The Batlogger M2 From Elekon!

I'm very happy to report, that the Batlogger M2 from Elekon, has recently arrived for review! 

It was accompanied by their new Batlogger S2, static/unattended bat recorder as well. The S2 will also be given a test and review...

However, my local weather here in New York has started to cooperate —And has become more conducive to bat activity in the past 2 days. I immediately took this opportunity to test The Batlogger M2.

I set it up on a windowsill (indoors, of course) and selected the 'Passive Mode' recording option - I had already become familiar with the User Manual, so it was very easy to navigate around it's menus.

The good news, is: When I came back to check on it a short time later, I went through the small list of recordings, and saw that it recorded a bat! 

The additional good news is: This new Batlogger M2 is not only an excellent performing, Pro-level bat detector...But it is a joy to use, and absolutely lovely as well! 

Wow! It is packed with wonderful features and abilities - I look forward to providing detailed reviews of it. Both on The BatAbility Club, and here on the blog.

For now, you can have a look at it (and some of it's features) on The Elekon website.

 

As always - Happy bat detecting!

First Impressions: The 'FG Black' Microphone - For Elekon's Batlogger M

First Impressions: The 'FG Black' microphone - For Elekon's Batlogger M

If you've been keeping abreast of top-of-the-range bat recorders recently, then you're probably familiar with The Batlogger M (from Elekon AG in Switzerland).
By now, I'm sure that many of you are well aware of what an incredible bat detector it is. It's capabilities have been proven to exceed those of instruments in it's price range, and several costing much more.

Just to reiterate my thoughts on The Batlogger M: I've found it to be the best performing bat detector I've reviewed thus far.

Several distinguished Bat Workers feel just as enthusiastic as I do about the Batlogger (if not more-so!).
I'd never really given much thought to the possibility of this unit performing even better...
Then Elekon made some optional Microphones available, amoung them is one called 'FG Black' - The fact is, they have made more than one optional microphone available. And they have been available for as long as the Batloggers have...but this Post will focus on The FG Black model.

In the photo above, from Left to Right: The FG Black, The FG Green, The BL (Stock) Mic

There's this wonderful comparison chart, of optional microphones that I've been admiring recently: Elekon's Microphones

What follows, are my initial impressions and findings. I believe that I'll be able to gather enough detailed information about this mic to write a more lengthy Review. If not, I will simply update, and add to this Post. 

Just Imagine, being able to take the "stock" Batlogger, and increase it's capabilities even further.
As you may have noticed from the microphone chart on Elekon's Site: The FG Black features an integrated preamplifier (Wiki Link explaining what a preamplifier is).
Which helps to explain why this microphone upgrade has such an amazing impact on the detector's overall performance. 

I'm monitoring it's sensitivity even now, as I type; and it's simply wonderful.
It wasn't like this on the first night I tried it out! It was rather chaotic - I simply wasn't prepared for the dramatic difference compared to the stock mic (A MEMs unit, called the BL).

With the FG Black attached (using my good quality shielded audio cable) all manner of singing Insects were being detected (and recorded!)
At first, I really wasn't sure why this was happening. The first possibility that I thought of, was that certain singing insects may have just recently become active. I considered the possibility, that a certain combination of environmental conditions was responsible (for the sudden increase in insect songs).

In any case, the first thing that I did, was to go into the Batlogger's settings, and decrease the sensitivity of the trigger. I increased the threshold from a setting of 6 to 7. Yet, some singing insects were still being recorded. I didn't mind the fact that they were heard - But, at this particular point in time, I did not intend on recording them. I eventually increased the trigger to 9, in order to stop them from being recorded. 
It was obvious that this new, amplified microphone was so much more sensitive than the stock microphone. So much so, that it was easily pulling in several species of insects (residing in the surrounding trees & vegetation). Singing insects which were not detected at all, using the stock microphone.
Switching between the microphones several times confirmed this.

Thanks to the comparison chart, provided by the researcher who preferred to remain anonymous: We know that the Batlogger and Batlogger M are able to detect and record bats, at distances of well over 60 Meters... The addition of the FG Black microphone presents some fantastic possibilities, to say the least.

At this time, I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this new microphone. I've tested it on several nights now, of course the sensitivity is terrific! And of course there's an increase in the number of bats recorded per night. But, there are more tests to be done – and more findings to report. Especially in regards to it's usefulness to those who study (and record) Orthoptera.

To be continued...

 Happy bat detecting!

A Fascinating Document From An Anonymous Amateur Researcher

I just received this fascinating document today, and wanted to share it right away - Below, is a document that was graciously provided to me, from a Naturalist who preferred to remain anonymous. It was originally provided in the German language, so I've pasted it in German first. Followed by a translation (attempt) made with Google Translate, into English.
*Note: I realize there is a problem with the chart text colour in the German version of the chart. I'm working on this...

In German:

Ergebnisprotokoll Fledermausdetektor Empfindlichkeiten        1.7.2013

 

Aufgrund von fehlenden Einschätzungen der Empfindlichkeit verschiedener Ultraschallempfangsgeräte haben wir uns entschlossen, einen diesbezüglichen Test durchzuführen. Die Ergebnisse sind natürlich nur als Richtwerte zu sehen und können von Gerät zu Gerät (innerhalb einer Serie) unterschiedlich ausfallen.

Mit einem UltraSoundGate Player BL Light wurde eine Ruf-Sequenz der Zwergfledermaus wiedergegeben. Die Verstärkung lag nach Einstellungen am Gerät bei 20 dB. Die Testumgebung befand sich in einer 70 m langen Lagerhalle, die völlig leer war. Die Entfernung wurde mit einem 50 m Bandmaß festgestellt.

Alle Geräte wurden mit ihrem Mikrofon direkt auf die Schallquelle ausgerichtet. Bei Geräten mit Kopfhöreranschluss entfernte sich die Person mit dem Gerät in der Hand langsam von der Schallquelle weg. An der Stelle, wo das Schallsignal nicht mehr in den Kopfhörern zu hören war, wurde die Entfernung gemessen.

Bei Geräten ohne Kopfhöreranschluss wurden alle 10 m Aufnahmen von Hand ausgelöst und später am Rechner mit der zum Gerät zugehörigen Auswertung Software begutachtet (zum Beispiel Batcorder).

Bei Geräten, die live die Rufmittelfrequenz erfassen und anzeigen (zum Beispiel Batscanner, Batlogger) bildete die Erfassung der Rufmittelfrequenz die Empfindlichkeitsschwelle, d.h. nur bis zu dem Punkt, an dem die Rufmittelfrequenz noch angezeigt wurde galt die Erfassung. In manchen Fällen waren die Rufe darüber hinaus noch hörbar, wurden vom Gerät jedoch nicht getriggert.

Ultraschall Empfänger	Typ	letzte Signale bei	Bemerkung
BATLOGGER alt	Echtzeit Ultraschallgerät mit Aufnahme auf SD Karte	58,70m+	Messbereich durch Hallenende begrenzt
BATLOGGER neu	Echtzeit Ultraschallgerät mit Aufnahme auf SD Karte und Mithörmöglichkeit	58,70m+	Messbereich durch Hallenende begrenzt
BATCORDER	Echtzeit Ultraschallgerät mit Aufnahme auf SD Karte	30m
PETTERSSON D240x	Mischer/Zeitdehnungsdetektor ohne eingebaute Aufnahmemöglichkeit.	16m
PETTERSSON D1000x	Mischer, Teiler, Zeitdehnungsdetektor mit Aufnahmemöglichkeit auf CF Karte	33m
BATSCANNER alte Version	Mischerdetektor mit Rufmittelfrequenzanzeige	17m
BATSCANNER neue Version	Mischerdetektor mit Ruf Mittelfrequenzanzeige	10m
SSF BAT2	Mischerdetektor mit Frequenzskala	23,5m
BATON Batbox	Teiler Detektor mit eingebautem Lautsprecher	5m
CIEL CDB105 R2	Mischerdetektor mit Frequenzskala	18m
CIEL CDB205 R2	Teilerdetektor	31m

Die Mini Horchbox von Battomania erreichte eine Reichweite von 3 m. Hier wird der Testaufbau noch einmal wiederholt, da das Ergebnis zu negativ ist. Die Batlogger werden ebenso noch einmal getestet, um die tatsächliche Reichweite zu vermessen, da bei der angegebenen Entfernung die Halle zu Ende war, jedoch nicht die Triggerung des Gerätes. Des Weiteren kommen noch andere Geräte zum Test. Hierzu zählen die alten Geräte von Sky, das Mikrofon von Dodotronik und andere Geräte, um deren Leihgabe wir ersuchen.

 

In English:

Results log bat detector sensitivities               1.7.2013

Due to the lack of estimates of the sensitivity of various ultrasonic receivers, we decided to perform a test in this regard. The results are of course seen as a guide only and may vary from device to device (within a series).

With an Ultrasound gate Player BL Light a call was - sequence of pipistrelle reproduced. The gain was on the settings on the unit at 20 dB. The test environment was in a 70-meter warehouse, which was completely empty. The distance was determined using a 50 m tape measure.

All devices were aligned using her microphone directly at the sound source. For devices with a headphone port, the person slowly removed with the device in hand away from the sound source. At the point where the sound signal could no longer be heard in the headphones, the distance was measured.

For devices without a headphone jack every 10 m recordings were triggered by hand and later on to the computer with the device associated analysis software assessed (for example batcorder).

For devices, the live capture and display (for example Batscanner, BATLOGGER) the Rufmittelfrequenz capturing the Rufmittelfrequenz formed the sensitivity threshold, ie only up to the point at which the Rufmittelfrequenz was still displayed was the capture. In some cases, the calls were also still audible, but were not triggered by the device.

Ultrasound receiver	Type	signals at last	Comment
BATLOGGER old	Real-time ultrasound machine with recording to SD card	58,70 m +	Range limited by Hall End
BATLOGGER new	Real-time ultrasound machine with recording to SD card and listen-	58,70 m +	Range limited by Hall End
Batcorder	Real-time ultrasound machine with recording to SD card	30m
Pettersson D240x	Mixer / recording time expansion detector without built-in option.	16m
Pettersson D1000X	Mixers, dividers, time expansion detector with option to CF card	33m
BATSCANNER old version	Detector mixer with Rufmittelfrequenzanzeige	17m
BATSCANNER new version	Mixer detector with call center frequency display	10m
SSF BAT2	Mixer detector with frequency scale	23.5 m
BATON Batbox	Divider detector with built-in speakers	5m
CIEL CDB105 R2	Mixer detector with frequency scale	18m
CIEL CDB205 R2	Divider detector	31m

The mini Horchbox of Battomania reached a distance of 3 m. Here is the test structure is repeated once more, because the result is negative. The BATLOGGER also be tested again to measure the actual range, since at the specified distance, the hall was over, but not the triggering of the device. Moreover join other devices for testing. These include the old equipment from Sky, Dodotronik of the microphone and other devices to the loan we ask.

                                                               ------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Amazing stuff, huh? I have some additional (positive) statements to make myself, in regards to The Batlogger M - In an upcoming Post. I'm very surprised by what this Author found with the Petterssons. I would like an opportunity to check these out myself. When testing the Pettersson D240X, I remember that it had very good pick-up range (distance)...

...Next Post will be the full review of The AR125 from Binary Acoustic Technology!