General Information
Pulsar, part of the Yukon company group, has released the Beta version of Stream Vision 2, their newest mobile app for hunters, sport shooters, nature enthusiasts, and the like.
It’s available worldwide from the 29th of July 2021 and is free to download from Google Play and App Store.
Supported by Android and iOS, Stream Vision 2 is a free mobile application that connects to Yukon and Pulsar sports optics through a Wi-Fi connection. It allows the users to take full advantage of their devices by feeding them easy access to firmware updates, remote control of all device settings and elevates their user experience with many extra features.
Stream Vision 2 is not a mere upgrade; the app was rebuilt from the ground up. Yukon promises improved stability and performance, smoothing out the main technical issues of SV1. The new, remodeled user interface of Stream Vision 2 also offers an effective and modern user experience. The sleeker design is not just pleasing to the eye, navigation through revamped features is straightforward and faster than before.
The biggest draw of Stream Vision 2 is 16GB of free cloud storage for all users who’ll register their devices on the mobile app. But that’s not the only benefit of using Stream Vision 2, so let’s take a closer look at the app.
Stream Vision 1 vs. Stream Vision 2
| FEATURES | STREAM VISION 1 | STREAM VISION 2 |
| Mobile viewfinder | + | + |
| Portrait orientation mode | – | + |
| Device settings control | + | + |
| Automatic media sync with Cloud | – | + |
| Direct YouTube livestream | + | – |
| Ballistic calculator | + | – (SV BC*) |
| Motion detection | + | + (later release) |
| Firmware update | + | + |
| Media file browser | + | + |
| Cloud storage | – | + (16 GB) |
| Newsfeed | – | + |
The main goal of Stream Vision 1 and Stream Vision 2 is the same: to enrich the experience of Pulsar and Yukon users. Many features are purely functional like easy access to device settings through app and firmware updates.
Stream Vision 2 will bring a new design, nearly all features that were already available in the older SV1 app, as well as a handful of new drawing cards like the newsfeed and free Pulsar cloud storage.
Motion detection feature will not be implemented in the first release of Stream Vision 2. But you can expect it to make a comeback in later app updates, with some major improvements to boot.
Note the absence of the ballistic calculator. The feature was well-received by the users of the Stream Vision 1 app. However, integrating the ballistic calculator into an already complex Stream Vision 1 inevitably puts certain limitations on the intricacy of the feature.
This is why Pulsar decided to develop a more robust ballistic software and will release it as a separate application at a later date. Successful stand-alone ballistic programs are marquee projects of industry heavyweights like Leica Sport Optics and Swarovski, having released their Leica Ballistic Calculator and Swarovski Ballistics to great acclaim. It’s no surprise then that Pulsar aims to follow the footsteps of giants in the field of thermal and digital NV optics.
Another feature that is no longer available in the Stream Vision 2 is the direct Youtube Livestream. Not to be confused – watching real-time action is still possible with just a few touches, via the SV2 viewfinder.
Supported Devices
Most digital NV devices will be supported by Stream Vision 2.
Digital night vision devices
- Pulsar Forward F450/F455
- Pulsar Forward FN450/F455
- Pulsar Digisight Ultra N450/N455
- Pulsar Digisight Ultra LRF N455/N450
- Pulsar Digex N450/N455
Only new generations of thermal imagers will be compatible with the Stream Vision 2 app.
Thermal imaging devices
- Pulsar Helion 2 XQ38F/XQ50F
- Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 Pro*
(*NOTE: “non-Pro” version of Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 will only work with Stream Vision 1)
- Pulsar Krypton XG50
- Pulsar Krypton FXG50
- Pulsar Thermion (all models)
- Pulsar Thermion 2 (all models)
- Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50/XQ50
- Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50A/XQ50A
The devices listed above support both Stream Vision 1 and 2.
That means that for now, Pulsar users can still choose which mobile app they’d prefer to use. However, all Pulsar releases from 2022 onward will only be supported by Stream Vision 2.
Devices supporting only Stream Vision 1
- Pulsar Axion XM (all models)
- Pulsar Axion XQ38
- Pulsar Proton FXQ30
- Pulsar Proton XQ30
- Pulsar Accolade (all models)
Connection Procedure
Pulsar has changed the app interface, implementing a more intuitive design.
Since the sequence of many in-app actions has changed, we’ll include the new procedures throughout the article. Hopefully, that’ll make the migration from SV1 to SV2 even easier.
While the workflow in the iOS platform hasn’t changed at all, small tweaks and adjustments will be clear to Android users. At the first launch of Stream Vision 2, the app will provide useful hints on how to operate your Pulsar device and connect the two.
Android users can no longer connect to Stream Vision via the app but can do so via phone Wi-Fi settings.
The connection procedure is similar to Stream Vision 1.
- Turn on your Pulsar device
- Turn on Wi-Fi on your Pulsar device
- Open Wi-Fi on your phone
- Connect to the network name of your Pulsar device
- Launch the new Stream Vision 2
After the app is launched, the screen on the left may still be visible. Just click on the “connect device” button and the screen on the right will appear.
Once the device is connected, the user can move through the viewfinder or peruse the files saved in the device storage.
It’s important to point out that device storage and gallery are not the same. The former only gives the user access to files inside the internal memory of the Pulsar device, while the latter also gives access to all 16GB of media inside Pulsar cloud storage.
Viewfinder
Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are especially fond of the Stream Vision viewfinder. It turns your smartphone or tablet into a handy streaming device.
One of the great things about the viewfinder is that it is accessible to everyone, you don’t have to own the Pulsar device to enjoy the transmitted recording. For example, one of Pulsar’s digital NV optics or thermal images can be attached near animal feeding sites or mounted on a tree stand, perhaps to one overlooking a cornfield. Real-time observations can be done from miles away, without disrupting the behavioral patterns of wildlife. Not only that, a single device recording can be broadcast to a number of smartphones or tablets.
Stream Vision 2 comes with the portrait mode option in addition to the default landscape set-up. Though it may seem a superfluous thing, the portrait mode actually improves the ergonomics of the Stream Vision app. In addition to that, users can now be more creative in filming their hunting exploits in the great wide open.
There are two sets of functions, located in the upper and in the lower menu of the Stream Vision 2 viewfinder. The viewfinder interface intentionally resembles a smartphone camera setup.
SV2 Viewfinder – Upper menu
- Brightness
- Contrast
- Zoom
- Picture in Picture
- Device Settings
SV2 Viewfinder – Lower menu
- Video recording
- Photo capture
- Device gallery
- Observation modes
- Color palettes
- Reticle type
- Reticle color
- Reticle brightness
Motion Detection
Motion detection is a very popular feature of Stream Vision that will be also available in a later version of the Stream Vision 2 app.
After connecting the optics to your smartphone app, Hunters only need to affix their NV or thermal imager onto a fixed, stable spot and point the display towards the field, feeding station, forest clearing … anywhere where animals are expected to loiter around. Your Pulsar device will then essentially operate as a security camera – any detected movement in the unit’s field of view will be notified to your smartphone.
What is more, hunters can adjust the sensitivity setting based on the size of the animal – be it a deer, boar, or moose. So the sensor won’t report just any animal movement, like a spooked rabbit or a flutter of horned owl’s wings. Enhanced accuracy of the motion detection sensor is also aided by ensuring zero movement of your Pulsar device.
The alerts to your smartphone or tablet can be modified as well. You can opt for a simple sound or vibration or a direct graphic. The motion sensor can also be enabled or disabled with a simple click, so you won’t receive notifications just at any time of the day.
Device Gallery
Photo and video clips that are stored directly inside the Pulsar device can be viewed here.
Unfortunately, clip previews are not ready-available when stored directly on thermal and NV devices. So it can be tricky to quickly discern which files are worth keeping or sharing with friends.
In order to get the previews, the user has to download the files in 4 easy steps.
With a long press on the selector button, simply click on the desired files. Click on the download icon in the upper right of the menu and the files will be queued for transfer to the smartphone. Once downloaded to the smartphone, the files will be marked as such and can now be previewed as normal.
Phone Gallery
Phone gallery includes 2 types of files: those that are stored directly in the smartphone; and those that are stored in the cloud.
Again, all file icons include small blue markings that denote the location of the file. It’s a quick way to let the user know which files are synchronized and which ones are not.
Newsfeed feature
Pulsar is the leading producer of NV and thermal optics for hunters, professional sports shooters, forestry and conservation organizations, security professionals, life-rescue teams, and outdoor enthusiasts.
It’s no surprise then, that highly-anticipated product launches usually generate huge buzz among fans of the Yukon/Pulsar optics, industry aficionados, and competing brands. But it’s can be difficult to keep your tabs on everything that is going on in such a fast-developing market, where continued innovations mean that new devices seem to be released at a drop of a hat.
Newsfeed feature will keep you in the know about all things Pulsar in neatly organized press clippings. All new information on Pulsar devices, company milestones, latest market events, fun tidbits, and more will be delivered directly to your Stream Vision 2 app.
App Settings
This feature provides easy access to the following:
- App Settings
- Firmware update
- Device information
- List of connected devices
- Cloud login
- Personal profile data
Firmware update
When checking the information of a connected device, the user has a chance to check and download any firmware updates.
As far as firmware updates on Stream Vision 1 versus Stream Vision 2 are concerned, there are no differences in the task sequence. The only improvement is the intuitive user interface of SV2.
The update can be completed in a few easy steps.
- Connect your device
- Launch the app
- Open Settings
- Select your device
- Press “Check firmware update”
- Update firmware
Mobile data should be activated during this procedure to enable firmware download from Yukon server.
Stream Vision 2 Cloud
Stream Vision 2 lets the user store and share recorded photos and videos. Recorded files can be downloaded from digital NV or thermal imager to smartphone and shared with friends via online messengers or cloud services.
In order to access the free Pulsar cloud storage, the user needs to register within the Stream Vision app. That’s all it takes to enjoy 16 GB of space, for free.
Without creating a cloud account, the user can still use Stream Vision 2. It only means that cloud storage will not be available. All files will have to be stored on the Pulsar device or smartphone.
Pulsar users can also access the cloud via a web browser. But note that files can only be uploaded via smartphone, possibly to avoid misuse of storage space.
Inside the cloud, people can:
- Store files in a safe place
- Share links to files
- Access synchronized files
- Organize files by type or other characteristics
- Delete files
To access Pulsar Web Cloud, simply CLICK HERE.
Final Thoughts
What we like most about Stream Vision 2 is that the app is more stable than its predecessor.
One of the biggest benefits of switching to Stream Vision 2 is the potential of using more than just a singular smartphone or tablet to connect to a Pulsar optical device. Cloud storage, too, can be accessed by a number of devices. When it comes to the online community of users of thermal and NV optics, file sharing has never been made so easy.
There’s also the newsfeed feature. Even the steadiest and fastest batch production of optical devices simply cannot meet the demands of the fast-expanding civilian market. NV and thermal devices of all price ranges sell like hotcakes. So the opportunity to be the first to know about what Pulsar has in store is just too good to pass up.
For local markets, there is also the obvious advantage of language preference. From the get-go, the SV2 app will be available in 14 languages – Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
Last but not least, Pulsar cloud storage is that something extra that makes a good thing even better. It’s a testament to Pulsar’s continuous support of its ever-growing customer base.
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