Preliminaries
The recorder can operate in two standard modes:
by repeating, every 24 hours, the set recording cycle, and in this case you can adjust different periods of activity in the 24 hours, (in the units programming software it is called MODE TIMER) or and is
alternating a recording period with a pause period, i.e., adjusting a recording time that will be followed by a pause time, until the memory is full or until the batteries are discharged. This mode is called, in software, MODE REPEAT, and is a mode of operation normally called “duty cycle.”
In TURSIONET, at least initially, we will use DUTY CYCLE sampling (MODE REPEAT), recording, for example, 15 minutes and following it up with 5 minutes of pause. We will thus have 3 periods recorded for each hour of sampling, for a total of 45 minutes of audio per hour.
The units come as clear acrylic cylinders with two white screw-on caps (made of a softer plastic resin called POM-C or Delrin). Inside are the batteries, the recording card with its memory, and a magnetic switch. On the top cap is a hydrophone, i.e., the actual sensor, while at the base cap, internally, there may be a position transmitter that could be useful for finding accidentally lost recorders.
To program the sampling pattern (i.e., the periods when the systems should record), it is necessary to use an ANDROID phone or tablet on which this app must be installed on the ANDROID device. intallation is MANUAL, i.e., it is necessary to access the link from the phone and download the file to the phone itself. You must then FORCE the app to run (security warnings will appear, confirm and proceed without concern).
Upon completion of the installation you will find UM384BLE among the apps on your device.
This is the app that should be used to program the recorders by selecting recording and pause periods.
For future reference we point out three documents below:
The general manual of the recording units (version 2021-22D) with standard directions for use and maintenance
The manual of the electronic boards used in the recorder. It contains a description of the logic by which the recording programming works, the adjustments you can make, and the meaning of the three flashing LEDs;
Here, finally, is a simple spreadsheet for estimating the operating life of uRec384k recorders.
You download this XLS file, change the parameters of your sampling, and get an estimate of battery life and the time it takes to fill the memory card. The recorder will run until the memory is full or until the batteries are dead, whichever comes first.