rats@ihuxz.UUCP (08/10/90)
I don't think you really have to pay $1,500 for an IR scope. The old Varo Metascope (uses 6929) is being surplused in the around $400 range. There's a firm that offering 1st GEN image intensifer tubes that advertised in the UK Electronics & Wireless World for a few hundred dollars, various grades, that are ex-mil-surplus. [These are probably 25mm tubes.] I believe these require about 2.7KV AC for the voltage multiplier stages. The best IR tubes in my opinion is the 6914, used on the M-14 Infrared weaponsight and some tank IR sighting gear. The Image Intensifier tubes photocathodes usually have a significant amount of response in the IR region (S-25, S-25ER, S-20), and would probably operate significantly better than S-1 photocathode tubes due to their gain. As a matter of fact, the NV goggles worn by soldiers incorporates an auxilliary illuminator that is an IR emitting diode. GEN III image intensifier tubes would probably run rings around the old S-1 photocathode IR tubes (6032, 6929, 6914, etc.) if used in the IR region.
spcecdt@deeptht.santa-cruz.ca.us (John DuBois) (08/12/90)
You can get 6032's for <$30 in surplus catalogs... John