Axion 2 LRF thermal imaging monoculars are designed for use both at night-time and during the day and provide exceptional image quality even in adverse weather conditions (fog, smog, rain) and beyond obstacles like branches, tall grass, dense foliage, etc. known to hinder target detection.
Unlike night-vision devices based on electron-optical converters, thermal imaging devices do not need an external light source and are resistant to bright light.
Axion 2 LRF thermal imagers are designed for various applications including hunting, observation, security, terrain orientation, search and rescue operations, etc.
Axion 2 LRF thermal imagers are equipped with a built-in laser rangefinder with a range of up to 1000 m and a measurement accuracy of ± 1 m.
Three levels of sensitivity enhancement: Normal, High, Ultra
Integrated laser rangefinder
Display-Off function
Defective pixel repair
Updatable firmware
Wide operating temperature range (-25°С to +40°С / -13°F to +104°F)
Fully waterproof (IPX7 rated)
Tripod mount
Video/Audio Recording
Built-in video and sound recorder
Integration with iOS and Android devices
Wi-Fi remote control and viewing using a smartphone
Storing photos and videos in Cloud when using the Stream Vision 2 App
Battery Pack
Quick Change Li-Ion Battery Pack APS 5
Charging from USB Power Bank
Quick-Charge power delivery
Power Supply
Precautions
Always use the APS 5 charger (purchased separately) to charge APS 5 batteries. Using an unsuitable charger can cause irreparable damage to the battery and fire.
Do not charge the battery immediately after exposure to a cold environment. Let the battery warm for at least 30 minutes before charging.
Do not leave the battery unattended while charging.
Do not use the charger if it has been modified or damaged.
Do not leave the battery in a plugged-in charger after charging is complete.
Do not expose the battery to high temperatures or open flames.
Do not use the battery as a power source for devices that do not support APS 5 batteries.
Do not disassemble or deform the battery or charger.
Do not drop or strike the battery or charger.
Protect the battery and charger from water and moisture.
Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
Recommendations for Battery Use
The batteries should be partially charged (50 to 80 %) for long-term storage.
Charge at an ambient temperature of 0°C to +35°C (32°F to 95°F) or the lifespan of the battery will decrease significantly.
Using the battery at sub 0°C (<32°F) ambient temperature decreases battery capacity. This is normal and not a defect.
Using the battery at temperatures outside the range of -25°C to +40°C (-13°F to 104°F) may reduce battery life.
The battery is short-circuit protected. Any situation that may cause short-circuiting should be avoided.
Battery Charging
The Axion 2 LRF thermal imager comes with an APS 5 rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. APS 5 batteries support USB Power Delivery fast charging technology when using a standard charging set (charger*, USB Type-C cable, power adapter). Before first use, make sure the battery is fully charged.
The icon in the status bar will flash when the battery is low. The battery needs to be charged.
Option 1
Install the APS 5 battery (15) in the battery compartment (14) of the device.
Connect the USB cable (19) to the USB Type-C connector (9) of the device.
Connect the other end of the USB cable (19) to the Power Adapter (20) by removing the USB Type-A adapter.
Plug the Power Adapter (20) into a 100-240 V socket.
Wait until the battery is fully charged (indication in the status bar).
Option 2
Insert the APS 5 battery (15) along the guide into the APS 5 charger* (16) slot as far as it will go.
Connect the plug of the USB Type-C cable (19) to the USB Type-C connector of the Power Adapter (20) by removing the USB Type-A adapter.
Plug the Power Adapter (20) into a 100-240 V socket.
Connect the other end of the USB Type-C cable (19) to the USB Type-C connector (17) of the charger.
LED indicators (18) will display the battery charge level (see Table).
Wait until the battery is fully charged (LED indication (18): )
Note: Two batteries can be charged at the same time, a second slot is provided for it.
LED indication (18) in the battery charging mode
Battery Level
Battery charge level is from 0% to 25%
Battery charge level is from 26% to 50%
Battery charge level is from 51% to 80%
Battery charge level is from 81% to 99%
Battery is fully charged. It can be disconnected from the charger.
Defective battery. Do not use the battery!
LED indication (18) in the standby mode**
Battery Level
Battery charge level is from 0% to 25%
Battery charge level is from 26% to 50%
Battery charge level is from 51% to 80%
Battery charge level is from 81% to 99%
Battery is fully charged. It can be disconnected from the charger.
Defective battery. Do not use the battery!
* Available separately
** Standby mode is when the batteries are in the charger but the Power Adapter is not connected. In this mode, the indicators are only on for 10 seconds.
Attention! When using a Power Adapter that does not support USB Power Delivery fast charging technology, the flicker frequency of the LED indicators decreases by a factor of 3 and the charge time increases.
Attention! The charger heats up during fast charging. Excess heat is removed through the radiator and does not affect the device operation.
Battery Installation
Battery installation
Put the Lock-cover (13) on the rechargeable APS 5 battery (15).
Insert the APS 5 battery (15) along the guide into the battery compartment (14).
Lock the battery (15) by turning the Lock-cover (13) clockwise until it stops.
Turn the Lock-cover (13) counter-clockwise to remove the battery (15).
External Power Supply
Power can be supplied from an external source such as a 5 V or 9 V power bank.
Connect the external power source to the USB Type-C connector (9) on the device.
The device will switch to draw power from the external source while the АPS5 battery is gradually recharged.
A battery icon will appear on the display showing the percentage-charged level.
An icon will be displayed when the device is powered by an external power source and the АPS5 battery is not connected.
The device automatically switches to the APS 5 battery when the external power supply is disconnected.
Attention! Charging APS 5 batteries from an external source at temperatures below 0°C (<32°F) can reduce battery life. When using external power, connect the power bank to the device only after it has been turned on and working (warming) for at least several minutes.
Getting started
Powering on and Image Setting
Open the lens cover (8). The lens cover can be secured to the strap using the built-in magnet.
Press the ON/OFF (6) button briefly to turn on the device.
Adjust the eyepiece focus ring (1) of the device until the symbols on the display are sharp.
Rotate the lens focus ring (7) to focus on the object being observed.
Enter the main menu with a long press of the MENU (4) button and select the desired calibration mode: Manual (M), Semi-Automatic (SA) or Automatic (A).
Calibrate the image by briefly pressing the ON/OFF (6) button. If the SA or A calibration mode has been selected the microbolometer is closed with an internal shutter automatically. However, if the M calibration mode has been selected you must close the lens cover before calibrating manually.
Select the required amplification level ("Normal" , "High""Ultra" ) by briefly pressing the UP (5) button.
Enter the main menu with a long press of the MENU (4) button and select the desired colour palette (for more details see the Colour Modes section).
Activate the quick menu by briefly pressing the MENU (4) button to adjust the brightness, contrast and smooth digital zoom (for more details see the Quick Menu section)
After use, turn the device off by a long press of the ON/OFF (6).
Warning! Never point the lens at intensive energy sources such as laser radiation emitting devices or the sun. It can damage electronic components in the device. The warranty does not cover damage arising from failure to comply with operating instructions.
Button Operation
Operation
Button
Power device on
short press
Power device off
long press for 3 secs
Turn display off
long press for less than 3 secs
Turn display on
short press
Calibrate the microbolometer
short press
Switching amplification levels
short press
Control discrete digital zoom
long press
Laser Rangefinder
Button
Turn on rangefinder
short press
Single distance measurement
short press
Activate rangefinder scan mode
short press
Deactivate rangefinder scan mode
short press
Turn off rangefinder
short press
Main Menu
Button
Enter main menu
long press
Navigation upwards/rightwards
short press
Navigation downwards/leftwards
short press
Confirm selection
short press
Exit submenu without confirming selection
short press
Exit menu (switch to viewing mode)
long pres
Quick Menu
Button
Enter quick menu
short press
Switch between quick menu options
short press
Increase value
short press
Decrease value
short press
Exit quick menu
long press
Interface
Status Bar
The status bar at the bottom of the display shows current operating statuses via icons, including:
Colour Mode (shown only when the Black Hot colour mode is selected)
Amplification level
Smoothing Filter (displayed when the function is on)
Calibration Mode (in Automatic calibration mode a countdown timer will appear instead of the calibration mode icon 3 seconds before automatic calibration begins).
Microphone
Magnification
Wi-Fi Connection
Time
Power Indication:
- charge level if the device is powered by a battery
- charge level if the device is charging and powered by a battery
- no battery, the device is connected to an external power supply
Quick Menu
The basic settings (adjusting brightness and contrast) can be changed using the quick access menu.
Enter the menu by briefly pressing the MENU (4).
A short press of the МENU (4) button enables you to toggle between functions, as described below.
Brightness - press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to change display brightness from 0 to 20.
Contrast - press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to change image contrast from 0 to 20.
Note: display brightness and contrast settings are saved in the memory when the device is turned off.
Smooth Digital Zoom - press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) button to change the value of the digital zoom from 2 to 8. The digital zoom changes in 0.1 increments.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to exit the menu or wait for 10 seconds to exit automatically.
Pulsar Axion 2 LRF
Main Menu
Enter the Main Menu
Enter the main menu with a long press of the MENU (4) button.
Press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to move through the menu items.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to select the menu item.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to exit the menu or wait for 10 seconds to exit automatically.
Automatic exit takes place after 10 seconds of inactivity.
Note: When entering the main menu, the background image darkens to enhance the menu visibility. This is normal and not a defect.
General View of the Menu
Tab 1
Tab 2
Color Modes
White Hot is the default display mode.
To select an alternative palette, do the following:
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select Colour Modes icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the desired palette.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm the selection.
Black Hot - a black and white palette where white = cold; black = hot
Red Hot
Red Monochrome
Rainbow
Ultramarine
Violet
Sepia
Color palette selection
Attention! The device should not be used to accurately measure temperature. The images generated are based on temperature contrast rather than true temperature readings.
Smoothing Filter
Used to reduce digital distortion while maintaining a high level of sensitivity.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (2) buttons to select the Smoothing Filter icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to turn the filter on/off.
User Mode
This mode is used to save the user’s brightness and contrast settings. The selected settings are retained after restarting the device.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (2) buttons to select the User Modeicon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to turn the mode on/off.
Icon Brightness
Adjust brightness level of the icons and screensavers (Pulsar, Display off) on the display.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Icon Brightness icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the desired brightness level from 0 to 10.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm the selection.
PiP Mode
Picture in Picture mode
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the PiP Mode icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to turn on/off.
Wi-Fi Activation
Turning Wi-Fi on/off
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Wi-FiActivationicon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to turn Wi-Fi on/off.
Wi-Fi Settings
This item enables you to set up your device for operation in a Wi-Fi network.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Wi-Fi Settings icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Password Setup
This function enables you to set a password to access the scope from an external device. The password is used to connect an external device (i.e. smartphone) to your thermal imager.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Password Setup submenu.
The default password (12345678) will appear on the screen.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to set the desired password using the UP (5) button to increase and the DOWN (3) button to decrease the values.
Press the MENU (4) button to toggle between the digits.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to save your password and exit the submenu.
Acces Level Setup
This option allows you to configure the appropriate access level to your device made available to the Stream Vision application.
Owner level. A Stream Vision user has full access to all device functions.
Guest level. A Stream Vision user only has access to the real time video stream from the device.
Press briefly the MENU (4) button to enter the Access Level Setup submenu.
Select the access level with the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Press and hold the MENU (4) to confirm your selection and exit from the submenu.
Wi-Fi Band
If your smartphone does not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, switch to 2.4 GHz.
Many Wi-Fi networks cause interference. In this case, switching between Wi-Fi bands can improve the connection between the device and the smartphone.
Press briefly the MENU (4) button to enter the Wi-Fi Ban submenu.
Press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Wi-Fi bandwidth – 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz.
Confirm your selection with a short press of the controller MENU (4) button.
Microphone
Turning microphone on/off.
This item allows you to enable (or disable) the microphone for recording sound during video recording.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select Microphon icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to turn on/off.
The microphone is off by default.
Rangefinder
Menu item Rangefinder contains settings for the built-in laser rangefinder.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Select the submenu Rangefinder with the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Reticle Type
Press the МENU (4) button briefly to enter the Reticle Type submenu.
Select one of the three reticle shapes with the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Confirm selection with a brief press of the МENU (4) button.
TPA
This feature allows you to determine the target position angle. When the function is activated the angle is constantly displayed in the upper right corner of the display.
Select TPA with the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Turn TPA on/off with a short press of the MENU (4) button.
THD
"THD" (True Horizontal Distance) function allows you to measure true horizontal distance to a target based on the angle of elevation value.
Select THD with the UP(5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Turn THD on/off with a short press of the MENU (4) button
Hereinafter the message THD will appear above the distance readings.
Calibration Mode
Calibration mode selection.
Calibration enables the device to equalize the microbolometer background temperature and eliminate the image flaws (such as vertical bars, phantom images, etc.).
There are three calibration modes: Manual, Semi-Automatic and Automatic.
The selected calibration mode is displayed in the status bar (see Status Bar section).
Select the required mode in the Calibration Mode menu item:
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Calibration Mode icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select one of the calibration modes described below.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm the selection.
M mode (Manual)
Close the lens cover (8).
Press the ON/OFF (6) button briefly.
Open the lens cover (8) after the calibration is completed.
SA Mode (Semi-Automatic)
The user independently determines the need for calibration (according to the image being observed).
Press the ON/OFF (6) button briefly to activate calibration.
There is no need to close the lens cover because an internal shutter covers the microbolometer automatically.
A Mode (Automatic)
The device is calibrated autonomously according to firmware algorithms.
There is no need to close the lens cover because an internal shutter covers the microbolometer automatically.
In this mode, the user can still choose to calibrate the device using the ON/OFF (6) button if required (as in the SA mode).
Note: during calibration, the image on the display briefly freezes for up to 1 second.
General Settings
This menu section allows you to change the interface language, set the date, time, units of measure, return the device to factory default settings and perform memory card formatting.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the General Settings icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the submenu.
Choose the required menu item with UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
Language
Language selection
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Language menu item.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select one of the available interface languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm the selection.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to save your selection and exit from the submenu.
Date
Date setting
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Datemenu item.The date is displayed in dd/mm/yyyy format.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the desired year, month, and date. Press the MENU (4) button briefly to toggle between digits.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to save the date and exit the submenu.
Time
Time setting
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Time menu item.
Select the time format (24-hour clock or AM / PM) by pressing the UP (5)/DOWN (3).
Press the MENU (4) button to select the hours.
Press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the hour value.
Press the MENU (4) button to select the minutes.
Press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the minute value.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to save the time and exit the submenu.
Units of Measure
Rangefinder units of measure
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Units of Measuremenu item.
Press the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select either Meters or Yards as the unit of measure.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm your selection.
Exit from the submenu will happen automatically.
Video Compression
Only in XG model
When set to ON, standard video compression is applied so the video file size is reduced.
When set to OFF, minimal video compression is applied. In this case, the quality of the recorded video is better, but its size is significantly increased.
Warning! Larger video file sizes result in shorter recording times. This may lead to longer download times for video files through the Stream Vision 2 app.
Enable/disable video compression:
Select the Video Compression menu item with the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons.
To turn on video compression, briefly press the МENU (4) button.
To turn off video compression, briefly press the МENU (4) button.
Default Settings
Factory reset
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Default Settings menu item.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select Yes to restore default settings or No to cancel.
Confirm your selection with a short press of the MENU (4)
If Yes is selected, display will show "Do you want to restore default settings?" with Yes and No dialogue options. Select Yes to restore the default settings.
Selecting the No option will cancel the reset and exit the submenu.
The following settings will be returned to their defaults before being changed by the user:
Video Recorder Mode – Video
Amplification Level – Normal
Smoothing Filter – Off
User Mode - Off
CalibrationMode – Automatic
Language – English
Mictophone - off
Wi-Fi – Off (default password)
Magnification – Standard (without digital zoom)
PiP – Off
Colour Mode – White Hot
Units of Measure – Meters
Video Compression – On (only in XG model)
Wi-Fi Band – 5 GHz
Attention! When restoring the factory defaults the date, time and user pixel map are saved.
Format
This function enables you to format the Flash memory card. All files will be deleted.
Formatting should be carried out in case of a memory card error.
Before formatting, make sure you transfer all footage to other media.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to enter the Format
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select Yes to format the memory card or No to return to the submenu.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to confirm your selection.
If “Yes” is selected, display will show “Do you want to format memory?” with “Yes” and “No” dialogue options. Select Yes to format the memory card.
Selecting the No option will cancel the formatting and exit the submenu.
Defective Pixel Repair
When using the device, defective (dead) pixels may appear on the microbolometer. These are bright or dark points of constant brightness that are visible on the image.
Defective pixels on the microbolometer can increase in size relative to the digital-zoom power.
Axion 2 LRF thermal monoculars allows the user to remove any defective pixels on the display, as well as cancel removal, via the device’s firmware.
Step 1: Enter the menu to fix the defective pixels
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Defective Pixel Repair menu item.
Press briefly the MENU (4) to open the submenu.
Select the Defective Pixel Repair option by briefly pressing the MENU (4) button.
Step 2: Select the defective pixel
A marker (H) appears on the left side of the display.
On the right side of the display appears a "magnifying glass" (G) - a magnified image in the frame with a fixed cross , designed for easier detection of a defective pixel and to match the pixel with the marker, and horizontal and vertical arrows for X and Y axes (I) showing the marker's movement.
With a short press of the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons move the marker to align it with a defective pixel.
Switch the direction of the marker from horizontal to vertical and vice versa with a short press of the MENU (4) button.
Align the defective pixel with the fixed cross in the frame - the pixel should disappear.
Step 3: Remove the defective pixel
Delete the defective pixel with a short press of the ON/OFF (6).
Once the pixel has been successfully deleted an "OK" message will briefly appear on the screen.
You can then delete another defective pixel by moving the marker across the display.
Exit the Defective Pixel Repair submenu with a long press of the MENU (4).
Warning! The display of a thermal imager may have 1- 2 pixels represented as bright white or coloured (blue, red) dots which cannot be deleted and are not a defect.
Restore Default Pixel Map
This option allows the user to return all previously disabled defective pixels to their original state.
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Defective Pixel Repair icon.
Press the MENU (4) button to enter the submenu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Restore Default Pixel Map icon.
Activate the function by briefly pressing the MENU (4).
Using the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons, select Yes if you want to return to the factory pixel map and select No if you do not.
Confirm your selection with a short press of the MENU (4).
Device Information
This menu item allows the user to view the following information about the device:
SKU Number
Firmware Version
Device Name
Hardware Version
Device Serial Number
Service Information
To display information, do the following:
Press and hold the MENU (4) button to enter the main menu.
Use the UP (5)/DOWN (3) buttons to select the Device Information icon.
Press the MENU (4) button briefly to view/exit the information.
Functions
Amplification Level
The Normal , High , Ultra sensitivity enhancement features are the latest in software algorithm offerings from Pulsar that enhance the quality of detection and object recognition, regardless of observation conditions. When the temperature contrast decreases due to conditions such as fog, precipitation or high humidity, increasing the amplification level can optimize the image picture. To reduce digital distortion, activate the Smoothing Filter in the main menu.
Press the UP button (5) briefly to switch the amplification level.
Video Recording and Photography
Axion 2 LRF thermal imagers are capable of video recording and photography. Videos and images are saved on the built-in memory card.
Before using this feature please set the date and time (see General Settings section).
The built-in recorder operates in two modes –Video and Photo.
Video Mode. Video Recording.
Switch to Video mode by pressing and holding the DOWN/REC (3) button.
The icon and the remaining recording time in HH:MM (Hours:Minutes) format are displayed in the upper left corner, for example 4:20.
Press the DOWN/REC (3) button briefly to start video recording.
When the video recording starts, the icon will disappear and the REC icon and timer in MM:SS (Minutes:Seconds) format will appear