If you’re not on the thermal-imaging bandwagon yet, you’re already behind. With hog and coyote populations getting more and more out of control and, as a result, night hunting opening up in more and more states, thermal is a natural choice for after-dark predator control. Because thermal imaging doesn’t rely on ambient light the way night-vision technology does, it can be used with equal effectiveness during the day or on the darkest nights. The ability to “see heat” with a thermal device gives hunters an edge over their quarry — giving animals almost nowhere to hide. With thermal, you can “see” a hog hidden in the brush, a deer obscured by fog on a cool morning, or a coyote lurking on a field edge in the middle of the night.
Many hunters dip their toe in the thermal waters with an entry-level-price-point device, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re ready to step up to the next level, or you’re just getting into thermal and you want to start at the top, consider a top-of-the-line thermal scanner like ATN’s OTS 4T.
The OTS 4T is a full-featured thermal monocular, handy for scanning the landscape day or night to find game. Although it works very well as a handheld device, it can also be mounted via a tripod to a vehicle’s roof or hood, and the imaging can be streamed via wifi to a tablet or smartphone. Imagine being able to see what the thermal device is seeing from inside the truck!
Powered by ATN’s Obsidian IV Dual Core, the OTS 4T comes in your choice of two ultra-sensitive next-gen sensors: 4th Gen 384x288 or 4th Gen 640x480. The new 640x480 sensors, truly next-generation, have Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD) sensitivity of less than 25mK, which gives you a better, crisper image than previous models. Four different lenses are available depending on the field of view and magnification range that’s right for your needs: 1.25-5X, 2-8X, 4.5-18X and 7-28X in the 384x288 sensor, and 1-10X, 1.5-15X, 2.5-25X and 4-40X in the 640x480 sensor.
A thermal detection range of up to 750 to 3,300 yards, depending on the lens, lets you pick up game from far away. Choose from black hot, white hot or color mode.
With a top-of-the-line monocular like this, you’d expect some bells and whistles in addition to the excellent sensors and lenses, and ATN delivers, including Bluetooth, an e-barometer, 3-D gyroscope and 3-D accelerometer, an electronic compass and smooth zoom. Connect it to the ATN ABL1000/1500 for precise ranging to target with the ABL’s laser rangefinder. You can also connect ATN’s X-Trac remote to it and control all functions, including the zoom, while streaming to a mobile device — without touching the OTS 4T itself. You can record video through your OTS 4T, stored to an internal micro SD card. Or, if you prefer, stream your HD video — you can even stream and record to the SD card at the same time.
Despite being laden with features, the unit itself is lightweight and ergonomically comfortable, and it’s intuitive to use, with simple controls. A new spin-to-zoom wheel is natural to use, and tactile buttons let you feel every adjustment for optimal control. And all those features won’t drag down the battery life, either — the OTS 4T’s Dual Core processor runs not only fast, but also cool, making this the first-ever digital monocular that can boast over 16 hours of continuous battery power.
With a weight under two pounds, a durable, weather-resistant housing and an MSRP starting at $1,800, what more could you ask for from a thermal device? Serious hunters who want to explore the benefits thermal can offer and are ready to jump into a top-shelf product need look no further than ATN’s OTS 4T.
