Well, it's coming down to the wire....Was never able to find nightvision I could afford. This has me worried...I'm legally blind. I can drive for about 5hr of the day during the Winter, this extends by a few hours during the Summer. Can't see at all in the dark...and I'm the only one who is a 'GI'. Been prepping when I'm able. Not worked a real job in years. Disability has screwed me around for over 8 years now...Their Docs sya I'm legally blind and therefore eligible, but they keep denying me assistance or losing my paperwork...My lawyer[s] have been of no use....TEOFTWAWKI would be no big deal except for the fact that- if I goto ground. I'll be blind for 70% of the day. Something happens and it's night, I'll have no where to run.....anyone got extra NV goggles or anything?!?!?

-- Satanta (satanta@zdnetmail.com), December 25, 1999

Answers

Look in the Yellow Pages for your nearest Lion's Club and phone them. I don't know about NV, but they've been providing free and low cost glasses to those who don't have much money.

-- (MrTime@ParsonsProject.com), December 25, 1999.

I bought cheap NV on a lark yrs. ago and believe me they are not of much help. Resolution is so low that you will not see anyone until they are almost on top of you.

From what I have seen this is still the case. Need to spend thousands for a reasonable set that is really usable and in your case the output is still rather dim and still may not be usable.

If you can get to know a SWAT team member you may be able to try some good ones and see if they even help. I wouldn't count on it.

Befriend a young guy with good shooting skills and good vision to be your eyes.

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), December 25, 1999.

My nightvision.........................light a candle.

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 25, 1999.

I'm afraid night vision won't be of help to you. The video screen in these units doesn't provide a bright image, and the image is usually quite distorted.

Also, even bright moonlight could overwhelm most night-vision scopes.

What I suggest is a normal TV camera (the tiny $99 cameras should be fine) and a black-and-white TV set that can run on batteries -- and has the ability to be brightened enough so you can see it.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@midiowa.net), December 26, 1999.

Since I own NV binoculars, I can tell you that this gear will not help your problem at all. They were designed for security and military tasks. They are great for a person with normal vision trying to pick out a moving target (bad guy/intruder) out to perhaps 40 yards. For someone with your particular vision impairment, they would be worthless.

BTW...I agree with the comments here about NV shortcomings. The resolution is poor, range limited and the overall image quality is mediocre at best. And, yes, a full moon or a car headlight would knock out the NV quite easily.

I urge you to explore other options. Good Luck!

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 26, 1999.

This is kind of off the wall, but is an idea I have been toying with. See if you can find a funtional FLIR camera off a totaled out late model cadilac and hook it to a regular monitor in your home- bunker-whatever. It's already a 12 volt system and you could mount the camera on a periscope type pole to be able to view 360 degrees around your security zone. I was watching a report on these the other night and I think the entire package is a 2000 dollar item on a new caddy, so a used salvage camera shouldn't cost more then a few hundred dollars. Any 12 volt capable tv should work as a monitor with a little modification.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), December 26, 1999.

NIKOLI,

FLIR ? On a Cadillac ? You're serious ? Forward Looking Infrared ? What the heck would they use that for ? Onviously I'm not a Caddy fan.

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 26, 1999.