How are you running your microphone outside?

[kfcook]

It's difficult to properly waterproof the Pi, so I assume most of you are running the Pi indoors with the microphone outdoors. How are running the cables? Cable under a window (might not completely seal and let water/bugs in, unless you find a flat cable of some kind)? Drill a hole in the side of your house? Are there any concerns about the mic itself getting wet?

Also, where do you have your microphone placed? Is it better to place it closer to the ground or higher up?

Pictures of your setups would be appreciated!!

Thanks!

[ehpersonal38]

There are some setup pics and details in #69. I like Patrick's setup in particular, although I imagine you do lose some sound quality due to it being enclosed. I think I would just have a top roof instead:

#69 (comment)

Personally I'm just running the microphone out of my window, there's not much of a seal issue with the cable, maybe it just doesn't close 1/8 inch or so. I then have a roof over it for rain protection.

Pointing the microphone up is probably best as that's where the birds usually are, but that will depend on what you want to capture specifically.

[svc-user]

We have a shed (with a power outlet) where the Pi lives inside. I have just tonight drilled a hole in the wall where I'll be running the microphone through. The microphone will reside under a carport but else be "out there" to catch the most possible bird songs.
I got the Boya M3 microphone. It has a 6m cable, which helps to keep the Pi dry while having the microphone outside :)

[oliverk71]

This is indeed a problem: There are no waterproof power supplys and pi cases availabe, afaik. Imho the power supply is the main problem, because the pi itself and microphone can be easily protected from rain. I think, it is absolutely sufficient to use a bucket or a plastic housing to protect from above, but leave holes or bottom open because of condesate. But also for the power supply you can easily make or buy a housing. Whatever you use for the pi housing, it should be white but not black, to protect it from too much heat in summer. And it should be well ventilated. If you use the white bucket solution, for example, I would drill some holes into the side wall for ventilation.

Until now I did not experience any problems with humid air, but the pi circuits could possibly protected by using a circuit board coating spray. But take care not to cover the chip's surfaces, which need proper cooling. I did not use anything like that until now, I just put the pi into an aluminium cooler case, protect it from rain and additionally I used sticky insulation tape to close USB ports etc I don't use. But I guess, this would not even be necessary.