Reviews

Armin Lenk's CSE bat detector is available in both mono and stereo versions. It has a frequency range of 20 -110 kHz allowing detection of noctules (20kHz), pipistrelles and both lesser (80kHz) and greater (100kHz) horseshoe bats.

Its a heterodyne detector and unlike others doesn't have a built-in speaker, just a headphone socket. Armin sent me his stereo version (only Ł55 ) to try, and I was very impressed. (mono version is only Ł36)

The detector measures about 4" * 2" * 1" and pops
easily into a pocket. It's built to take knocks of field use.

The unit is light and fits comfortably in your hand, thumb resting on the tuning control. No volume control or on-off switch are needed as plugging in the phones turns on the detector.

The tuning dial has a spread scale at the lower frequencies where most common bat calls occur. The scale may be accurate enough to help distinguish between common (pipistrellus pipistrellus, 45kHz), nathusius (pipistrellus nathusii, 40kHz) and soprano pipistrelles (pipistrellus pygmaeus, 55kHz).

You can see the two microphones for stereo detection

As supplied the units calibration seems good, and the dial calibration accurate across the range. (I checked it using the television frequencies at 31, 47, 62.5 and 78kHz.) See page on calibrating your bat detector for further information.

I tried it out on the evening of May 26. A lovely clear warm (15C) night, with 2/10 cloud and a light breeze. The benefit of stereo was immediately apparent as I heard two or three pipistrelles feeding along the riverside path. Its amazing how much easier it makes it to locate and 'count' the bats, as with my mono (Maplin) detector I hadn't realised there was more than one. The detector has a nice clear airy sound - just what bats should sound like! and really makes you feel you are just hearing the bats yourself.

Daubentons bats were now patrolling up and down the river, and its easy to lose sight of them as they flip around to fly the other way. Once again the stereo sound came into its own making their changes of direction easier to detect, and also helping to show up the fact that there was actually a pair.

Unfortunately I haven't had the luck to pick up Noctules or any other bats with different call frequencies as yet, but when I do I'll let you know how this detector works for them.

Until then if you are contemplating buying a detector for your own use, you should consider this unit, and you will be amazed how much a stereo detector can enhance your listening experience. This detector gets my vote of confidence!

Reviews of bat detectors