The workhorse of night vision
After 24 years, the PVS-14 remains the most well-known and widespread night vision device to this day, being used by countless militaries across the globe, as well as thousands of law enforcement agencies, making it one of if not the most successful NODs in history. Designed in the year 2000 and immediately adopted by the United States military the very same year, engineers set out to create a worthy successor to the PVS-7, one of the most iconic devices of all times thanks to movies and video games.
Lessons learned by soldiers using the PVS-7 during the First Persian Gulf War of 1991, were crucial to the creation of the PVS-14, and helped massively in the design process of the device.
Striking differences can be observed when comparing those devices; first, designers moved away from the bi-ocular design of the PVS-7, and settled on a monocular, in order to cut costs, complexity, weight and retain natural night vision in one eye, since having a bi-ocular setup doesn’t provide any substantial benefits, nor does it allow depth perception; second, engineers used a modified 37mm tube, the MX-11769 type, derived from the MX-10160 style tubes found in ANVIS series goggles, parting ways with the old 43mm MX-10130 format of the PVS-7, saving weight and allowing for the introduction of manual gain thanks to the EGAC cord commonly known as “Pigtail”, found in this new style of IIT. This resulted in a simple yet much more effective and cheap to produce device.
Q: But why is it so popular?
The reason for its popularity lies within the amazing capability a monocular such as this is able to offer while keeping price in check. This coupled with the historical, technological and economic context surrounding its creation were a recipe for success.
What does it bring to the table
The PVS-14 is an incredibly versatile platform, allowing for countless IIT and optics options, as well as, unlike many, the ability to adjust brightness levels, thanks to its manual gain feature, which can come in quite handy in a monocular setup, in order not to strain one eye because of the stark difference in lighting.
The PVS-14 packs a punch, bringing some interesting capabilities to the table:
1. Its reduced size and light weight (350g with milspec glass and battery) allows for quick and easy transportation, as well as comfort when worn for long durations of time.
2. It can be bridged with other devices such as thermals, giving you the ultimate advantage on the battlefield.
Features walkthrough
The Noctis Technologies (formerly Carson Industries) PVS-14 features a highly robust yet light polymer construction for its main body, allowing it to withstand a vast range of conditions and harsh treatment, without the worry of it failing, being built to exceed the MIL-STD-810 standard, making it extremely durable and reliable.
Powered by a single AA battery, the PVS-14 will give you 24 to 48 hours of runtime depending on battery brand and intensifier tube installed (Gen 2+ tubes will generally last longer thanks to their lower current draw).
Manual Gain allows you to adjust the brightness level according to your liking, providing you with a nice and comfortable image to look at and take pictures of your dog to post on reddit.
Adjustable focus and diopter, with high quality glass to give you the most detailed image possible.
Get your own customizable Noctis Technologies PVS-14 today at NTD