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Frequently Asked Questions

icListen Hydrophone

~8-10 hours  

Note: over time the batteries will decrease in capacity and this time will reduce. 

10+ hours. Please note it may take up to one hour of charge for the icListen to go above <5% but should increase more rapidly following this update.  

The icListen will stop recording once the internal memory is full.  

The icListen will not write over previously recorded data. It is important to clear the memory prior to deployment to ensure it has the full memory available on the deployment.  

POWER ON: To turn on the icListen, you must supply power to the unit. This must be done through an external power source (ie. Test cable, Launch Box, HCI, etc.) 

Note: If the power supply is removed, the hydrophone will continue to be powered by the internal batteries until they are depleted, or the power is turned off.

POWER OFF: To turn off the icListen you must use the HARDWARE RESET TOOL (-9V Battery) supplied in the icListen Case. To ensure your icListen has a safe shut down, please see the icListen Power Down Resource Guide for best practices: LINK 

If you have a Launch Box, you can use the momentary STOP switch on the icListen POWER.  

The data can be downloaded using the icListen web browser, the Lucy software, or an FTP program (i.e., FileZilla). For large amounts of data, it is best to use FileZilla.  


See ‘Resource Guide > icListen Data Retrieval’ for more information.  

With proper care, the icListen should be serviced by Ocean Sonics every 2 years. Servicing includes calibration and the option to replace batteries and memory. Regular servicing ensures the hydrophone continues to perform to the best standards.  

The icListen should be cleaned with fresh water after each deployment, all cables should be lubricated, the icListen should be stored away from constant vibration or heat.  

No internal maintenance is required by the user. Opening the icListen will void any warranty on the instrument. Please see Maintenance and Storage…  

Recording on the icListen can be set up by connecting your hydrophone to your computer, connect to your hydrophone using the Marco software and opening the web browser for the unit. On the web browser you can set the time (important for recording the proper time of each file), set up recording and see real-time spectral data.  

To set up the recording go to the SETTINGS tab > Data Collection Settings. 

Set the data collection settings for the deployment and click APPLY. 

The APPLY button will turn green then grey to indicate the settings have been sent successfully. 

You can check the settings on the HOME page.

The amount of data the hydrophone can record will depend on the size of the internal memory, older icListen units have a 256 GB memory and newer units have (the option) of 1 TB.  

The amount of time the hydrophone can record data is based on the sampling rates, type of data recorded, duty cycling, and the power supplied to the unit.  

This is an error buzz. You can use the Reset Tool to turn off the power and power on again.  

If the hydrophone continues to error buzz this is an indication there is an internal issue with the hydrophone and it will require repair. Please contact support@oceansonics.com to begin set up an RMA with Ocean Sonics for repair. If you have purchased the hydrophone from a distributor, please contact them for help with the return.  

See end of Marco – troubleshooting  

Firewalls are a common issue that prevent the icListen from connecting or communicating to a network or computer. Firewalls may need to be turned off or set to allow the IP address of the icListen.  

  1. Refresh Marco after each step below.  
  1. Ensure the icListen is powered ON and has a connection to your computer.  
  1. Check all cables are plugged in securely.  
  1. Check connection to hydrophone (ethernet connection or wi-fi). 
  1. If connected through the test cable, unplug the power and use the power down/reset tool to turn the hydrophone off and then reapply power. 
  1. If connected through the Launch Box, turn off all switches and press the momentary STOP switch on the icListen power. Turn all switches back on and reconnect to the Launch Box wi-fi.  
  1. The icListen will buzz once then buzz twice to indicate it has turned on. If you do not feel the icListen power on use the power down (RESET) tool to turn the hydrophone off and turn it back on again to feel the buzz. If it does not buzz when power is connected this indicates the power is not getting to the hydrophone. Check all cables, adapters, and wall outlets.  

If the hydrophone has buzzed on when powered the next step is to check the connection to the computer. If you are plugging the test cable directly to a laptop, ensure the connection is secure and there is a clicking sound to indicate it is fully connected to the ethernet connector. On some laptops it is possible to see lights when it is connected to show an active connection.   

PAMGuard plug-in https://oceansonics.com/users-software/ 

Link to ‘Applying Calibration to WAV files’ 

Update Reference to 50 or 60 dB re uPa and Step Size 10 dB.  

To set up epoch detection triggers, Ocean Sonics recommends collecting data from the deployment site and creating using this data to find sounds of interest. Based on the data, the detection triggers can be set up in Lucy and tested by replaying the data with the epoch triggers enabled. On Lucy it is easy to see if the data is  

Software

Download the latest firmware from icListen.com > Users > Firmware. To update the firmware, you can use Lucy or an FTP program (Filezilla).  

Ensure the file is unzipped if you have downloaded it from our firmware site.  
See Resource Guide > Update icListen Firmware for complete instructions.  

Designed and built as the newest icListen software for hydrophone arrays, Lucy II, is a PC software program developed by Ocean Sonics. It detects, locates, and tracks sound sources. Tailored for using one or more hydrophones, Lucy II is the next step in acoustic processing software, enhancing the original capabilities of Lucy. Now, users can employ Lucy II to stream, record, and analyze an array of icListen hydrophone data. The program’s interface is crafted to present data graphically and numerically, optimizing usability for field operations teams, making it highly task-focused and user-friendly. 

Lucy I only allows for a single Hydrophone visualization and recording. This limits users ability to handle multiple instances. Lucy II brings with it a better user experience with a new interface and ability to handle multiple hydrophones in a single screen. 

Plug In opportunities 

Lucy II is available publicly for anyone with a PC to download on the User page of our website.   

No, everyone on your team is able to download Lucy II off our User page website.  

Lucy II is free for anyone to download off our User page website. 

Yes, you can still use both software versions with any icListen hydrophone.