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Tag: night vision

Dirt Cheap Thermal…..and it works!!!
Thermal optics and imaging devices have long been sought after but priced out of reach for most preppers. I make no claims to have any expertise in thermal nor any other kind of night vision. Night vision – including thermal – provides the ability to at least monitor what exists in the darkness while others can only listen and guess. This is incredibility important and cannot be overstated. Knowing what goes “bump” in the night provides a tremendous benefit. In particular, thermal can be very expensive and for most of us not more than a dream.

Until now.

Inexpensive Thermal for Prepper’s

Enter the Seek Thermal XR. The Seek XR is a very small, highly portable device that attaches to Apple and Android compatible devices. Running between $240 and $275 it is very affordable(maybe not “dirt cheap”). My particular model uses a Lightning adapter allowing it to be connected to my iPhone 6S.

Once the camera is connected to the phone an App allows access to viewing. There are a variety of modes – called filters – that can be used depending on the environment and your personal preference. I’m not going to go through all the specifics of the software, however, there are a couple critical things to know:

First – Pictures and video can be taken within the App to allow for viewing later. This is excellent for surveillance record keeping and being able to actually show someone what has been seen rather than just describe it.

Second – This device is not mountable to a firearm. Well – it is possible however mounting to a firearm is not its intended purpose.

To show some of the thermal capabilities a few video clips and still images follow:

ABOVE: Approx 30 yards away an intruder peeks around a shed and then moves to a tree for cover.

ABOVE: Approx. 30 yards away an intruder walks behind the fence along the property perimeter. There is a 1.5″ inch gap between the 6″ boards in the fence.

ABOVE: An individual walks around the side of a house approx. 100 yards away.

ABOVE: Still image with a maximum distance of approx 175 yards.

ABOVE: Approx 80 yards away to the wood line.

Benefits of Thermal for Preppers:

Consider the incredible benefits of thermal. Hunting wild game could be made much more successful. Not only could hunting commence at night but even during the day, thermal could assist greatly in finding animals hidden in deep brush.

The biggest benefit of thermal usage is identifying potential threats in the dark of night. Expanding the number of surveillance hours per day from around 12-16 to a full 24 hours is huge.

Search and rescue is another area that the Seek XR Thermal would provide benefits, Imagine a lost dog – or kid – somewhere out in the woods. Thermal would provide great benefits over a flashlight beam.

The Bad:

At this price point, there is not a lot that is truly negative about the Seek XR. There are a few points to keep in mind th0ugh…..
- Image and video resolution are not the greatest. This affects the ability to see details. You can tell a man is a man even at a few hundred yards – if moving. Animals can be identified as animals, however, knowing their specific species depends on how far away they are and their actions. I’ve seen rabbits hopping around at 40-50 yards however if they were still I would have just known there was an animal there.
- The Seek XR Thermal is a quality item, however, it does not feel like the most durable piece of equipment. Care needs to be taken not to drop it or drop it in water.
- When connected to a cell phone the screen emits quite a bit of light when used in total darkness. This obviously would be an issue when trying to detect potential intruders. One possible solution is darkening the screen however this may limit the ability to see details. Making some type of shade to hide the emitted light would be helpful. The most plausible solution is using a remote cable so that the Seek XR can be placed outside or a building while the cell phone connected to it is inside. I’ve not tried this yet, however, the cables are sold.
Let’s Wrap It Up

The Seek XR Thermal has limitations – but it’s $250! I have demonstrated this device to several prepper friends and they were blown away – especially using the WHITE filter – the level of detail observed. It is a game changer for those who cannot afford more expensive and capable thermal.

Well worth the price.

Rourke
September 27, 2017
From the Desk of John Rourke – May 31st, 2017

The Left in this country is reaching an all-time low. While Michelle Obama may have claimed that when “they go low, we go high” – like much of everything else Progressives say it is full of BS.

This latest round of vile, hate-filled action has reached an all new low and the attention of the Secret Service. While Kathy Griffen regrets her decision to hold a mocked up severed head of the President.

To give the Left some credit many criticized the photograph, however, the more radical wing of the Left applauded it.

Disgusting.

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I’ll post more on this later but I am having to raise the price of the Sawyer Water Filter Bucket Kit from $10.00 to $12.99. While many think you can just go to Home Depot and get the parts give it a shot. Not available. Prices have gone up for several of the specialty parts. The price will remain $10.00 until June 15th.

A review can be read HERE. For ordering visit SawyerBucketKit.com. I have a bunch pre-packaged and ready to go.

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It appears that early inhabitants might not be all we have to worry about. Billionaire Robert Bigelow has spent millions on alien research and believes they are here – on Earth.

I saw a few at Wal-Mart yesterday.

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A full review is long overdue but here are a few pictures from my ATN X-Sight 3-14 Smart Riflescope. Impressive piece of hardware with many pros – and a few con’s as well. For an optic that can be used both during the day – and at night – it is well worth the money.

ABOVE: The crosshairs are targeting a spot between two homes approx 80 yards away. To the naked eye, that area is completely dark and nothing is visible.

ABOVE: Approx 80 yards across the street along the wooded line. Appears to be a cat sitting in the woods. This area is 100% completely dark and nothing is visible to the human eye.

ABOVE: Same area as the “cat” creature waiting to pounce. When the ATN is mounted atop a rifle and held steady the resolution is very good at 3X.

ABOVE: At 3X power and with the help of a few street lights providing some low-level illumination the house pictured can be seen quite well at approx 200 yards. If someone was sneaking around in the dark they would be seen. Naked eye? This area is barely visible.

I find that Black/White is the best filter for night viewing.

ATN X-Sight 3-14 Smart Riflescope

There are many reasons why so many love their Kindle and Amazon Fire tablets. One huge advantage is you could literally go years without every buying a book to read as there are tons of free eBooks available. Don’t have a Kindle or Fire? No problem. There are apps that can be installed on most any cell phone or computer for free. No excuses!

Today’s Freebies

NOTE: If you see a free preparedness eBook that you’re interested in get it now. Prices change often and there is no way to tell how long the book will remain free. Before purchasing a free Kindle book on Amazon make certain the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00. If it lists a price or says “read for free” or has a price for Prime members the book is not free anymore.

May 31, 2017
Dirt Cheap Thermal…..and it works!!!
Thermal optics and imaging devices have long been sought after but priced out of reach for most preppers. I make no claims to have any expertise in thermal nor any other kind of night vision. Night vision – including thermal – provides the ability to at least monitor what exists in the darkness while others can only listen and guess. This is incredibility important and cannot be overstated. Knowing what goes “bump” in the night provides a tremendous benefit. In particular, thermal can be very expensive and for most of us not more than a dream.

Until now.

Inexpensive Thermal for Prepper’s

Enter the Seek Thermal XR. The Seek XR is a very small, highly portable device that attaches to Apple and Android compatible devices. Running between $240 and $275 it is very affordable(maybe not “dirt cheap”). My particular model uses a Lightning adapter allowing it to be connected to my iPhone 6S.

Once the camera is connected to the phone an App allows access to viewing. There are a variety of modes – called filters – that can be used depending on the environment and your personal preference. I’m not going to go through all the specifics of the software, however, there are a couple critical things to know:

First – Pictures and video can be taken within the App to allow for viewing later. This is excellent for surveillance record keeping and being able to actually show someone what has been seen rather than just describe it.

Second – This device is not mountable to a firearm. Well – it is possible however mounting to a firearm is not its intended purpose.

To show some of the thermal capabilities a few video clips and still images follow:

ABOVE: Approx 30 yards away an intruder peeks around a shed and then moves to a tree for cover.

ABOVE: Approx. 30 yards away an intruder walks behind the fence along the property perimeter. There is a 1.5″ inch gap between the 6″ boards in the fence.

ABOVE: An individual walks around the side of a house approx. 100 yards away.

ABOVE: Still image with a maximum distance of approx 175 yards.

ABOVE: Approx 80 yards away to the wood line.

Benefits of Thermal for Preppers:

Consider the incredible benefits of thermal. Hunting wild game could be made much more successful. Not only could hunting commence at night but even during the day, thermal could assist greatly in finding animals hidden in deep brush.

The biggest benefit of thermal usage is identifying potential threats in the dark of night. Expanding the number of surveillance hours per day from around 12-16 to a full 24 hours is huge.

Search and rescue is another area that the Seek XR Thermal would provide benefits, Imagine a lost dog – or kid – somewhere out in the woods. Thermal would provide great benefits over a flashlight beam.

The Bad:

At this price point, there is not a lot that is truly negative about the Seek XR. There are a few points to keep in mind th0ugh…..
- Image and video resolution are not the greatest. This affects the ability to see details. You can tell a man is a man even at a few hundred yards – if moving. Animals can be identified as animals, however, knowing their specific species depends on how far away they are and their actions. I’ve seen rabbits hopping around at 40-50 yards however if they were still I would have just known there was an animal there.
- The Seek XR Thermal is a quality item, however, it does not feel like the most durable piece of equipment. Care needs to be taken not to drop it or drop it in water.
- When connected to a cell phone the screen emits quite a bit of light when used in total darkness. This obviously would be an issue when trying to detect potential intruders. One possible solution is darkening the screen however this may limit the ability to see details. Making some type of shade to hide the emitted light would be helpful. The most plausible solution is using a remote cable so that the Seek XR can be placed outside or a building while the cell phone connected to it is inside. I’ve not tried this yet, however, the cables are sold.
Let’s Wrap It Up

The Seek XR Thermal has limitations – but it’s $250! I have demonstrated this device to several prepper friends and they were blown away – especially using the WHITE filter – the level of detail observed. It is a game changer for those who cannot afford more expensive and capable thermal.

Well worth the price.

Rourke
March 27, 2017
Video: ATN X-Sight Day/Night Riflescope

The following video showcases the ATN X-Sight Day/Night Vision Optic. The X-Sight is a high tech digital optic that is capable of shooting(and recording) both at night – and during the day. I own this optic and am very impressed with its capabilities. The X-Sight runs between $550-$680 depending on exact model and where purchased.

I’ll be doing my own review once a dedicated firearm for the X-Sight is purchased. Until then this video provides some good info:

December 21, 2016
Prep’s This Week…..

This week my main accomplishment was the purchase of an ATN X-Sight II 3-14X Day/Night Vision optic. So far I am very impressed and will report pro’s and con’s after further evaluation.

Night vision is one of several preparedness critical items that I am focused on now. The old adage “Two is one and one is none” holds true with night vision as well thus a second device is needed. Possibly a non-weapons mounted thermal might fit the bill.

Here are a couple pictures from both day and night use from the X-Sight:

Zoom at standard 3X

Zoom at maximum 14X

Night Vision – IR is in use – picture doesn’t do it justice – using black/white filter

No IR Filter – not mounted on a weapon systems

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Shot another 60 rounds or so through my Springfield Operator 1911 while visiting my brother. An incredible piece of precision weaponry. Trigger pull is crisp and well below that of any other pistol I own. I tried taking a few shots at a range somewhere between 60-80 yards.

Here are the results of my 3 long range shots:

Fun day throwing 230 grain FMJ rounds down range.

OK folks…..your turn.

Rourke

August 21, 2016