Night Vision Dual Tube Setups

[aslrookie]

I am working with @Surgeon_Shooter for a dual tube NV goggle setup. He said I could message him anytime if I had questions, but I don't want to bother him until he gets my money first lol.

I am still very new to the NV world and wanting to pick your experienced brains on different dual tube setups. My budget is not unlimited, so I need the best value for the money spent. As of right now, I am looking at L3 WP thin filmed tubes in a RNVG housing. That sounded great to me being that the housing is "ruggedized" and less prone to breaking if dropped and etc. Now I realized that RNVG housing is limited in what it's able to do.

I know the RNVG has a single battery power source and uses side screws to adjust the goggles side-to-side, and has an IR illuminator. But the goggles do not fold out to the sides.

1) Can RNVG's use an external battery pack or is it only able to be powered by a single AA battery?

2) How useful is it to have the ability to fold one goggle away versus a fixed setup like RNVG?

3) Are there any other limitations to the RNVG housing that I have not already covered?

4) What housing do you prefer and why?

I just want to make sure I am making the best informed decision possible. I've been saving for NV for two years now, and I would hate to drop cash on a unit prior to knowing something that would've made me go another direction.

The NV will be used for shooting, hunting, and hiking.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

I don't have quite the NVD prowess that others here have so take this for what it's worth.

1. You're not going to deplete the battery before you run out of darkness so it's really not needed (like a battery pack for thermal is) I don't believe there is a commercial option as yet.

2. I only flip my PVS14 up either when I don't need it or going to weapon sight. Can't imagine why you would want to run only one and flip the other out of the way?

I can't help at all with 3 and as for 4 I have the Vyper C housing but it's only a single unit.

Finally, Jay a great guy and if you're spending coin with him don't be afraid to call and ask as he knows his stuff.

 

[aslrookie]

I don't have quite the NVD prowess that others here have so take this for what it's worth.

1. You're not going to deplete the battery before you run out of darkness so it's really not needed (like a battery pack for thermal is) I don't believe there is a commercial option as yet.

2. I only flip my PVS14 up either when I don't need it or going to weapon sight. Can't imagine why you would want to run only one and flip the other out of the way?

I can't help at all with 3 and as for 4 I have the Vyper C housing but it's only a single unit.

Finally, Jay a great guy and if you're spending coin with him don't be afraid to call and ask as he knows his stuff.

I suppose that's true. Just from what I've seen in other NV videos about people's setups is they have the choice of flipping one away if they needed an unaided eye instead of having to engage the mount and flip the goggles up. More of a convenience thing than a practical thing. I just wasn't sure if there were other things to consider why you'd want to rotate them away vs flip them up.

Some have claimed it helps keep your goggles from catching on branches or hitting the roof of a vehicle by just being able to rotate them vs being flipped up when not in use.

Again, just curious on what others have to say. At this point, it doesn't seem like the RNVG is at any real disadvantage compared to the additional cost of other housings.

As far as power goes, I just wasn't sure how long a AA battery can power a set of goggles.

 

[MK20]

The nice part about having the ability to roll out and up with your nods tube is to be able to get them out of the way quickly without having to fold your whole mount up. This is very useful for when you are in a vehicle where overhead space is limited or for when you want to work with radios or gear but still have the instant use of your NODs.
Just ask him what is the closest setup to a PVS 31 that you can get.

 

[crossgun]

Nothing wrong at all with the RNVG housing and it is preferred by many. Yes it can be had with an external battery pack and I am pretty sure with a housing that is either AA or CR123. The battery pack could serve as a counter weight if you go that route while offering extra power. The L3 WP tubes do tend to draw more power but nothing that wouldnt get you a few evenings of run time without external batteries. It is nice to at least have the option.

I currently come from running dual PVS14s and have spent the last 6-9 months, along with a friend trying and researching every damn possibility for a set of binos. The journey should end this week as I am expecting my NVD BNVD ULs this week as my friend is expecting his RNVG's as well. We did go a different way in our decision and respect each others decision while easily having no issue running either unit. He mainly went RNVG thinking the unit would be more rugged and to save just a little bit of money even though for him that wasnt a game changer.

My decision was based on really wanting manual gain control vs auto gain. Additionally at this price point having, not necessarily needing , articulation was a big plus to me. I just like having the option to lay them back against the helmet when up, roll them up out of the way to keep a lower profile for structure or vehicle work and the ability to roll one out of the way to perform whatever task while still maintaining night vision through one eye just like with a single PVS14. The choices and justifications are personal and features that in the end came down to must haves for me.

IMO the NVD BNVD's are the closest housing to a PVS-31. They pretty much do the exact same thing except lack the inter pupillary distance adjustment or stop.

1. Either AA or CR123 and optional battery pack
2. Useful IMO and more of a feature that you will have to decide upon
3. No manual gain control
4, Believe I covered that above.

Another option would be the DTNVG's. They have the ability to independently role each tube up or out as well. No manual gain control or battery pack option. I did play with them for an evening and just didnt like them as they fell short on some of the features for the extra cost.

My best advice is take your time and get behind as many different units as you can. It is a lot of money! Make decisions that best suit your needs and desires. You will get a lot of guidance and buy these because from many who are justifying their purchase or want and dont have time under other units. Get hands on, touch and hold anything you are considering, travel if you have to as we did. Maybe consider a class that offers rental units.

Nothing at all wrong with picking the RNVG's