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Installing SMART
Installing the SMART System on a wind turbine, meteorological tower, or similar structure requires careful planning. Proper connectivity, grounding, and microphone placement will help ensure a successful deployment.
Installing Microphones
SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket
The SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket is an optional accessory that allows multiple microphone orientations.
Orienting the SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket
The SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket has multiple mounting holes that allow you to angle the microphone in different ways relative to the bracket. The bracket can be used for through-hole mounting or external surface mounting.

Terms of Use
Document History
This documentation receives frequent updates, which are described here.
Introduction
Song Meter® with Analysis and Remote Transfer, or SMART™, is a multi-channel, ultrasonic audio recording and analysis platform from Wildlife Acoustics®.
Getting Started
The first time you use a SMART System, we recommend setting it up in an accessible location, such as an office. This will make it easier to configure the SMART and perform any necessary troubleshooting.
Microphone Settings and Schedules
Each microphone connected to a SMART Controller can have its own Setting Profile and Schedule Profile. These profiles determine when the microphone is active; the settings it uses to detect, record, and analyze bat echolocations; and set the scheduling of microphone sensitivity testing and moisture clearing.
SMART Controller Configuration
Before you deploy the SMART System, you should configure basic system and network settings. These include login credentials, date, location, and network configuration settings.
Data Management
The SMART System stores recordings and logs on its internal drive initially, and it can periodically transfer new data to a USB or networked storage drive.
Installing SMART
Installing the SMART System on a wind turbine, meteorological tower, or similar structure requires careful planning. Proper connectivity, grounding, and microphone placement will help ensure a successful deployment.
- Preparing to Install
  Once a SMART System is installed on a wind turbine or meteorological mast, it may become much more difficult to troubleshoot some aspects of the system. You should make sure your SMART System is fully configured and you have the appropriate materials ready prior to installation.
- Grounding
  A SMART System should be electrically grounded at multiple points (the controller, microphones, and in-between) to minimize the potential for damage from electrical discharges.
- Calculating Battery and Solar Panel Needs
  If you plan to power a SMART System using a solar panel and external battery, factors that determine how much energy the SMART will use and how much sun exposure is available per day will influence the appropriate equipment choice.
- Installing Microphones
  - Microphone Placement on Wind Turbines
    Placing your microphones thoughtfully will allow you to detect bat activity near a wind turbine most effectively. Poor microphone placement can hinder your microphones' sensitivity and produce cluttered recordings.
  - SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket
    The SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket is an optional accessory that allows multiple microphone orientations.
    - SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket Specifications
      The SMART MIC-1 mounting bracket sold by Wildlife Acoustics is designed to mount the microphone on an external surface or through the wall of a structure.
    - Orienting the SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket
      The SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket has multiple mounting holes that allow you to angle the microphone in different ways relative to the bracket. The bracket can be used for through-hole mounting or external surface mounting.
    - Assemble the SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket
      The SMART MIC-1 bracket can be quickly assembled by hand prior to installing the microphone on-site.
    - Install the SMART MIC-1 in the Mounting Bracket
      To ensure the SMART MIC-1 mounting bracket can hold the microphone securely and provide a reliable connection from the body of the microphone to ground, you must apply conductive grease and threadlocker and assemble the bracket with the specified torque.
  - Connecting the SMART MIC-1 to the SMART Controller
    In the simplest configuration, the SMART Controller can connect to two microphones via Ethernet cables with Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, up to 100 meters in length for a direct connection.
Bat Activity Alarms and Control System Integration
The SMART System can integrate with a windfarm SCADA network or similar control system to perform acoustically triggered curtailment (ATC). You can define custom alarms that detect bat activity based on custom-defined parameters. When these alarms trigger, you can send control signals to other devices on a control system to trigger turbine shutdowns.
Troubleshooting
Specifications
SMART Enclosure
The SMART Enclosure is a preconfigured, weatherproof enclosure that can be purchased with the SMART System.
SMART API and Command Reference
The SMART System software includes utilities, command-line scripts, and APIs that can be used for additional customized programming of the SMART System.
Glossary
Warranty
Except as specifically provided herein, Wildlife Acoustics makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, with respect to this product.
Declaration of Conformity
Prohibition Against Eavesdropping
Patents
Copyright Notices
Contact Information

Orienting the SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket

The SMART MIC-1 Mounting Bracket has multiple mounting holes that allow you to angle the microphone in different ways relative to the bracket. The bracket can be used for through-hole mounting or external surface mounting.

Through-Wall Mounting

Through-wall mounting refers to mounting the microphone to the inside of a structure and pointing it through a hole in the wall so that its face is flush with the struture, facing outwards. When the face of the microphone is flush with the surface of a structure, it eliminates the possibility of recording reflections of bat calls bouncing off of that surface and increases the effective sensitivity of the microphone. Positioning the microphone face recessed or protruding from the flat surface will result in poorer audio quality.

When installing a microphone on a structure with wide, flat surfaces, such as a wind turbine, through-wall mounting is preferred to external mounting because the latter produces recordings with more prominent reflections. These reflections can overlap with the initial calls, reducing clarity both for human analysts and automatic call detection. Through-wall mounting is also preferred when it is easier to access the interior of a structure than the exterior.

Notice:

Always consult with structural engineers before cutting new holes in the surface of a structure. Consult with the turbine manufacturer before cutting holes in a turbine body.

The mounting bracket is positioned on the interior of a wall. The microphone faces towards the exterior, extending past the angled end of the bracket and through the wall. — Figure 1. Perpendicular, Through-Wall Mounting

External Surface Mounting

When through-wall mounting is not possible, the Mounting Bracket can be fastened to an external surface. The microphone can be angled perpendicular to the mounting surface, 30° from perpendicular, or 60° from perpendicular.

The bracket juts outwards horizontally from a wall. The microphone extends further outwards in the same direction. — Figure 2. Perpendicular Surface Mounting

The bracket juts outwards horizontally from a wall. The microphone is angled to extend 30° above horizontal. — Figure 3. 30° Surface Mounting

The bracket juts outwards horizontally from a wall. The microphone is angled to extend 60° above horizontal. — Figure 4. 60° Surface Mounting