cameras should do the job,with a few spares. The controller apparently has zones that can be set up to warn of movement, so it can be automatic. Once again though, the ir illumination will stand out to someone with a camera or phone,but the deterant value should be there if they suspect someone may be watching them.
Stay tuned.....
You know you own an old tractor when.....You know just where the sweet spot is to belt to unstick a float valve.
There's a guy on FB marketplace selling NVGs that I think (but not 100% sure) are not IR based. He's in NSW somewhere. I'm tied up financially in other places otherwise I would enquired about them. Can't hurt having a look. If only we could get our hands on some of that 80 billion bucks worth of gear left in Afghanistan.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Mar 26, 2023 17:03:12 GMT 10
NVG's are loosing favor as they can be fooled, but a FLIR type of Ir camera is much more difficult to bamboozle.
Ive seen that bloke and hes gear is expensive, good quality, but not affordable.
Just awaiting on delivery for the new 24 volt 400 amp lithium battery for a daughters power system, then I can remove the old lead acid battery's and take a trip to the scrap yard with them. After that I should have enough money to at least get serious about thermal NV gear.
There is some rubbish around. Anyway, when I decide, I will let the group know.
Basically anything that requires IR illumination is junk and sets you up to someone with proper gear.
My strategy is to observe any unsavory characters in the paddocks, then turn the 10,000,000 candle power handheld battery spot light on them, lighting up them and the entire paddock, and telling them to F off, whilst shining a red dot onto them. That should get rid of them, and if it doesn't....well, guess the next step !
All this is for WTSHTF and society has broken down, streaming out to the bush and annoying us.
Never let a crisis go to waste, especially when you've created it…
|
|
frostbite
VIP Member
Posts: 5,468
Likes: 6,982
Member is Online
|
Post by frostbite on Mar 26, 2023 17:14:58 GMT 10
I have both gen2+ NV and a quality flir unit. (Night Tech ms-42)
The flir is miles ahead of the NV unit
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Mar 26, 2023 17:34:41 GMT 10
Yup, looking at the FLIR offerings, as well as night tech types.
fb, the nighttech offerings are able to be rail mounted, will it work when set up to yr scope eye piece ? Or is it just too long for most standard rails ? Also, does the MS-42 have a rechargeable battery ?
Some things are just not options, battery must be rechargeable, USB is OK. Believe it or not, some Chinese offerings still use coin size button cells, so they are out of the running. Not interested in recording, but Bluetooth to an external phone/monitor may be helpful. Some models offer a pica-tinny rail mount as well as the monocular option. Most seem to offer at least IP 66 protection, and I suspect a design for rifle mounting will be more reliable than a handheld only model.
My need is for person recognition at around 200 meters, and most seem to be able to recognize a person at that range, with actual detection distance out to 500 meters plus.
Other uses will be for looking at the bee hives and determining where the cluster is, as well as looking for heat leaks in the various houses here, mainly 'cause I have to cut the firewood and the less heat leaks the less I have to cut !
From the New World Order - New Zealand's PM - Jacinda "Unless you hear it from us, its not the truth. Dismiss anything else. We will continue to be your single source of truth.
|
|
frostbite
VIP Member
Posts: 5,468
Likes: 6,982
Member is Online
|
Post by frostbite on Mar 26, 2023 19:36:52 GMT 10
The ms-42 uses common cr123a batteries. They are much easier to find replacements for than a model specific battery is supply chains are disrupted.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Mar 27, 2023 7:06:18 GMT 10
Rechargeables are easy to charge from solar or an alternate source. But there are some advantages in a replaceable battery, especially when out and in a hurry. There is a reason the military use non rechargeable battery's, convenience and ready for immediate use.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
|
|
malewithatail
VIP Member
Posts: 3,324
Likes: 1,309
Location: Northern Rivers NSW
|
Post by malewithatail on Jul 28, 2023 8:25:28 GMT 10
Ended up buying some FLIR type IR gear. Can see footprints, the studs inside the wall of the house and the most interesting observation so far.... Determining where the cluster is inside the bee hive without opening the box. Yes, the cluster shows up through the box, and now I can check the health of the bees without opening them up in cold weather and letting the heat out. Seeing how much water is in the tanks and tracing a water pipe through the ground by passing hot water through it, etc.
Many more uses than just observing the wildlife.
Storing it in the EMP proof cabinet, along with the hard disk backup, Geiger counter, spare notebook computer and power pak and other essential electronics.
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. Marcus Aurelius
|
|