Good and cheap sound level meter

[kalaika]

Hello from Honduras, everybody!

I need your help in order to buy a SLM that could be able to register via USB on my laptop all the information recorded for long periods of time (12 hours max), and then generate graphically a noise chart where one can identify the average noise levels, pike exposure times, etc.

I live near a noisy factory and have a lot of noise at night (all day long, in fact) generated by industrial engines and a truck parking lot. My environmental authorities seem to be partial to factory owners, and now I want to do the job by myself on a budget level. Is it posible with just a SLM?, if so, could you recommend me one.

Thank you for your time!!

 

[Tin Falcon]

Well if one does a Google search for sound level meter usb interface there are many hits including the following one

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=sound+level+meter+usb+interface&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2334144912747970298&sa=X&ei=g67xTqyzO8Tu0gGH0eCjAg&ved=0CHcQ8gIwAg
It looks like you can get one for 20 -30 USD and it will do what you need.

I am a bit curious why are asking this question here , we are a hobby forum a bunch of guys that build model engines.
If you are interested in model engine building you are welcome . please post an introduction.
and please tell me why did you ask a question here that was answered in a few seconds with a simple Google search inquiring minds would like to know.
Tin

 

[Jeremy_BP]

Looks like with the product Tin posted, your job would be relatively easy.
Write a logging script that communicates with the SPL meter and you can record until your computer runs out of hard drive space. That would be very easy to do in python, for example. Python also has a number of good libraries (gnuplot, for example) that make data visualization a piece of cake.
What experience do you have programming? If you have even a little, or are willing to learn, writing your own program would be the way to go. If not, there are USB datalogging programs, but they're rather expensive.
If I can be of any further help, just let me know.