What is a Geiger Counter?
“The Geiger counter is an instrument used for measuring ionizing radiation used widely in applications such as radiation dosimetry, radiological protection, experimental physics and the nuclear industry. It detects ionizing radiation such as alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays using the ionization effect produced in a Geiger–Müller tube; which gives its name to the instrument.[1] In wide and prominent use as a hand-held radiation survey instrument, it is perhaps one of the world’s best-known radiation detection instruments.”
Terra, Medcom Inspector, Mazur, Soeks, Gamma Scout and many other brands are out there.
They vary from amateur ($100-400 USD) to professional models ($700-2000+USD).
Many of them have an output for data collection to a computer to generate live readings on websites, or generate a graph.
Some have Bluetooth ( not that this is a good thing for EHS people ) but some may want to be mobile and track using GPS – while sending uploads in real time via Bluetooth.
Upload Data to Online Geiger Maps
GPS LOCATION TRACKING : SafeCast, Radex
FOR PC/WINDOWS :
GQ Electronics / GMCmap.com data transfer : USB and WIFI
Soeks – data transfer : USB and WIFI
Mazur – data transfer : USB
International Medcom – data transfer : USB Adaptor
FOR MAC & WINDOWS via WEBSITE
Radex / QuatraRad Map : USB to Website
SafeCast data transfer : Bluetooth to Website / USB to Website
Others that do not have USB, WIFI or Bluetooth can be Manually entered on various Geiger Map Sites
A professional stated “some meters detect beta and gamma, but not alpha. If entering an areas such as Japan, you should really have a pancake style alpha, beta, and gamma sensitive tube before going into a contaminated area.” Most people reading this would likely only be doing readings in Canada or the United States, but we thought we would mention this for anyone considering on getting a meter for more then basic readings.
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“bGeigie” by Safecast
Most geiger counter meters can send data to computers, but SAFE CAST recently posted a meter that they have been working on for several years called the “bGeigie Raku“ that can send GPS data and can be mounted on cars for mobile readings. It has been used for testing in Vancouver (see below). Older Safecast Nano versions are available, but the official Raku version is on Kickstart
Their stationary meters can give live readings via cellphones and their new mobile version can record the data to a card, then you can upload it to their database
Current readings from various locations
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Quadcopter Radiation Imaging Drone Introduced At Fukushima Daiichi
http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=16158
Stay Tuned for more Articles about Geiger Counters
#1 by David K on November 13, 2021 - 1:45 pm
Quote
Hello, I recently found three items that I think may be from Chernobyl at the time of the meltdown. They were in a souvenir box with a note saying they are from Pripyat. Now I am wondering if they could be contaminated. One is a small metal plate that may be a door number. One is a bolt. And one is a piece of paper that looks like an inspection sheet, with the last signature just before the explosion. If real, could they be contaminated? I would pay someone with a geiger counter to take a reading. Thanks very much.