# pippyg — Configure your π•pistrelle

> Configure bat recorders and detectors using your phone's microphone. (iPhone/iPad app by Phil Atkin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pippyg/id1664120907 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Phil Atkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751268739)
- Category: Utilities, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 3 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2023-01-10
- Data updated: 2026-09-09
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pippyg/id1664120907/reviews.md

## What is pippyg?

This tool gives you a convenient and reliable method to set the real-time clock, device ID, deployment latitude and longitude, and wake and sleep times for the PIPPYG bat recorder bat detector, in the field, using just your phone and the PIPPYG's onboard microphone. 

To use the app, set up the configuration you want in terms of Device ID and sleep/wake times, turn your phone volume up to between 1/4 and 1/3 full volume and place your phone's speaker about 4 - 6 inches your PIPPYG's microphone. Now press the Configure / Deploy. SInce the PIPPYG red LED responds to sound after power-up, it flash when your phone makes the "triple chirp" sound. If the LED flashes just when it is responding to the sound, the PIPPYG did not successfully decode the data packete encoded into the chirp, so you need to try again - try changing the phone volume (typically quieter is better), adjust and the distance from the microphone, or positioning the phone more carefully relaive to the PIPPYG - it helps if you point the phone's bottom speakers right at the microphone hole, from a few inches away. If the PIPPYG's red LED flashes 8 times in rapid succession, you have successfully programmed your device, and it will enter a wake/sleep cycle, recording bats (or birds) when it is awake.

Note that this app works with both self-build PIPPYG units and with commercially-produced Apodemus PIPPYG and PIPPYG2 devices.

## Key features

- Configure real-time clock
- Set device ID
- Define deployment latitude and longitude
- Set wake and sleep times
- Configure PIPPYG bat recorder
- Configure π•pistrelle bat detector


## Frequently asked questions about pippyg

### How do I configure pipistrelle?

To configure pipistrelle, set your desired Device ID and sleep/wake times within the app. Then, place your phone's speaker near the pippyg/π•pistrelle's microphone and tap 'Configure/Deploy'. The device's LED will indicate successful programming.

### What devices does pipistrelle support?

pipistrelle is designed to configure the PIPPYG bat recorder and the π•pistrelle bat detector. It is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### How do I know if pipistrelle successfully programmed my device?

The pippyg red LED will flash at least once when the device hears the chirp. If the LED flashes 4 or 5 times, your device has been successfully programmed and will enter its programmed wake/sleep cycle.

### What should I do if pipistrelle fails to program my device?

If the LED only flashes once, try again. Adjust your phone's volume and the distance between your phone's speaker and the pippyg/π•pistrelle's microphone. Experimenting with these settings often resolves programming issues.

### Is pipistrelle free to use?

Yes, pipistrelle is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements.

### What is the age rating for pipistrelle?

pipistrelle has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### When was pipistrelle last updated?

The latest version of pipistrelle, version 2.0, was last updated on April 22, 2025.

### Does pipistrelle have ads?

No, pipistrelle does not contain any advertisements. It is a completely ad-free utility.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1 — 2026-08-27

Tripled-up chirp to improve reliability when used with new firmware pippyg_v10-27-08-26.uf2. 
Internally corrected "NUMSTARTBYTES" in the "payload.h" header to work with old and new firmware.

### 2.0 — 2025-04-22

Bugfixes

### 1.9 — 2025-04-06

Slight modifications to support older iPhones / iPhone 6 / iOS 12.2

### 1.7 — 2025-03-18

In the Settings app you can now control recording trigger sensitivity, and select Bird Mode to record at 48kHz rather than 384kHz.

### 1.6 — 2024-05-19

Version 1.6 introduces a new control for "Interference Suppression" which requires version 1.6 device firmware. 

When turned on the device accumulates any signal, no matter how strong, into its running noise fingerprint, which allows it to ignore and hence not continuously trigger in the presence of for example a rodent deterrent, a fluorescent lamp or other strong, steady ultrasound source. When turned off,  only weak signals are allowed into the noise fingerprint, so in that case the noise fingerprint will tend to be a measue of the ambient environmental noise, with powerful environmental signals not taken into account.

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## More apps by Phil Atkin

- [Mellotronics Streetlytron '63](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellotronics-streetlytron-63/id1394220877)
- [St Just in Roseland Organ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/st-just-in-roseland-organ/id1394221644)
- [Mellotronics Streetlytron Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellotronics-streetlytron-pro/id1447100877)
- [Sopranotron 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sopranotron-2/id1447101182)
- [Pipe Organ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pipe-organ/id1485889911)
- [Player Organ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/player-organ/id1503483457)

All apps by Phil Atkin: https://appshunter.io/developer/1751268739

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*