Song Meter Mini 2 (Li-ion) and Mini Bat 2 (Li-ion) Recorders with Missing Jumpers

Overview

In August 2026, we discovered that some Song Meter Mini 2 (Li-ion) and Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (Li-ion) recorders shipped to customers with a component called a "jumper" left uninstalled. The affected recorders were shipped from Wildlife Acoustics' U.S. headquarters between May and August of 2026. This applies only to some lithium-ion recorders and does NOT affect any AA recorders.

There are two symptoms caused by this missing jumper:

  1. The total battery life of the Song Meter is reduced by approximately 10%.

  2. The battery voltage reported by the Song Meter in the Configurator app and in the recorder’s summary file is 0.3–0.4 V lower than expected.

    For example, a single, freshly charged 18650 battery will read as 3.8 V instead of the accurate 4.2 V.

Aside from these two symptoms, the affected recorders remain functional, and you may continue to use them.

We sincerely apologize for this error. We have identified how it occurred during manufacturing and are working with our manufacturer to correct all unshipped inventory and prevent the issue going forward. To address this error, there are two possible remedies (described in detail further down):

  1. You may send any affected recorders back to a Wildlife Acoustics service center for a warranty repair.

  2. You may perform the repair yourself using the instructions provided below and an optional repair kit we can provide at no charge. The repair requires common tools and can be completed in under five minutes.

Identify Affected Recorders

About this task

The affected Song Meter recorders were shipped from Wildlife Acoustics headquarters to US customers and international resellers between May and August of 2026. They belong to a known list of serial numbers, and many were repaired by Wildlife Acoustics or its resellers and service centers before they were shipped to customers.

Procedure

  1. Confirm that your Song Meter Mini 2 or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 accepts 18650 lithium-ion batteries, not AA batteries.
    • Recorders that accept 18650 lithium-ion batteries have serial numbers beginning with 2LA or 2LU. These units may be affected, depending on their hardware revision and date of manufacture.
    • Recorders that accept AA batteries have serial numbers beginning with 2MA or 2MU. These units are entirely unaffected, and no action is required.
  2. Check the patent statement below the SD card slot to identify the board revision and see whether the recorder has been repaired.
    • If your Song Meter has a list of patent numbers beginning with “US Patent 8,627,723,” it is unaffected and does not need repair.

    • If your Song Meter is marked with a hand-drawn check mark, it was already repaired.


    • If your Song Meter has the text, “Patents listed at: www.wildlifeacoustics.com/patents,” and it does not have a check mark, it may require repair, depending on when it was manufactured. Continue to Step 3.

  3. Go to our Song Meter Missing Jumper Lookup page and search for your recorder's serial number.
    The serial number is printed on the Song Meter's barcode sticker on its right side.

    The lookup page will tell you if your Song Meter was ever affected by the missing jumper issue and whether it has already been repaired.

What to do next

If you have an affected recorder that has not been repaired, you can send it to an authorized Wildlife Acoustics service center, or you can perform the repair yourself.

Send Song Meters with Missing Jumper to a Service Center

About this task

You may send any affected recorders in for repair now or at a later date when they are not in active use. Wildlife Acoustics service centers will install the missing jumper and ship the repaired recorders back to you for no charge.

Procedure

  1. Contact Wildlife Acoustics Support as soon as possible, even if you will not be able to ship your recorders until a later date.
  2. Please provide the serial number of each Song Meter you have identified as needing repair.

Install a Missing Jumper on a Song Meter Mini 2 (Li-ion) or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (Li-ion)

About this task

If you do not wish to send your Song Meter Mini 2 (Li-ion) or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (Li-ion) to a Wildlife Acoustics service center for repair, you can install the missing jumper yourself using inexpensive and widely available tools.

You can request a free repair kit from Wildlife Acoustics containing the following supplies, or you purchase them through a third-party source:



  • Manual screwdriver with a size T10 Torx bit

    Torx screwdrivers are available at hardware stores and online retailers.

  • 2-position jumper with a pitch of 0.100 in (2.54 mm)

    Jumpers, also known as “shunts” or “bridges”, are available at online retailers and hobby electronics stores. One example of a suitable jumper is the Sullins Connector Solutions SPC02SYAN.

  • Replacement Status LED Key label

    The replacement label is included for the optional step of covering the holes left in the existing label.

You will also need the following tools, not included in the Wildlife Acoustics repair kit:



  • Awl, pointed screwdriver, wooden pencil, or similar tool for piercing the Status LED Key label

  • (Optional) Tweezers

  • Black permanent marker

Procedure

  1. Optional: Request free repair kits from Wildlife Acoustics Support.
    1. Fill out our Support Contact Form.
    2. Provide a list of serial numbers for the recorders that need repair.
    Wildlife Acoustics or one of our resellers will send you kits containing jumpers, replacement Status LED Key labels, and one or more T10 Torx screwdrivers at no charge.
  2. Confirm that the Song Meter is an affected unit that requires this repair.
    See Identify Affected Recorders.
  3. Open the Song Meter and remove all 18650 lithium-ion batteries.


  4. Using an awl or other pointed tool, carefully pierce the Status LED Key label where it covers two screws.
    You should be able to feel the label give slightly when you press on the correct spots. Apply only enough pressure to pierce the label, and do not use full force.
    The right-most hole is near the middle of the right edge of the label.

    The left-most hole is near the end of the word "Recording" in the left-most column.
  5. Using a size T10 Torx screwdriver, loosen both screws counter-clockwise to detach the plastic cover from the circuit board.
    To avoid damaging the Song Meter, do not use power tools.
    If necessary, an L-shaped or T-handle Torx driver can help you apply more torque to loosen the screws.




  6. Remove the plastic cover and set it aside.

    The cover will lift freely away from the rest of the recorder.

    There is a humidity control packet adhered to the underside of the cover.
  7. Identify the exposed pins near the upper edge of the circuit board, labeled J7.

    The two pins point left, parallel to the surface of the circuit board.
  8. Using tweezers or your fingers, slide the jumper onto the two exposed pins.
    As long as the open end of the jumper slides onto both pins, the orientation of the jumper does not otherwise matter.
    The open end of the plastic jumper should face right and slide onto both pins.




  9. For “non-bat” Song Meter Mini 2 units, make sure the wires connected to the left stub microphone do not overlap with the bold white markings on the circuit board.
    Wires that overlap with these markings will be pinched under the plastic cover.
    The microphone wires should be taped to the circuit board by the manufacturer such that they are clear of the white markings. A small black loop of wire connected to where the microphone plugs into the circuit board is bent out of the way to avoid the circular white marking.
  10. If your recorder has a stub microphone installed on the right side, hold its wires out of the way.

    You can lift the wires up and to the right to make clearance for the plastic cover.
  11. Return the plastic cover to its original position.


  12. Using a T10 Torx screwdriver, gently tighten the two screws clockwise.
    Tighten only until the plastic cover is held in place without rattling. Do not over-tighten, and do not use power tools.




  13. If your recorder has a stub microphone installed on the right side, tuck its wires out of the way so they do not get pinched by the enclosure lid.

    The wires should be tucked into the space on the right of the enclosure.
  14. Using a permanent marker, draw a check mark on the circuit board below the patent web address.
    This lets future users of the Song Meter know that is has already been repaired.




  15. Let Wildlife Acoustics support know that you have completed the repair.
    If you do not already have an open support case, you can open a new support case on our website.
    We will update our records to log the repair, which may be helpful for anyone who uses the Song Meter in the future.

The following is an optional step to cover the holes in the Status LED Key label. The holes are purely cosmetic and do not affect the Song Meter's functionality or weatherproofing.
The two holes fall after the text "Recording" in the left-most column and after the text "Armed: Waiting for a bat trigger" in the right-most column.

  1. Optional: Peel the replacement Status LED Key label from its backing and apply it on top of the existing label, taking care to not leave creases or air bubbles in the new label.








Results

The Song Meter will now report its battery voltage accurately, and its full battery life will be restored.

Note:

Other factors, such as temperature and SD card power consumption, will still cause battery life to vary across deployments. See the Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 User Guide for details.