PIPISTRELLE BAT DETECTORS
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  • pippyg FAQ
  • How to use pippyg
  • How to use π•pistrelle
  • How to use the Bat Detector USB microphone
  • Self-Build Equipment
  • PCBWay ordering process
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π•pistrelle handheld bat detector / 384kHz full-spectrum recorder / 384kHz USB microphone : APPROX £20 BUILD COST
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pipistrelle mini handheld bat detector / 384kHz USB microphone : APPROX £15 BUILD COST
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pippyg passive bat detector with 384kHz full-spectrum recording. Runs for up to 7 days powered by 3x AA rechargeable batteries, records to microSD card : APPROX £15 BUILD COST
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"Griff" 384kHz USB microphone. Use the iOS "Bat Detector" App to hear and record bats on bat walks, in the park, garden or on formal surveys. LESS THAN £10 BUILD COST

FEATURES


π•pistrelle, pipistrelle mini and pippyg offer high-end features previously seen only on high-cost equipment, despite being the lowest-cost bat recorders on the market. 

π•pistrelle and pipistrelle mini - handheld active bat detector​
  • Heterodyne detection 
    • Rhythm of bat calls is preserved
    • Scans automatically for bat calls
    • No manual tuning - "eyes to the skies" operation
  • Advanced "Time Expansion" mode reveals true nature of bat sounds
    • ​Harmonic relationships of bat calls are preserved
    • Slows down bat calls 16x or 10x (user-configurable)
  • Audio output over headphone socket
    • ​Connect to external powered speaker to lead bat walks
  • 10-​LED real-time spectrum display
    • indicates approximate frequency of calling bats
    • More detail available via frequency speech synthesis​​
  • Auto-detect USB microphone mode
    • When powered off then plugged into an iPhone or iPad, pipistrelle handheld detectors power up as 384kHz USB microphones for use with the Bat Detector app :  apps.apple.com/gb/app/bat-detector/id6504186190
  • ​π•pistrelle adds pippyg recording features​​
​​
pippyg - passive bat detector​
  • Records 384kHz / 16-bit wav files to microSD
    • File size optimised for analysis by BTO Acoustic Pipeline
    • Files timestamped and location-stamped
    • Geolocation metadata stored in industry-standard "GUANO" format​
    • ​​iOS / MacOS / Android app configures devices for recording​​
      • Sets up device ID
      • Date and time
      • Geolocation
  • ​Devices typically run for 4 to 7 days
    • ​​Based on measured performance using 2450mAh rechargeables
    • Achievable run-time depends on number of recordings​
  • Device can be reflashed with new firmware to operate as a 384kHz / 16-bit USB microphone for use with the Bat Detector app for iPhone and iPad : apps.apple.com/gb/app/bat-detector/id6504186190

pippyg and π•pistrelle are both powered by 3 AA batteries, ​pipistrelle mini by AAA
​pipistrelle mini and π•pistrelle both operate as 384kHz USB microphones when powered from USB port
  • Designed for use with the iOS App Bat Detector
USB microphone is recognised by iOS, MacOS, Windows and Linux - does not yet work with Android

Suite of support tools provided both as C++ source code and as precompiled cross-platform binaries
  • Binaries are JavaScript for running in Node.js®, which is available for Microsoft, Apple and Linux
    • Download Node.js® for your operating system here : https://nodejs.org/en
  • ​sonogram.js ​creates .jpg sonograms from a folder of recordings, and creates a .CSV of the latitude / longitudes of those recordings for uploading to Google My Maps, allowing you to visualize a bat walk
  • chirpwav.js ​creates .wav file to configure devices
  • patchpip.js modifies firmware images to support device re-flashing with custom behaviour

Example recordings : all recorded by pippyg 13th April 2024
click any image to download zip file containing original wav files

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Daubenton's Bat
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Lesser Horseshoe bat
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Common Pipistrelle
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Serotine
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Common Noctule
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Brown Long-Eared bat

SELF-BUILD BAT DETECTORS and USB MICROPHONES

BUILD YOUR OWN π•pistrelle bat detectors / 384kHz USB microphones
​

Buy blank PCBs, solder paste stencil and optional 3D printed cases here  : 
​
https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/pipistrelle_version_5_3_0375ab21.html
Component shopping list (DigiKey) is in the PCBWay description

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BUILD YOUR OWN pipistrelle mini bat detectors / 384kHz USB microphones

Buy blank PCBs, solder paste stencil and optional 3D printed cases here  :https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/pipistrelle_mini_with_on_off_switch_0f69b7fd.html
Component shopping list (DigiKey) is in the PCBWay description

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BUILD YOUR OWN pippyg static detectors
​

Buy blank PCBs, 3D prints and solder paste stencil here :  
​
https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/pippyg_3_6_20ba6dee.html 
Component shopping list (DigiKey) is in the PCBWay description
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BUILD YOUR OWN DEDICATED WEARABLE 384kHz USB Microphones

NO HAND SOLDERING. 10 MINUTE BUILD. UNDER £10 PER DEVICE WHEN BUILDING 10


"Griff the Superstar Noctule" microphone here :
https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/USB_microphone_Griff_The_Superstar_Noctule_Edition_600dff08.html
Component shopping list (DigiKey) is in the PCBWay description

​Download "Bat Detector" for iPhone / iPad : https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bat-detector/id6504186190
Public beta of "Bat Detector" for the absolute latest / experimental version : testflight.apple.com/join/M5R8kipW
User manual / help file for "Bat Detector" : drive.google.com/file/d/10723PcyZgnePU8nobF-nY_hJWGYkW_kx/view?usp=share_link
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BAT SYNTH
ECHOLOCATION SYNTHESIZER for education and bat detector training

BAT SYNTH
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  • Simulate up to 10 bat species​
  • 384kHz synthesis
  • USB powered
  • Frequency response beyond 80kHz​ (limited by tweeter)
  • Coming eventually - bat calls and passes can be preprogrammed for non-UK locations​

Default species collection : 
  • Common Pipistrelle
  • Soprano Pipistrelle
  • Soprano Pipistrelle social calls
  • Noctule
  • Brown Long-Eared Bat
  • Brandt's Bat
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat (110kHz 2nd harmonic is weak, limitation of tweeter)
  • Greater Horseshoe Bat
  • Coming soon - Daubenton's Bat, and Barbastelle

​BUILD COST : Approx £35 per unit when building 10, including 3D printed case. 
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Buy Bat Synth PCBs and 3D prints :  https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Bat_Synth_an_echolocation_synthesizer_d15f195c.html

LINKS TO RESOURCES


DOWNLOAD DELIVERABLES PACKAGE : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sj7XKYEPnR8_FEeYSu9Fry0mr7BxWoEF/view?usp=share_link
DOWNLOAD π•pistrelle version 5.3 USER MANUAL : drive.google.com/file/d/1odD8Egq0uzO-VPCAT3Ot1bYMn0L9L4Qm/view?usp=share_link
DOWNLOAD pipistrelle on the App Store : https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/pipistrelle/id1664120907
DOWNLOAD pipistrelle on Google Play : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zbm2.pipistrelle&hl=en_GB&pli=1
​DOWNLOAD "Build your own Bat Detector workshop" presenter / leader slides : drive.google.com/file/d/1KgzPHhMWJtmJcmGEUM0NDViqiHY8UcMj/view

​QUICK PURCHASE LINKS (mostly Amazon.co.uk)
SMALL HOTPLATE : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=pohove+led+PTC+hotplate
SILICONE RUBBER MAT : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=silicone+mat+soldering+TE-509
SOLDER PASTE (makes at least 20 devices) : https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/chip-quik-inc/NC191SNL50/11480385
HIGH CAPACITY RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=HiQuick+AA+2800mah
CUTTERS : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=electronics+side+cutters
TWEEZERS : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=electronics+tweezers

π•pistrelle, pippyg and Bat Detector on YouTube

pippyg 3 minute guide
"Bat Detector" synced with captured video of Serotines in Wiltshire
Self-build pipistrelle (version 4.12L)
How to use pipistrelle / pippyg (pipistrelle version 4.12L) 
Self-build USB microphone
How to use Sonogram.js included in the pipistrelle deliverables package
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pipistrelle for iOS
pipistrelle_deliverables-v8_02.zip
File Size: 23212 kb
File Type: zip
Download File

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email me!
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Bat Detector - the PERFECT app for leading a bat walk