My Audiomoth devices stop further recording after 2 recording cycles in the field. The whole thing happens after the last firmware update and is similar for three devices. The problem persists even after changing the battery and reconfiguring the recording parameters. Did the problem also occur with others and how can it be solved?
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34 Comments
Hi John, Flashing red and green at the same time always indicates an error. When writing to the SD card during a file this might be due to the battery being too low to continue recording or an SD card write error. If it is the former then the file will be closed correctly and you will have a correct WAV file which is shorter than expected but is still readable. The comments in the WAV file header will report why the file stopped earlier than scheduled. In the latter case, the AudioMoth won't be able to close the file correctly so you will see the filename in the file listing but the file will have zero length.
Can you confirm what batteries you are using? You mention Energizer Ultimate Lithium but say that you are recharging them? The Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries aren't rechargeable as far as I know.
Alex
OK. I've tried a couple of tests using two short record / stop cycles with two different microSD cards, having brought the AM back indoors after supposedly recording last night (which failed completely; all blank files from start to finish).
However, I switched it to default just before taking the card out and it recorded successfully for c. 10s (I didn't try longer).
I tried the first test with 55s recording + 5s rest (empty files) over 5 cycles, with all files appearing and all empty. This despite it swtiching on OK and apparently recording with a red flashing light, before switching to dual red-green flashes. I tried a quick test immediately afterwards by switching to Default, which failed.
I then tried another test with the same record/sleep cycle on a second card and it failed again. This time it barely came up with flashig red light to indicate recording, rather remaining almsot constantly on the dual red and green simultaneously flashing lights).
So I'm assuming that it just doesn't have enough power.
Having seen that they were recommended, I bought a pack of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries at the beginning, which I assume are genuine, off Amazon, though they come with no mAh rating either on them or on the external packaging (odd, since I've read -goodness knows where on the web- that they're rated either as 2600 mAh or 2000 mAh. And they worked perfectly at the start, with the AM saying they were at >4,9V. After a very few recharging cycles though, it could be that they're become useless for the job, AND/OR my recharger isn't doing it's job either.
Would it make sense that it saves file names and is triggered at the correct times, but leaves the files completely empty due to insufficient power?
This is very frustrating!
Many thanks in advance for any further suggestions / comments.
John