FAQ

The questions customers ask us most often, answered plainly. If yours is not here, write to info@dtdsystems.ch.

Choosing a device

What does figure of merit actually tell me?

Figure of merit, or FOM, is signal-to-noise ratio multiplied by resolution in line pairs per millimetre. It ranks tubes on paper. It does not describe noise behaviour, halo around bright light, or sharpness at the edge of the image, which is why two tubes with the same FOM can look different through the eyepiece. Higher tiers buy you a cleaner image in less light.

White or green phosphor?

Our standard builds use white (P45). It renders the scene in greyscale, reads as higher perceived contrast, and most people find it calmer over a long session. Green is normally available on request rather than from stock: P22 is the deeper traditional night vision tone with longer persistence, and P43 is lighter and decays faster, so fast movement smears less. When we do have green units on the shelf, they are listed on the homepage. Phosphor is preference, not performance. The tube behind the screen does the actual work.

What is autogating and do I need it?

An autogated tube switches its voltage automatically, thousands of times per second, to protect itself and hold contrast when bright light enters the scene. If you expect to be anywhere near street lighting, vehicles or torches, it is worth having.

Monocular, binocular or panoramic?

A monocular keeps one eye dark-adapted and costs least. A binocular gives real depth perception and less eye fatigue over hours. A panoramic goggle widens the field of view from roughly 40 degrees to 100. All three are valid, and the right answer depends on how long you wear it and what you are doing.

Fit and compatibility

Will this fit my helmet?

Our devices use standard shrouds and dovetail or bayonet interfaces. Bring your helmet to Villmergen and we will fit the setup properly, or send us your helmet and mount model and we will confirm before you order.

Can I use my own tubes?

In most cases yes. Housing kits are sold without tubes for exactly this reason. Send us your tube type and we will confirm the fit.

Buying, delivery and paperwork

Where do you ship?

Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and all EU and Schengen countries. We do not ship to Russia, Belarus or any country under Swiss sanctions.

How long will it take to arrive?

Within Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 1 to 3 business days, free and insured. To the EU and Schengen, 5 to 10 business days at CHF 100, insured. Transit time is counted from dispatch, not from the day you order.

Devices listed as in stock on the homepage leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Everything else is built to your configuration: allow about two weeks before dispatch.

Devices listed as in stock on the homepage leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Everything else is built to your configuration: allow about two weeks before dispatch.

For any delivery outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein there is one step before dispatch: we file the export clearance once you return the signed End User Certificate. That is often granted within a few business days, but allow up to 15 business days. We would rather quote you a date we can keep than a date we cannot. Accessories and apparel carry no clearance step and are dispatched within 2 to 3 business days of payment.

What is the End User Certificate?

Night vision and thermal equipment is controlled under Swiss export law. For deliveries outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, we send you a certificate to sign after payment. You return it, we complete export clearance, and the device is dispatched with tracking. If clearance cannot be obtained for your country, we cancel and refund in full.

Are import duty and VAT included?

Prices shown include 8.1 percent Swiss VAT. If you are buying from Switzerland or Liechtenstein, that is what you pay. For every other destination the Swiss VAT is removed at checkout, so the price you are charged drops by about 7.5 percent. Import VAT and any duty in your own country are then collected by the carrier when the device is delivered, and they are yours to pay: in the EU that is usually 19 to 25 percent of the value, so on a CHF 8,000 device budget somewhere near CHF 1,600. The shipping policy sets this out in full.

How can I pay?

Visa, Mastercard, TWINT, Apple Pay, or bank deposit.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. We run our own instalment plans in house rather than using a third-party lender, which keeps the cost down. Details are on the financing page.

Can I collect in person?

Yes, free of charge, from the showroom in Villmergen by appointment.

After the sale

Does a data sheet come with the device?

Yes. Every device ships with the data sheet for each tube inside it: one for a monocular, two for a binocular, four for the PNVG-18.

What warranty do I get?

Two years from the day it is delivered, on devices, accessories and apparel alike, in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the EU and Schengen area. On a night vision device that covers the image intensifier tube, the housing, the optics and the electronics.

It does not cover fair wear and tear, accidental damage, or damage caused by exposing the tube to bright light in breach of the operating instructions supplied with the device. That last one is worth understanding rather than discovering: an image intensifier amplifies the light that is already there, so switching a device on in daylight or pointing it at a bright source can damage the tube. Following those instructions is the owner's responsibility. This does not affect your rights in law. The full terms are on the warranty page.

Can I send it back if it is not for me?

Yes, within 14 days of receiving it, for any reason, without giving a justification. You may unpack the device, handle it and switch it on, exactly as you could in our showroom. We do not refuse a return because a device has been switched on.

If you go further than that and the device loses value as a result, we may reduce your refund by that loss, and we will show you in writing how we calculated it. You bear the cost of sending it back. If the device left Switzerland under an export licence, closing that paperwork is our job and our cost, and it does not delay your refund.

In the EU and the EEA this is your statutory right of withdrawal. Swiss law gives no such right for online purchases, and we give customers in Switzerland the same 14 days anyway.

Something is wrong with my order. What now?

Email info@dtdsystems.ch with photographs of the packaging and contents and we will resolve it. Returns are covered in the refund policy.