[PSUBS-MAILIST] 2019 Flathead Lake Expedtion

[Cliff Redus via Personal_Submersibles]

 Dr. Jim Craft, the Science Point for the Expedition from the Flathead Lake Bio Station (University of Montana)  has drafted the 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition science objectives(attached).  Jim has the surface crew and psub boat captains documenting any observations we will make during the dive.  Surface crew will be recording data such as GPS location, depth, altitude of subs, and documenting an comments crew makes.  
For the R300 I have been experimenting with different ways to come up with an Audio Captains Log kind of like what Captain Kirk uses on the USS Enterprise!  I tried a number of cheap Chinese audio recording devices and was just not happy with ease of use and audio quality.  I was looking for a KISS easy to use device that would sit in the background and record MP3 files and if not in use, go into sleep mode to get long battery use.  After a few tries, I found a unit that is working great.  It is built in Korea.  The device is the MQ-L500 150 Voice Activated Recorder from MEMOQ.  These come up on Ebay all the time at $90.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/MQ-L500-Power-Bank-Audio-Recorder-Hidden-Spy-Voice-Activation-Recording-Device/153122811398?epid=17024703124&hash=item23a6d4ae06:g:q~8AAOSw51xbYgyE
The unit is build solidly with dimensions of  3.5", 1" .75" and weighs about as much as a roll of pennies and is about the same size so has a nice solid weighty feel.  Only has a roll switch that has positions of off, continuous mode or intermittent mode and a switch to display the battery level.  It came with a small magnet which I replaced with a larger one that I epoxy-ed to the device. This make it easy to attached it to the interior hull.  In the voice activated mode, the unit will record for an amazing 150 days.  In continuous mode, it will record for 14 hours.  To charge and transfer MP3 sound files to your laptop you use a USB cable that is provided.  In continuous mode it records in 5 hour segments.  The files are date and time stamped so it makes it easy to document when an event occurs.  Because the recording is to a solid state memory chip this unit also serves the role of cockpit voice recorder (CVR), in the event someone every had to do an accident investigation.  The unit has a built in mic so it will record when using either surface comes in VHF or underwater comms like OTS gear without having to plug these units into the recorder.  Something to consider.
OAS, we still have one cabin with three beds available at the Flathead Lake Bio Station (FLBS) where we will be using as a base station for the week (Aug 5-9) if anyone is considering coming.  If anyone needs more info on the cabins, let me know and I will provide.
Cliff

  
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