ETHER is a type of anti-radio. Instead of tuning to a specific radio station, it receives all the interference and radiation that a traditional radio tries to eliminate to create a clean signal. It captures radio waves “as is” from hertz to gigahertz because it doesn’t have the tuned input circuit that filters out all frequencies except the narrow band of a specific station. This allows ETHER to perceive the invisible electromagnetic landscape unintentionally created by humans, enabling live electromagnetic field listening and recording.

The inspiration for this project came from the design of the very first radios (early 1900s) that had no tuning dial. At that time, there weren’t many radio stations, and all of them used Morse code. It was possible to distinguish each transmitter by ear, as each had its own specific timbre or “voice.”

ETHER is pocket-sized (103x58x17mm) and lightweight (73g with batteries). It consumes very little power and runs on two AAA batteries. How long it can run on two batteries is unclear because I still use the very same set of alkaline batteries I put into the first ETHER prototype 6 years ago! (Yes, the project has taken 6 years.) All I can definitely say is that battery life is more than 300 hours if you use alkaline or lithium batteries.

We paid special attention to the design of ETHER, as it’s intended to be a unique accessory for the conscious modern human. We used specially designed enclosures made in Europe and high-quality PCBs and components providing long life and high reliability. So with ETHER, you get both a unique sound experience and a cool-looking high-quality gadget.

ETHER has both magnetic and electric components for sensing radiation. For the magnetic component, it has a built-in magnetic antenna, like those used in old long-wave radios. The antenna has maximum sensitivity along ETHER’s axis. By changing the orientation, angle, and position of ETHER, you will change the sound. For the electric component, it has antennas printed on the PCB and special input pins placed on the front surface.

ETHER V2 has two external antenna pins. You can touch any conductive material or surface (including your body) with the pins and use objects or yourself as a large external antenna! Often it produces a completely different sound, and I love testing different metal objects on the street (rails, tubes, metal doors, parts of buildings, etc.). The two pins are connected to different points of the circuit and interact differently with electromagnetic waves. Switching from one to the other or using both, you can change the sound. Far from the city, we recommend trying to use a piece of wire 1-4 meters long connected to one of the pins to get some interesting sounds.

ETHER V2 has two wheels for sound control and the power switch. The upper wheel adjusts the amount of high-frequency amplification and regeneration. The lower wheel controls the volume. By adjusting the high-frequency gain, you can focus ETHER on different dynamic levels of surrounding interference, getting the richest and most interesting sound.

ETHER is not just an inductive sniffer like some projects you can easily find online. A simple low-frequency inductive sniffer will be silent in most places that are full of sounds in the video. Such devices need to be placed close to an emitting source and will not work on the street. All they contain is a coil and a low-frequency amplifier. In comparison, ETHER has a regenerative circuit and a demodulator, making it an actual radio wave receiver, not just an amplifier of low-frequency magnetic fields. However, ETHER can perceive low-frequency magnetic fields as well. But honestly, if your goal is to scan objects in close proximity (0-20 centimeters), a simple inductive sniffer will work cleaner and more focused due to its narrow band and lower sensitivity. ETHER was designed to be part of your city walks and may even pick up sounds in a forest or at the seashore (I have such experience). Also, ETHER can perceive the electric component of the radiation as well, capturing radiation far above the audio range and is much more sensitive. Therefore, it has a significantly different design, functions, and implementation than a simple inductive sniffer, even if in some cases their functions can overlap.

ETHER is very sensitive to any kind of digital circuitry that’s nearby. This is why I didn’t include an SD-card recorder or something similar inside. You also have to make sure to keep other electronic devices you carry (phone, laptop, recorder) at least 30cm/1ft away to avoid interference, but ETHER definitely works well when you walk around with a smartphone and laptop in other pockets and bags. The output of ETHER is a regular 3.5mm headphone stereo jack with L and R contacts connected in parallel (ETHER has a mono output). To record ETHER, you need to use an audio cable at least 1m/3ft long to connect it to a device like a ZOOM recorder. Even with a long cable, ETHER can sound different than when using headphones. To get the purest sound, headphones are required. Some sounds you can only record with your mind, sorry. But the best snapshots are kept in our hearts, so let it be part of the experience :)

More information about SOMA ETHER V2 can be found here: SOMA ETHER V2