One of the most common issues with detectors deployed in the field is microphone failure due to improper care and setup. You can avoid these problems by following a few simple steps before, during and after deployment, and save yourself the major headache of losing data.

Before deployment:

   1. Don’t screw your microphone on too tightly. Make sure your microphone is secure, but not too tight. By overtightening, you can risk breaking the seal or other internal components. Make sure your microphone is screwed on properly and inserted in alignment. If the microphone is too loose or incorrectly threaded, the integrity of the seal may be compromised and water/moisture or other particles can come in and potentially damage.

   2. Check your microphone is working properly. Your microphone needs to be responsive when there’s noise and unresponsive when there’s not. To check this before deployment, try rubbing your fingers in front of the microphone to create noise, and block the microphone with your fingertip to block all noise and see if any noise registers.

   3. Don’t play with the internals of the microphone or the socket as they are sensitive.

During deployment:

   1. Microphones should be placed horizontally. Heavy rain or hail can cause damage to the element if the microphone is positioned upwards. Although the microphones have weatherproofing and can withstand some rain, if the microphone is pointed upwards, rain droplets will sit on the element itself and you won’t have good quality recordings. You need to then wait for the rain to evaporate off.

   2. Don’t deploy during hazardous conditions, if you expect lightning or dry, windy conditions causing electrostatic build-up, see the detector user manual for additional mounting considerations. 

After deployment:

   1. Remove the microphone from the detector if it is stored separately (Express and Swift) and replace the dust cap over the microphone point on the device.

   2. Make sure you get your microphone checked / serviced once a year (you can send them back to your distributor).

              Microphones that have been damaged by the elements and overtightening.

Look after your microphone and your microphone will perform reliably every deployment.