Showing posts with label Do bat detectors work?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Do bat detectors work?. Show all posts

Sunday, May 28, 2023

A Muon Detector (nothing to do with bats), The Dodotronic Evo 384K USB Mic Review, Another TeensyBat, PiPPYG's, and Batwalks...

OK, this isn't a bat detector...And it basically has absolutely nothing to do with bats. I apologize; but it's just too cool not to share. 


The complete (unbuilt) Muon Detector Kit
from UKRAA (Link Here).


It's a Muon Detector kit. It detects particles called muons, which originate from cosmic rays entering Earth's atmosphere - And I will confess: Lately, I've become a wee bit obsessed with them. 
In any case, I'm determined to acquire a kit.



For those of you who don't solder/build kits - There's
a fully completed/tested kit, in enclosure available (Here).

Now, after some substantial web searching, you'll find (as I did) that Muon detector kits aren't easy to find. It turns out that, as with everything else I adore, the best kits are found in The UK! From The UK Radio Astronomy Association (www.UKRAA.com).

The (scarce) Muon detectors normally encountered (when one searches fervently for them) are almost always DIY units. Such as this one (what the UKRAA kit is based on). The issue with this one, and all the other (hobbyist-level/DIY) kits, is that in order to build it, one has to order the various components from several different suppliers/locations. 

That is what makes these kits from UKRAA so attractive: They come complete with everything in one package - Even down to the small quantity of optical grease needed for construction! (in small syringe).  

I've been researching them left, right, and center even delving into Particle Physics along the way! The most complex math equations I've ever seen in my life!

As for bat detectors: The Evo 384K USB Microphone from Dodotronic is currently under test. I certainly plan to put it through it's paces. Note: This device records ultrasound and audible sound simultaneously. So far, I've made short recordings of Barred Owls, Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus), and some unidentified creature(s) from the woods. All I keep thinking is - It's time to consult the 'Is That a Bat' book!
The Evo 384k will be featured in a presentation review on BatAbility Courses & Tuition on Tuesday, May 30th!

I am slowly but surely making progress on building more PiPPYG's and Batwalk units...My goal is to provide any supplemental information, construction notes, tips, etc. for these units.  

Best wishes & happy bat detecting!

Friday, March 24, 2023

A Quick Update Post Re: The TeensyBat 4.1 Detector

The TeensyBat site has recently released new software for The TeensyBat 4.1 bat detector.

I've been using mine quite a bit lately... This is the second one I've built (PCB Ver. 0.7). I'm planning on ordering another kit, which now utilizes the very latest PCB (Ver. 0.8). As I type this, I have the (recently completed) TeensyBat plugged into an external (powered) speaker. 

I enjoy listening to the bats, using the Auto-Heterodyne feature (heterodyne with the benefit of automatic tuning).

My local bats are out, and seem to be celebrating Spring! 

The latest software adds some nice features: https://www.teensybat.com/software  Including very nice Auto-Record features.

Edwin Houwertjes (of The Netherlands), has recently made some new YouTube videos demonstrating his TeensyBat Detector (~ 4 months ago) - they provide an excellent explanation and overview of this kit:


TeensyBat detector basic use V1.4


TeensyBat playback and record V1.4


TeensyBat settings V1.4


Happy bat detecting!

Looking for The Next Bat Detector for Review!

Well… For now, I’d just like to say Thank You to The Netherlands! 🇳🇱  There will be 2 new bat detectors tested and reviewed here in the ne...