Thermal Beacon?

[rcdancer]

Anyone know where I can pick up a CHEAP thermal beacon for night SAR training? Those things seem to be outrageously expensive.

 

[KneeBeard]

Take a look at: Strobes & Beacons | Adams Industries, Inc. They have some infrared systems under $100.

Otherwise, would a portable heater do the trick? I use one from Cabelas that looks like this one: Celestron® Elements ThermoCharge 6 Handwarmer and Charger : Cabela's

Or - super cheap - maybe a couple hand warmers taped to the inside of a shirt and or pants?

Robot or human?

 

[rcdancer]

Take a look at: Strobes & Beacons | Adams Industries, Inc. They have some infrared systems under $100.

Otherwise, would a portable heater do the trick? I use one from Cabelas that looks like this one: Celestron® Elements ThermoCharge 6 Handwarmer and Charger : Cabela's

Or - super cheap - maybe a couple hand warmers taped to the inside of a shirt and or pants?

Robot or human?

Ah yeah - handwarmers are a great suggestion. thanks,

 

[TreeLineView]

I use glowsticks. Put them in the fridge before you head out. You can get the 24" ones, put a couple of them together. They create a ring that fits perfeict on my 5' launch pad

 

[rcdancer]

I use glowsticks. Put them in the fridge before you head out. You can get the 24" ones, put a couple of them together. They create a ring that fits perfeict on my 5' launch pad

Great idea! thanks

 

[miturnbo]

Great idea! thanks

I don't think glow sticks will be visible with a Flir. We've struggled with the same issue. The XT Flir will simply not pick up infrared or glow sticks or anything that is just "light". It must see a heat source.

 

[rcdancer]

Not to worry. I found and ordered some IR beacons from OwnTheNight. I ordered 3 personal infrared beacons used to prevent fratricide on the battlefield and are ITAR restricted. These should be much easier to spot with a thermal camera.

Phoenix Jr Infrared Beacon, IR-14, P/N 902111IR

 

[miturnbo]

Not to worry. I found and ordered some IR beacons from OwnTheNight. I ordered 3 personal infrared beacons used to prevent fratricide on the battlefield and are ITAR restricted. These should be much easier to spot with a thermal camera.

I'm confused on this rcdancer. We had looked for some kind of marker we could use to distinguish between our guys and the victim but the XT camera simply can't see a light source. It's all thermal. So are you saying these will be seen by a FLIR camera?

 

[rcdancer]

I'm confused on this rcdancer. We had looked for some kind of marker we could use to distinguish between our guys and the victim but the XT camera simply can't see a light source. It's all thermal. So are you saying these will be seen by a FLIR camera?

Absolutely as they emit only infrared and no visible light. That's why they are ITAR restricted and cannot be shipped overseas.

IR Beacons - OwnTheNight.com

Own The Night sells high quality American Made night vision equipment. Products include night vision goggles, night vision monoculars, camera compatible systems, thermal cameras, weapon sights, helmets, helmet mounts and accessories.

ownthenight.com

 

[miturnbo]

Absolutely as they emit only infrared and no visible light. That's why they are ITAR restricted and cannot be shipped overseas.

IR Beacons - OwnTheNight.com

Own The Night sells high quality American Made night vision equipment. Products include night vision goggles, night vision monoculars, camera compatible systems, thermal cameras, weapon sights, helmets, helmet mounts and accessories.

ownthenight.com

Hmm.. Well I'm curious how this works out because every search I have done states that a FLIR will not pick up IR light unless there is heat associated with the source. One guy even stated that he could not pick up IR lights on a tank designed to supply IR light around the whole area with his FLIR because it had no heat source with it. If it works, that will be good news though because we have been looking for a way to see our guys at night with the XT.

 

[rcdancer]

From the literature ...

"The Beacon can also be used with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) systems .... The Beacon does not emit in the “thermal” IR band so it will not be affected by ambient heat radiation in the area. The FLIR system should be switched to low-light camera mode to detect the Beacon."

I believe the M2ED will detect the beacon in MSX mode.

 

[rcdancer]

 

[miturnbo]

That's the XT2 though which is MSX I believe. Wondering if the 1st gen XT will still see the same?

 

[miturnbo]

Oh... That's Garret's video. I'll ask...

 

[miturnbo]

So the youtube video already answered the question.

 

[rcdancer]

In preparation for the upcoming night SAR training, I ordered some ITAR restricted IR beacons hoping/believing the M2ED would be able to see them in MSX mode. While IR beacons are designed to work only with night vision equipment and are invisible in FLIR IR mode, the M2ED does in fact see them in MSX mode. It's raining tonight so was unable to fly, but I did an in-house test with the lights out. Sure enough, the beacon was undetectable to visible light and IR, but once I switched to MSX mode, I could see the flashing beacon.

I'm hoping to be able to do some outside testing this weekend and will post some video if I get a chance.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

In preparation for the upcoming night SAR training, I ordered some ITAR restricted IR beacons hoping/believing the M2ED would be able to see them in MSX mode. While IR beacons are designed to work only with night vision equipment and are invisible in FLIR IR mode, the M2ED does in fact see them in MSX mode. It's raining tonight so was unable to fly, but I did an in-house test with the lights out. Sure enough, the beacon was undetectable to visible light and IR, but once I switched to MSX mode, I could see the flashing beacon.

I'm hoping to be able to do some outside testing this weekend and will post some video if I get a chance.

So what's the word? Will the XT pick up the Phoenix Jr Infrared Beacon, IR-14, P/N 902111IR ?