Bob, when coupled with mist netting, the Anabat is the standard to be compatible with other data. As a stand along without netting it is also the standard. Many others have come along as follows but I know nothing about the new ones.
John AnaBat - A Zero-crossing detector only, designed to work most compatibly with AnaLook software for analysis. Several models are available, and most can be connected to a netbook or PDA for instant viewing of the bat call as it is coming in so it can be used for active monitoring. On-board CF storage cards allow for passive monitoring. The small file-sizes of the recordings allows for long-term, season-long or year long recording events to a single high-capacity card. Pettersson - produces heterodyne, Zero-crossing, Time-expansion, and direct-recording models, including models that combine two or more of these technologies. Different models can be used for active or passive monitoring and many are ideally suited for long-term deployment, with on-board CF card slots to store up to 128GB of recordings. Pettersson detectors have many advantages, including the highest-quality microphones and extremely dependable electronics. The D500x model has become the "go to" full-spectrum, solution for long-term monitoring at several wind turbine installations. With an external battery, the unit can record for 4 weeks at a time and in a 2011 project in PA, two units deployed at a wind farm experienced 100% uptime during an 8-month monitoring period. Binary Acoustic Technology - produces mainly direct-recording detectors employing the full-spectrum recording technology using the same microphone as in the AnaBat. These units can be paired with external storage devices, netbooks, or laptops for indefinite long-term passive monitoring or to provide snapshots of full-spectrum recordings during active recording or driving transect efforts. They offer the largest selection of USB powered microphones of any manufacturers; each model has aparticular speciality such as type field coverage. Detectors are robust, simple to operate, and reliable under typical field conditions. Wildlife Acoustics - produces some of the newest bat detectors on the market and has a long history of working with technologies to record wildlife. Their entry into bat models included the SM2+ and EM3 which were both discontinued after only a few seasons in the market. The SM2+ was designed for passive monitoring and includes a reduced sample rate option, which allows for dual microphone deployment so bats can be recorded on one channel while other wildlife is recorded on the other. Multiple slots for SD-HC flash memory cards allow for unattended monitoring for up to one month. External power and storage capacity will extend this period. The EM3 was designed to be used as an active or short-term passive detector. It had a low resolution on-board LCD screen to display real-time views of bat sonographs in addition to storage for a single SD-HC flash memory card allowing for unattended recording. Both detectors can record zero-cross and full-spectrum data. These devices have been superceeded by the SM3 and the Echometer Touch, which we will review when they become availabe in 2014. Great, so what do I actually have to do with all these recordings to figure out what kind of bats I've got? There are also many different software products designed for the display and analysis of bat echolocation recordings. The two most popular packages are: AnaLook W. [1] This software is most compatible with AnaBat detectors, but also allows analysis of files recorded by SM2BAT+ recording in native zero-cross mode.  Any full spectrum file can be converted to ZC format and viewed in Analook, however, as mentioned above, sound features such as harmonics and peak frequency are lost. Analook provides a full range of parameter extraction and filtering capabilities for making species identification classifications. The interface is not terribly user friendly however, and true competency can best be obtained thru constant practice and use or by attending a software training workshop. SonoBat 3.0x [2]. [1] This program is compatible with any full-spectrum detector unit being produced today. Various utilities are designed to speed post-processing along so calls can be easily and efficiently imported allowing for rapid analysis. The program has a built-in classifier, which will automatically provide call and sequence classifications, outputting a discriminate probability value for the classification as well as a complete set of time-frequency and time-amplitude call parameters for each recording. The interface is very user friendly and versions for Mac OSX and PC Microsoft Windows platforms are available. Other software products in use include: SCAN'R (Binary Acoustics Technology), BatSound (Pettersson), Avisoft, and Song Scope (Wildlife Acoustics). --- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Rd Burdett, NY 14818 42.443508000, -76.758202000 On 2017-09-27 20:20, bob mcguire wrote: > Does anyone on the List have experience with bat detectors? Anything that you > can recommend for casual (not pro) use? > > I see that there are stand-alone devices & clip-on modules for iPhone costing > from $150 on up. I see reviews for various items, but no overall evaluation > of what is available. > > Thanks for any help. > > Bob McGuire > > (Chris T-H - shut this thread down if not appropriate for the List). > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- Links: ------ [1] http://users.lmi.net/corben/index.htm#top [2] http://www.sonobat.com/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --