#COTI

This is a review of the InfiRay Clip 1 CE2 and Jerry C C5 clip-on thermal imagers (COTI). These small wonders of technology will snap directly onto the ring of a PVS-14 night vision device. Once set and installed, you will get configurable thermal detection capabilities on top of your night vision.

Oh hello there. Are you here to check out the InfiRay (iRay) Clip 1 clip-on thermal imager (COTI)? Well, you have come to the right place. Friday Night Lights is a weekly ongoing series dedicated to nocturnal technology. Those consist of night vision, thermal, lights and lasers. So without further ado, let us dive into the iRay Clip 1.

So things have escalated quickly the last time I wrote about the Steiner PVS-21 monocular and mentioned two accessories for the PVS-21. The Steiner CEHUD and COTM add a whole other layer of capability that you do not have with traditional night vision systems. Friday Night Lights is brought to you by ATN Corp, manufacturers of night vision and thermal optics like the THOR LT. As with all of our sponsored series, Friday Night Lights will continue to bring you unbiased news and reviews from a variety of companies.

Lately, I have been playing with the newer enhanced clip-on thermal imagers like the Optics 1 ECOTI and Jerry-C. Before that, I used the Optics 1 AN/PAS-29 COTI. While there are not that many clip-on thermal imagers for head-mounted night vision devices, there are at least a couple more out there. NIVISYS has a version of the AN/PAS-29 COTI they call TACS-M. Well before the TACS-M, they had another device called TACS (Thermal Acquisition Clip-On System) and performance wise it is similar to the AN/PAS-29 COTI.

Last month I reviewed the Jerry-C ECOTI. Before that I reviewed the Safran Optics1 COTI. Well, during the week of the virtual SHOT SHOW, TNVC announced that they are now selling the Optics1 ECOTI to the public. Before that, it was restricted to law enforcement and military sales only. My friend Kevin had ordered the Optics1 ECOTI and so we got together to compare all the COTIs together.

Almost two years ago I wrote about the PAS-29 COTI. It is a clip-on thermal imager that projects a thermal image into the objective lens of your night vision goggles. Well, now there is a newcomer to the market – the Jerry-C aka Chinese ECOTI. It is smaller and higher resolution than the PAS-29. Let’s take a look.

The SiOnyx Aurora is a digital night vision camera. It is relatively inexpensive and has potential. It has a sensor that is sensitive to low light and has the ability to see infrared light. While the Aurora is a pretty straight forward action camera, it has greater potential lying dormant inside. Thanks to astrophotography enthusiast CNOCT (aka Carpe Nocturnum) who sacrificed his Aurora. His modified Aurora can now use a variety of lenses as well as work with a PAS-29 COTI to get thermal fusion.

Earlier this month I posted about DIY Thermal Fusion. In that article, I mentioned the legitimate methods of true thermal fusion. One way to achieve true thermal fusion is with a COTI or Clip-On Thermal Imager.

Technology has advanced exponentially with regards to night vision and thermal. Thermal imagers have improved and become more and more affordable each year. You can get a thermal imaging device for under $3,000. Night vision and thermal can be used to see in the dark, however, they are not exclusively independent systems. In some cases, you can perform a little DIY thermal fusion to get the best of both worlds.

Thanks to my friend for alerting me to this hidden gem at SHOT Show 2019. Steiner is the maker of many night vision and laser devices. They make the PVS21 night vision goggles and DBAL weapon laser. Well at SHOT Show they have a new thermal weapon sight that is the first of its kind. The Steiner CQT is a reflex day sight with thermal overlay.