...or the ability to pick up sounds and conversations from a distance.
Applications
A parabolic microphone, often referred to as shotgun microphone(altough to be a parabolic one it needs to have a dish), can be used to to pick up and record wildlife sounds or spy on people by listening to their conversations from a distance.
Its spying applications are Illegal for citizens.Only law enforcement and intelligence agencies under strict rules are allowded to do it.
How it works
In a nutshell, a
parabolic microphone
employs a dish to collect and focus available sound into the waiting mouth of a mic element mounted in front of the dish at it's focal point.
You can listen live using headphones or record the sounds using an micro cassette audio recorder.
What is included or need to be bought seperately
To use a shotgun microphone you need the mic itself,an amplifierand headset.
You can buy these items seperately or as a package.
What to look for when buying one picking up sound at up to 300 yards:
Frequency range 200 to 20 khz
Sensitivity from 6 to 20 db
Be aware that many cheap models claim a 300 yard reach which is just not the case.With these numbers you cant go wrong.
Shotgun microphones are useful only when these conditions prevail.
There is an unobstructed sound field; i.e. no walls.
There are no co-linear (located along the same path) noise sources.The mic will amplify the conversation of the couple sitting 50' away... but also the couple behind them at 55' an the ones in front of them at 45', 40', etc.
Just remember
These parabolic microphones are not to be used as spy equipment by anyone outside law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
