Wireless Remote Switch for Weapon Mounted Lights

[DonK]

So who is going to be the first company to offer a wireless remote switch for a weapon mounted light ?

I really don't like all that coiled wire dangling around.

 

[AnAppleSnail]

Wireless means more things to go wrong. Did you change both batteries? Is your house full of radio frequency noise that will cause impaired function?

 

[Gunner12]

Now a jammer will also disable lights. Cool idea, but when reliability is key, a wireless switch means there are more things to go wrong.

 

[MichaelW]

Don't use coiled wire. Use straight of the correct length.

 

[fresh eddie fresh]

Now a jammer will also disable lights. Cool idea, but when reliability is key, a wireless switch means there are more things to go wrong.

Or instead of disabling, if you send out the right frequency, everyone's lights turn on and you can see where they are when they are trying to sneak around.

 

[fyrstormer]

They should make wireless triggers too, so people can mount their handgrips wherever they like.

</sarcasm>

 

[DonK]

No choice on coiled v straight wire - the manufacturer chooses

I would like wireless remote operation with a manual backup

 

[jellydonut]

That's like asking who will be the first to offer a wireless trigger.

Answer: no one, because it is a horrible, horrible idea. Please try to think this through.

If the wire bothers you that much, run it inside the handguard. Or just use cable ties. (come to think of it, if you run it inside the handguard *do* use cable ties as otherwise it'll probably melt on the barrel.)

..or just use the tailcap of the light. :p

 

[880arm]

No choice on coiled v straight wire - the manufacturer chooses

I would like wireless remote operation with a manual backup

I guess you're in luck. It seems that one company has brought this idea to market.

To be honest, I Googled "Wireless weapon light" expecting to find a picture of a flashlight being poked by a stick or something similar. I was more than a little surprised when I actually found a "real" product being sold :eek:. Supposedly it is based on BlueTooth technology but I didn't see any info indicating whether or not there is a control app for the iPhone available yet :laughing:

 

[Grizzman]

If your chosen manufacturer only offers a coiled wire, then it's time tm choose another manufacturer.

Grizz

 

[DonK]

I like Fenix - last I looked they had only coilded wire.

Triggers don't have wires, so not a valid comparison.

If you can get a straight wire and run it inside the handguard there are hazards - AR15 or the like will melt the insulation. A pump shorgun will abrade the insulation - or worse yet seize up on the wire.

I can think of lots of reasons to do it, and few disadvantages. Anyone who needs to use one for real will appreciate the advantage of not having to change grip to operate light, not to mention the on off speed. All you need is something like the car key fob - changes frequency each time you use it and never interfers with another car. Easy. Even $5 wireless phones don't interfere with one another.

 

[fyrstormer]

Triggers don't have wires (except on some crew-served guns, anyway), but triggers do have a direct connection to the firing pin, because they are a critical component and there must be the minimum possible chance of malfunction. Actually, ALL components of a gun are critical, and they all need to be as reliable as possible, including the light. So yes, it is a valid comparison. (there's a reason the expression "shooting in the dark" exists, and it's not a good reason.) Guns exist to kill things; all other purposes, including target shooting, are secondary, because guns were not invented to help dispose of tin cans and china plates. With that kind of capability in your hands, every single part must work right at all times. Neither you nor your target will appreciate it if you panic in a dangerous situation, because you need the light to turn on and it won't because the wireless switch stopped working.

I'm an IT guy, trust me: wireless will never ever ever be as reliable as hardwired.

A Fenix won't last long under the recoil from a shotgun anyway. A gun light needs to have springs at both battery terminals, to protect the circuitry against shock from the battery impacting the driver board.

 

[jorn]

I can see the news in the future: Squad outgunned by a 12 year old hacker with a i-phone.

And everytime the phone is close, the gun starts playing mp3 :)
Guns works best with a kiss setup if you ask me.

 

[krayman]

Not wireless, but definitely no wire for weaponlight. :D
http://www.wilcoxind.com/RAILS-C41.aspx

 

[jellydonut]

I like Fenix - last I looked they had only coilded wire.

Triggers don't have wires, so not a valid comparison.

If you can get a straight wire and run it inside the handguard there are hazards - AR15 or the like will melt the insulation. A pump shorgun will abrade the insulation - or worse yet seize up on the wire.

I can think of lots of reasons to do it, and few disadvantages. Anyone who needs to use one for real will appreciate the advantage of not having to change grip to operate light, not to mention the on off speed. All you need is something like the car key fob - changes frequency each time you use it and never interfers with another car. Easy. Even $5 wireless phones don't interfere with one another.

I suppose if you're actually putting Fenix lights on a weapon, then you might as well use a wireless system as well. Never mind. I tried my best. :p

 

[DonK]

Some Fenix lights do have springs at both ends, not that it is essential other than to pacify the paranoid. Fenix also more robust than Surefire (less switch failures for one thing)

Wireless system can be made (economically) to be almost 100% reliable - for the occasional failure you revert to using finger operation. You lose nothing. Not all parts of a firearm are essential (rosewood forend, quad rail forend, rubber recoil pad, manual safety ?)

Security not an issue, and never has been - how long have secure car key fob been around ?

Prediction - 5yrs from now all new weapon lights will be operated remotely by wireless device.

Future headline - dinosaur with 1911 and hand-held Surefire killed by child with Glock mounted Fenix

 

[AnAppleSnail]

. You can create components with wireless connections, but what if you lose the fob? No more flashlight. Bluetooth may work, but requires constant power at both ends. Adding a dependable, durable, easy-to-add-in button for any weapon stock, with ready cell swapping, is a challenge. So is creating a switch for all lights, with its own battery that must also be easily swapped. This all must be durable enough to be a reasonable accessory. I guess a price point of $200 and a size of your thumb on both ”ends” would give you a wireless link from the grip to an arbitrary weapon light that accepts a newly-made standard pressure switch plug. What is the cost to develop that standard and ensure its wide use?

Edit: you'd have two separate switches to use this. They'd be on each unit and both must always work. Without them, maintaining connectivity would drain the batteries in a day or two.

 

[DonK]

Technology is already there. The keyfob for your car is ultra reliable & secure (I've never heard of one failing) and runs for 10yrs+ on a tiny watch battery (when was the last time you replaced one - never for me). They get thrown around, sweated on, go through the wash, endure extremes of heat and cold - not a problem. And all for $20 retail.

Seems like a good market opportunity for Fenix - they must be working on it.

 

[880arm]

Security not an issue, and never has been - how long have secure car key fob been around ?

Prediction - 5yrs from now all new weapon lights will be operated remotely by wireless device.

Future headline - dinosaur with 1911 and hand-held Surefire killed by child with Glock mounted Fenix

DonK, everyone here is trying to give you sound advice. For the foreseeable future I can guarantee you that most armed forces would absolutely love it if their potential enemies began equipping their front-line personnel with mission-critical equipment that is wireless controlled. I am much more confident in that assertion than your premise that all new weapon lights will be remotely operated in 5 years.

However, I'm going to assume you aren't interested in that type of usage where reliability and field maintainability are among the most important considerations. Perhaps you want this to mount on an airsoft gun or just have it to show off. This is your prerogative and the light you desire already exists, so go visit the Kellan USA web-site that I mentioned in my earlier post and try one of their remote controlled weapon lights. It seems as if it would suit your wishes.

Then if the whole wireless thing pans out like you expect, you can come back here and tell everyone "I told you so" :thumbsup:

 

[DonK]

I don't know how the military and 'mission critical' got into this discussion. I did not ask for advice on if I or anyone else should use one or not, - I already know that if Fenix offered a system I liked, then I would use it. All I asked is who would be first to do it. It has been done - though not especially well from what I seen of it. More will follow.

I am surprised that Surefire have not offered a primitive unit for $1,500 - in keeping with their corporate policy of offering outdated technology at outrageous prices.

Since you mention it, the front line military already have lots of wireless equipment (for example, drones seem to do well - satelites, self destruct function on missiles, EOD robots in daily use, etc, etc). Wireless gizmos are everywhere in the military now, and this is how our glorious Nobel Peace Prize winner, President Obama, was able to kill Osama by remote control from the comfort of his cozy office. Impressed his friends too - eat cheese, sip wine, kill the enemy - beats a night at the movies eh.