Make a dollar-store parabolic microphone

Posted by Mark Frauenfelder, June 20, 2008 2:23 PM | permalink

This was one of my favorite projects from MAKE Vol. 14: a parabolic mic from dollar-store parts. Here's a video with Kipkay that shows you how to make one. Link

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Discussion

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#1 posted by FunkDaddy , June 20, 2008 3:00 PM

Neat. Would you get better reception by lining the inside of the umbrella with some thing more reflective, like mylar or tin foil?

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#2 posted by Takuan , June 20, 2008 4:10 PM

how does one go about canonizing someone these days?

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#3 posted by william , June 20, 2008 4:16 PM

@Funkdaddy: Good idea. I was thinking some spray-on plastic-ish substance.

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#4 posted by william , June 20, 2008 4:31 PM

Anybody know good MP3 players for that?

The one in the video seems to be this one. But I can't find it on the manufacturer's product page, and I can't figure out who sells their products in the US.

I'd especially like to find one with a built-in microphone plus mic jack and a UI that isn't entirely hostile.

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#5 posted by mysterytune , June 20, 2008 7:11 PM

@ William - I think it's an iRiver, because my old one could do the same thing.

http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=35

You might be able to find a cheap one on Ebay.

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#6 posted by Antinous , June 20, 2008 7:22 PM

mysterytune,

No bloglink in your comments, please. That goes on your profile page.

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#7 posted by Evil Jim , June 20, 2008 10:52 PM

Woah! You can get MP3 players at the dollar store these days?

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#8 posted by strider_mt2k

, June 21, 2008 5:10 AM

I'm still circuit bending my clearance table dollar store electronic guitars. (2 for a buck!) :)

I didn't see any of these hats, however I'm kind of on a circuit bending jag for the moment, so I'll keep an eye out for 'em.

Very very cool project.

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#9 posted by mysterytune , June 21, 2008 7:58 AM

@ Antinous - Sorry! Won't happen again :(

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#10 posted by eustace , June 21, 2008 8:40 AM

If you want to make a sturdier parabolic reflector, using that umbrella is probably not your best bet. I design reflectors (parabolic, elliptical/parabolic) for RF use. If I wanted to make a reflector in my garage I would start with a block of styrofoam, cut out half the shape I need (the curve from the center to the outside diameter) in cardboard and use it as a template to shape the styrofoam. Cover the foam with plastic sheet, then 2 thin layers of fiberglass (you can get fiberglass repair kits at hardware stores that have quite a bit of cloth).
The coolest thing IMHO about RF reflectors is the layer of copper cloth that actually reflects the signal. It has such a fine mesh that you could make a suit out of it (a very expensive suit).

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#11 posted by hyperkine , June 21, 2008 8:57 AM

Very cool and it something I could actually do.