And we have returned from the desert once again

a reply to: Zaphod58

i didn't want to start a thread but tonight on my way home i saw two orange lights, like a pair they moved and hovered together never drifting very far apart.

i could see stars in between them and they looked pretty low, and they had no nav lights. any ideas?

a reply to: Zaphod58

BS.

That was an Aurora dropping F-19s and being escorted by Companions.

geez. Stop misleading people, Zaph.

a reply to: anzha

tut tut.


its all code for seeing the tr....black triangles


-someone had to say it-


sam-

the tube im looking at is a surplus tank tube, im having a hard time finding english guides and manuals for the tube and from the picks it looks like it needs a high voltage transformer(that isnt included).

I would really like to build one like yours but there are so many guides and variations on them it's hard to tell what's legit, im no electrical engineer. i would be super upset if i got all this stuff and ruined it by lack of knowledge.

do you have any suggestions or guides i can look at?

a reply to: penroc3

I went through the same thing while researching a DIY night vision set up that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I have used a couple different gen 1 night vision scopes (P8079HP, and a Russian Cyclop-1 monocular) and both of mine were a simple low voltage (9-6V DC) positive/negative two wire set-ups and I think most NV gear is that way. I ended up going with, what I think was the best performing option, a P8079HP tube that was also used in British tanks. They pop up on Ebay from time to time and there's actually a couple, as of this writing, for sale there.
Google "P8079HP" and you will find lots of YouTube videos, how-to's and demonstrations of the performance on people's home made kits with that tube. With any "bare" NV tube, you will need a lens for the "input" side of the tube and an eye-piece or camera with lens for the "output" of the tube as well as a box for the batteries.
The other option that I explored was to purchase a consumer grade already made NV monocular that had a camera T-thread adapter but I found a deal on the P8079HP so I went that route.

a reply to: Sammamishman

and i bid, im not sure how im going to explain this to my significant other but i guess ill cross that bridge when it comes(if i win).


im going to sell it to her as a project that will save money and keep me entertained

a reply to: penroc3

Good home security tool to spot those creeping around your property.

originally posted by: PhantomTwo
Even with a 20+ Megapixel camera hanging off the back of a 400mm lens at that distance and with that much atmospheric distortion at what I'd assume is fairly high ISO even with low shutter speed (someone mentioned a heavy tripod right) it would be very difficult to make much out.

as I mentioned ealier in the thread Nikon D7500 with a AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens. (Not to mentions Sams 1500mm monster) and you can make out fighter sized aircraft at that range. Not an AWST cover quality mind you but enough to ID fighter sized aircraft.

originally posted by: Zaphod58

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: penroc3

Image stacking programs and a regimented sequencing of image taking at specific exposures.

Also known as the "yadda yadda click" method.

I am the yoda of rapid burst photography

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: penroc3

I went through the same thing while researching a DIY night vision set up that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I have used a couple different gen 1 night vision scopes (P8079HP, and a Russian Cyclop-1 monocular) and both of mine were a simple low voltage (9-6V DC) positive/negative two wire set-ups and I think most NV gear is that way. I ended up going with, what I think was the best performing option, a P8079HP tube that was also used in British tanks. They pop up on Ebay from time to time and there's actually a couple, as of this writing, for sale there.

Sms NV gear was up to par with the Gen IV (Gen 3+ in military terms) night vision we use in the chopper and cost well over $8000 US a pair

a reply to: FredT

No kidding either.

a reply to: FredT

Good thing you had those monster SD cards.

a reply to: Zaphod58

fyi i just got the george costanza reference...

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: FredT

Good thing you had those monster SD cards.

Bigger is ALWAYS better as evidenced by your giant assed telescope

a reply to: FredT

You know you might have gone slightly overboard when it takes 30 minutes to copy a memory card that's plugged directly into the laptop to the hard drive. And it's one day worth of pics.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Hey im interested in seeing the anniversary F16 photos. Any chance you'll up load them?

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

You know you might have gone slightly overboard when it takes 30 minutes to copy a memory card that's plugged directly into the laptop to the hard drive. And it's one day worth of pics.

Well in my defense I was shooting RAW+Fine Jpeg at 8 fps

originally posted by: penroc3
a reply to: Zaphod58

i didn't want to start a thread but tonight on my way home i saw two orange lights, like a pair they moved and hovered together never drifting very far apart.

i could see stars in between them and they looked pretty low, and they had no nav lights. any ideas?

Chinese lanterns?

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I still haven't been able to get online with the laptop. Every time I try, we are either pulling in at 1am and I have to drive later, or they can't sell access through the register.

Watch the funny papers kids. You may see something interesting.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
Watch the funny papers kids. You may see something interesting.

Calvin and Hobbs is back??????????????