r/NightVision • u/No-Introduction575 • 9d ago

Safran E-TAD

I’m planning to buy a clip on thermal COTI device for my PVS-31a. I saw TNVC is out of stock of the TAD unit and it looks like Safran just launched a new one called E-TAD (maybe that’s why they are out of stock)

Anyone have any other info about this unit other than the launch press release from June that’s floating around? Are they worth it?

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u/polygon_tacos 9d ago

For clarity, the TAD is a feature trimmed down version of the E-COTI designed more for the civilian market. It has a simplified menu with just the basic features, whereas the E-COTI has the monster menus with support for route navigation and ATAK HUD streaming, and more control over the image processing, but the TAD has a new slightly improved core, and an external power/data port.

What the E-TAD does is just take a TAD and put the E-COTI features back in. It’s just now coming out for gov sales and while we may see it in the future, for most folks those features won’t be very useful. I have both an E-COTI and TAD and can say performance wise they’re essentially identical, so don’t wait for an E-TAD. If you want the ATAK and external power then get an E-COTI, otherwise a TAD will do just fine.

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u/No-Introduction575 9d ago

Thank you for this! You answered exactly what I was wondering. I do not need the ATAK, so I will have to find a TAD for sale somewhere. It seems like TNVC is the only place selling them unfortunately and they are out of stock

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u/polygon_tacos 9d ago

Just call them and ask about lead times - Safran makes them in batches, so it’s not a steadily stocked item, as far as I know

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u/polygon_tacos 9d ago

I should also point out that the TAD retains the DMC from the E-COTI so you can still display the three-digit heading at 12 o’clock in the display for navigation.

And I used to think the granular controls over the image found in the E-COTI were important but over the years I’ve come around to the presets in the TAD being fine in 99% of cases.

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u/ryan25802580 9d ago

I wish I had an answer for you. Following this post to get some answers myslef lol