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UltraSoundGate 116Hbm for passive bat monitoring applications |
part # 61160 | |
Cost-effective bus-powered ultrasound recording interface with a balanced analog input, rugged aluminum housing and USB 2.0 interface. This stripped-down model is suited for stationary long-term bat call monitoring applications.
A low-cost netbook computer such as an Asus Eee PC 1005PE can run the recording system continuously for more than 8 hours (with all possible power saving options activated).
An Asus Eee Box B202 desktop PC (powered either from the mains supply or from 12V lead-acid batteries) could be operated in an unattended mode for several days/nights. The BIOS RTC alarm feature* in combination with the RECORDER software autostart and shut down commands would allow to run the system only for a few hours each night. The current draw from the 12V DC input is 110 mA while the PC is switched off and 1.0 A while the RECORDER USGH software is running. Alternatively, the computer could also be switched on and off by using an external digital 12VDC timer switch in combination with the BIOS "APM Configuration" > "Restore on AC Power Loss", which would further reduce the standby power consumption.
The total price including the computer would be less than 3000 Euros.
The included Avisoft-RECORDER USGH software provides various automated trigger and timer options that support this kind of long-term monitoring.
The log files created by the included RECORDER USGH software can be sent automatically via email in order to indentify potential problems at remote field stations. See the
 tutorial for automatically sending log files via email
* Due to a quirk of this specific Eee Box PC, it is be necessary to boot the computer once again each time after modifying the RTC alarm settings and also after disconnecting the PC from the power supply voltage. Otherwise, the BIOS Wake up on RTC alarm functionality will not function.
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UltraSoundGate 116Hbm front view
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| Number of channels | 1 |
| ADC type | Delta-Sigma architecture with integrated adaptive anti-aliasing filter |
| Resolution | 16 bit or 8 bit |
| Sample rates [kHz] | 300, 250, 214, 187.5, 166.6, 150, 125, 100, 75, 62.5, 50 |
| Frequency response (-3dB, external input without mic) | 20 Hz - 140 kHz |
| Acoustic monitor output | no |
| Overload indicator (red LED) | no |
| Peak level meter (4 LEDs) | no |
| Input sensitivity (max trim) | -43.2dBV = -41 dBu = 6.9 mVrms |
| Input sensitivity (min trim) | -3.2dBV = -1 dBu = 0.69 Vrms |
| Gain adjustment potentiometer | 40 dB continuous range |
| Input impedance | 50 kOhm |
| Analog input connector | female XLR-5 socket |
| Other inputs | none |
| Computer interface | USB 2.0, isochronous high-speed mode |
| Physical USB connection | standard B-type USB socket |
| Maximum power supply current (drawn from the USB) | 160 mA |
| Housing | compact aluminum enclosure |
| Physical dimensions (W/H/D) in mm | 90 x 53 x 130 |
| Weight | 290 g |
| Included software | Avisoft-RECORDER USGH for Windows XP, Vista and 7 |
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Principle of the UltraSoundGate 116Hbm recording system
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UltraSoundGate 116Hbm with condenser microphone
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part # 61161 | |
- UltraSoundGate 116Hbm with Avisoft-RECORDER USGH,
- Very sensitive externally polarized condenser microphone (CM16 + CMPA) with a flat frequency response,
replaceable capsule, low-noise and low-distortion preamplifier (no spare capsule included),
- Microphone extension cable (5 m),
- Microphone stand (microphone clamp and mini tripod),
- USB-powered microphone heating,
- Rain protection tube for the microphone.
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UltraSoundGate 116Hbm with electret microphone
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part # 61162 | |
- UltraSoundGate 116Hbm with Avisoft-RECORDER USGH,
- Rugged electret microphone,
- Microphone extension cable (5 m),
- Microphone stand (microphone clamp and mini tripod),
- Rain protection tube for the microphone.
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Optionally available accessories
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- Power supply cable (#51170) suited for powering an ASUS Eee PC 1000H (or 901) directly from an external 12V lead acid battery,
- 40 kHz or 20 KHz test signal speaker (#60105 / #60106 ) with 10 m extension cable and mini tripod for routinely testing the recoring system by playing a .wav file through the PC soundcard, which is supported by the RECORDER software command Monitoring/Test signal...
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What are the advantages of this PC-based bat monitoring system?
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- Almost unlimited recording capacity because large computer harddisks (or external 2.5" bus-powered USB harddisks) are being used to save the recorded sound files, which enables unattended recording throughout the entire season!
- The accompanying versatile recording software provides a wide range of recording options that include advanced algorithms for detecting even very soft bat calls that are almost buried in the background noise floor (trigger option 'whistle tracking'). A Wiener Entropy threshold can prevent that a recording is triggered by broad-band insect noise.
- The trigger thresholds and frequency intervals can be adjusted visually on the real-time spectrographic display.
- The recorded sound files are saved as common .wav files that can be processed by various sound analysis software applications.
- An optional sound file input mode (which replaces the microphone input signal by a .wav file) allows to test and to optimize the current trigger settings on a previously recorded sound file.
- For projects that require unattended recording for several days or weeks, a special test signal playback mode allows to test the system periodically by connecting an ultrasound speaker (#60105) to the PC.
- The sample rate can be adapted to the required frequency range (there is an integrated anti-aliasing filter that allows to sample the analog input signal at lower rates without introducing artifacts) and the bit depth can be reduced to 8 bits in order to save storage space.
- There are two different microphone options in order to best suit various field conditions: The sensitive condenser microphone CM16/CMPA provides best results under dry field conditions, while the electret microphone will still work under more humid conditions (at the expense of a reduced sensitivity at higher frequencies above about 50 kHz).
Though, the supplied heating module for the condenser microphone can improve its performance in humid environments. The condenser microphone option will significantly improve the ability to capture high-frequency echolocation calls such as those emitted by horseshoe bats.
- Optionally available long microphone extension cables allow placing the microphone as far as 300 meters from the base unit and the computer.
- The PC platform ensures that the system can be easily integrated with other components such as remote access (Windows Remote Desktop) via WLAN or UMTS (easy-to-use remote access software for remote control and .wav file download is for instance available from TeamViewer.com) and that it will be possible to adapt the system incrementally to future advances in technology, such as improved mass storage media.
- The UltraSoundGate 116Hbm is certainly very well suited for acoustic bat monitoring projects at wind energy facilities.
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In case it was sufficient to monitor and record signal frequencies below 80...90 kHz, the
low-cost bat montoring system could be used instead of the UltraSoundGate 116Hbm.
Avisoft Bioacoustics also provides powerful tools for conducting bat transect surveys. See the Avisoft Bat Survey sample.
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