Ocean on Greg Herlein

Radio - Not Satellite - for Whales!

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:01 -0800

Two and a half years into my whale song project I’ve killed one platform, walked away from a $13K dev kit, gotten my ham license, and pivoted to (water-borne) drones. I can do that link myself across the Bay of Banderas with a radio I’m now legally allowed to key up. Read on.

The New Whale Chase: Drones, Hydrophones, and a Father-Son Project

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 01:00:01 -0800

After two years of false starts with the Bristlemouth platform and permit headaches, I’m revisiting my whale song project with a completely different approach: semi-autonomous floating drones. The regulatory landscape has forced a rethink, and honestly, it might lead to something better.

Long Time No Post! RPi Pico, Zephyr, and Whales (oh my)

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:01 -0800

A short update on my whale song project: I fell down a few technical rabbit hole!

Whale Song Delayed - New Technology

Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:01 -0800

A short update on my whale song project: it’s shifting technology.

Whale Song Update

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:01 -0800

A short update on my whale song project: it’s delayed. Need to sort out some legal stuff.

Bristlemouth Dev Kit: SLOW - and Thinking

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:01 -0800

Work on the SOFAR Spotter with Development Kit is slower than I hoped.

Bristlemouth Dev Kit: YES!

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:01 -0800

I have possession and unboxed the SOFAR Spotter with Development Kit!

Bristlemouth Dev Kit May Not Happen

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:01 -0800

The SOFAR Spotter with Development Kit may not be able to get to me. There’s some legal paperwork that I don’t have - that may be quite expensive to get. Import/Export laws are a pain.

Whale Song - Some Background

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:01 -0800

Recent press about an actual conversation with a whale was preceeded by ground-breaking work by Dr. Michelle Fournet and profiled in the fantastic documentary Fathom on AppleTV. This is a MUST WATCH if you love the ocean - or humanity!

Bristlemouth Dev Kit Delayed - Customs Woes

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:01 -0800

I’ve been accepted into the Bristlemouth Pioneer Program. I’ve been granted a SOFAR Spotter with a Development Kit. Unfortunately it was detained in customs due to it’s high invoiced value. I required a “customs agent” to clear it - which I did not have.

Ocean Technology and Talking to Whales

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 00:00:01 -0800

I’ve been accepted into the Bristlemouth Pioneer Program. I’ve been granted a SOFAR Spotter with a Development Kit. I want to build a system capable of autonomously recording whale song (and other ocean data). Humpback Whale songs is incredibly interesting - and scientists have JUST been able to actually talk to whales.

But really getting all “science fictiony” - can we build an ocean phone system to talk to whales?