Geiger Counters - Recommendations

[itsybitsy]

Anyone got one or any recommendations for a decent, reasonably priced, piece of kit? TIA.

[Frnc]

There are many different types. Different types are best for different applications.
I think these are 'general purpose', but you'd need to check
https://messgerät-test.de/geigerzaehler/ scroll down for Amazon links.
Link is from wiki, which says "End-window Geiger counters are still used as a general purpose, portable, radioactive contamination measurement and detection instrument, owing to their relatively low cost, robustness and relatively high detection efficiency; particularly with high energy β-particles.[4][7] "

Main types
"end-window", windowless "thin-walled", "thick-walled", and sometimes hybrids of these types

Main applications
alpha and beta particles
gamma and x rays (photons)
neutron detection

There are two types of detected radiation readout: counts and radiation dose.

Limitations (wiki)
There are two main limitations of the Geiger counter:

Because the output pulse from a Geiger–Müller tube is always of the same magnitude (regardless of the energy of the incident radiation), the tube cannot differentiate between radiation types or measure radiation energy, which prevents it from correctly measuring dose rate.[4]
The tube is less accurate at high radiation rates, because each ionization event is followed by a "dead time", an insensitive period during which any further incident radiation does not result in a count. Typically, the dead time will reduce indicated count rates above about 104 to 105 counts per second, depending on the characteristic of the tube being used. [4] While some counters have circuitry which can compensate for this, for measuring very high dose rates, ion chamber instruments are preferred for high radiation rates.

[pseudonym]

NukAlert:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NukAlertTM-Rad ... Z2HXQ?th=1

American prepper Forums recommend them.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I've this one
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GQ-GMC300Eplus ... 1b6e3d217f

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Ive got a GQ GMC 500+. It's ok, but took a bit of fiddling together it calibrated. Like the fact that you can put it online and see other GQ meters.

Picked up a thorium gas mantle off of ebay to use as a test source.

[Frnc]

GQ GMCs are on my list too. They get pretty good reviews and are at the lower end of the price range. I was looking at one (300S, £87). It detects beta, gamma and x rays, and can measure dose. Also Amazon have a GMC800 for £79. Most of the top customer review rated counters are GMCs. There are quite a few different models. 300E, 320, 300S, 500, 800, some say 'plus'.

[Big Orange]

I’ve got the GQ GMC-800 and I’m pretty happy with it. My only gripes are that the buttons feel a bit cheap when pressed and the date format is annoyingly American. More than happy with the functionality and the battery will go a week between recharges. When funds allow I’ll probably get another or possibly something else from GQ.

[mcprepper]

Have never thought to buy one but given that Sellafield (Seascale), Heysham and BAE nuclear subs are all within fall-out radius of us, I might give it some thought.

[Arzosah]

Have never thought to buy one but given that Sellafield (Seascale), Heysham and BAE nuclear subs are all within fall-out radius of us, I might give it some thought.

That's valid reasoning, for sure. For those of us in the south of England, we might give thought to easterly winds if there's problems at Gravelines in France has problems. Its the sixth biggest nuclear plant in the world apparently (lots of references online, but they're mostly full of adverts... google Gravelines size and see). Dungeness is east of most of the south of England too, of course, but its tiny compared to Gravelines. I've got a half-finished action plan if they have an accident there (tape over inlets like fans, airbricks, even keyholes till I know more) get lots of water containers filled, that sort of thing). I'm following this thread.

Itsy, if you do manage to buy anything, will you give an outline of your purchasing thoughts, please? That would help.

[pseudonym]

Don't forget size up a 6 inch nail and hammer to get your door hinges off... have them in a box with duct tape for windows and tarps.