D500X Ultrasound Detector/Recorder

The D500X is an ultrasound recording unit intended for long-term, unattended recording of bat calls. In contrast to time expansion bat detectors, the D500X records full-spectrum ultrasound in real time with virtually no gaps between recordings. The recorder is equipped with four slots for CF cards, which typically makes it possible to leave the unit in the field for more than a month. The triggering system allows the device to automatically start recording as a sound is detected.

The recording length can be selected in steps from 0.3 up to 20 seconds (or continuous in manual mode). In order not to fill the card too fast at locations with high activity, a minimum time between two recordings can be applied. The recorder is normally operated in a low-power mode with no pre-trigger (i.e. the recording starts as the sound exceeds the chosen threshold level), but both pre-and post-trigger functions are available in the standard (not low-power) mode. The D500X stores the bat calls in time stamped wav files.

The D500X comes in a rugged and weather-protected aluminium housing. A soft protection case with straps to hang the unit in e.g. a tree is included.

Various accessories are available, such as an external microphone with extension cable up to 100 m.

"I spent the past two weeks teaching back-to-back workshops that focused heavily on acoustics..... and (as always) the D500X out-performed all the other models combined in number and quality of calls. I think our students were mightily impressed and my mantra "you get what you pay for" has started to sink in. Nothing beats how easy and user friendly the D500X is to operate and how easy it is to post-process the calls and get on with the business of analysis. I'm hoping it will become the "go to" device for applications requiring the best sound quality available in a passive detector."

– Janet Tyburec, wildlife biologist and consultant, Tucson, AZ, USA.

• Specifications
• In the Box
• Required Items
• Optional Items

• • Type: Direct, high-speed recording.
  • Microphone: Advanced electret, jack for external microphone.
  • Frequency Range: 15 kHz – 190 kHz (500 kHz sampling rate, high-pass filter enabled).
    5 kHz - 190 kHz (500 kHz sampling rate, high-pass filter disabled).
  • Connections: External microphone, external trigger, external DC supply.
  • Timer: Four on/off periods per day.
  • Batteries: 4 x AA size, Alkaline or NiMH recommended.
  • External DC Supply: 5.5-8 V, typically ca. 200 mA (average, when recording), depends on CF card type and number of CF cards
  • Size: 165 x 170 x 53 mm, excl. connectors etc.
  • Weight: 1.2 kg incl. batteries and front panel cover.
  
  Recording System
  
  • ADC resolution: 16 bits.
  • Anti-aliasing filter: Yes, 8th order, 190 kHz cut-off frequency.
  • Sampling rates: 44.1, 300, 500 kHz (optimized for 500 kHz).
  • Recording length: 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 sec or manual recording.
  • Recording medium: CF card, 4 slots.
• • Detector/Recorder (1)
  • Compact Flash Card 16 GB (1)
  • Case (1)
• • Batteries AA (4)
• • External Microphones
  • BatSound Real-time Spectrogram Analysis Software