1. What is the difference between 850nm and 940nm?
The visible spectrum of light ends at a wavelength of about 700nm (dark red), from these values upwards we speak of infrared light. Nowadays, manufacturers mostly use illuminants with a wavelength of 850nm, to which current digital night vision (NV) devices respond very well. The disadvantage of illuminators built on this wavelength is that the 850nm diode lights up bright red when switched on (even at lower power) and appears brightly as a "lit cigar" from the game's point of view.
Whether game will react to this type of illumination depends on how much hunting is done in the area with illuminators in this wavelength - we have confirmed this through communication with customers from all over the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In some places the black does not react when using this wavelength even at 40m, in other places it is enough to shine at 100m and the game reacts by running away.
For this reason we offer illuminators based on 940nm wavelength diode, so called invisible illuminators. This wavelength is the least significant in terms of the possible reaction of the game (the emitted light is not visible at all and the chip itself glows dark pink when switched on) and there are no known cases of animals reacting to illuminators in this wavelength. By using the most advanced diodes on the market, combined with efficient control electronics, we offer the most powerful solution in this wavelength on the market! Our illuminators even significantly outperform laser illuminators (e.g. Pulsar AL-915) - you can see for yourself in the videos HERE!
2. Which illuminator do you recommend for my NV?
We currently work with diodes at 850nm and 940nm wavelengths. The main decision criteria are:
- What is the distance at which the animals want to observe with our illuminator
- What is the experience with using 850nm wavelength illuminators in your area (see point 1)
In general, with most newer instruments, using our Luna 940nm diode illuminator, it is possible to distinguish game species (i.e. distinguish, e.g., black from deer) at 350m at maximum power, and then safely observe game within 200m (i.e., distinguish between male and female game for black and red deer). Depending on the light conditions, the illuminator will also illuminate at greater distances, where the presence of game can at least be detected. Our 940nm laser illuminator then pushes these limits even further - game species recognition is possible up to 500m and close observation at 300-350m.
Our illuminators are tested and work on these NV devices:
Pulsar Digisight (455, 355, 970, 870, 770), Digex
Yukon Photon (RT, XT)
ATN (Pro 4k, x-sight II)
Pard (NV008)
We have also tested on add-on NV systems:
Pulsar Forward FN155
ATN PS22
Pard NV007
Our invisible illuminators also work with newer analogue NVs (e.g. Dedal 445, Jahnke preframes, etc.).
If the above distances are not enough for you, we can build an either Laser - based 940/850nm based illuminator.
3. I have come across a dealer who has a 940nm LED with a 10W diode
From time to time on the internet one can come across offers of resellers who buy "something" on Chinese eshops and offer it on without further knowledge of the matter - this is also true for different types of illuminators. Here we can only recommend to ask for more detailed technical specifications and videos of real use - you can get all this with us and we can prove that we really offer the most powerful diode solution at 940nm and 850nm wavelengths!
4. I need the highest possible range, but zero reaction of the game!
We currently already offer Laser illuminators at 940nm wavelength (Laser L940), which we build to order after specifying the parameters with the customer. These illuminators have an advantage over diode illuminators in that they have a higher range at greater distances (the cone of the laser illuminator does not expand with distance as much as a diode light - thanks to this it illuminates the observed object with greater intensity.