GQ GMC-500+ (Plus) Geiger Counter Nuclear Radiation Detector Monitor Beta Gamma X-Ray Dosimeter

I bought this partly out of scientific curiosity (I'm a geologist) and its probably one of those essentials in these uncertain times. Where I live has a very long history of mineralisation and extraction (Devon/Cornwall UK) and I often go out on and around the moors picking up rocks and the like that look interesting (to my eye!) and so I do like to check for radiation particularly as Uranium and Radium does exist here and there. It was mined not far from me until the 1930s and I would love to find some minerals (probably NOT one of the smartest ideas I've had). Anyway this little device fits the bill perfectly, it measures Gamma and Beta radiation using two Geiger Muller tubes. It does not detect Alpha probably because the glass surrounding the tubes would block it, you've also got to be really close, like millimetres from an Alpha source to ge a reading. Its very easy to use and has a host of functions for displaying the live and historical count. The batteries which are USB rechargeable seem to last an age as well. The unit comes with its own soft carry case that fits on your belt as well as a useful credit card radiation hazard guide. The unit is a little bit smaller than your average smartphone. Although its probably not suitable for the job I do like to scan around the house occasionally. Our house has 3 ft thick granite walls in places and is susceptible to Radon build up. We do have a Radon extraction unit working 24/7 in case you're wondering. Radon itself is an Alpha emitter so the unit is not much good for that but Radon does rapidly decay in to daughter Isoptopes some of which are detectible via Beta radiation. Its currently clicking away on my desk at an average of 22 counts per min or 1.7 uSv/hour if you prefer which is normal and ok. So yes its a really worthwhile purchase if you're interested in Radiation in the environment or just plain curious.

Measuring Radiation is complicated to understand, at least for me. All I want to know is if the levels are safe or not. This very well thought out & uncomplicated product tells you exactly that. Short press of power button illuminates the screen while showing the power remaining in the replaceable battery. Long press turns it on. Charging is via supplied usb cable but no plug supplied, im using a usb mains charger plug that charges my phone. The screen rotates as you turn it so it can be set on its side or bottom. The backlit screen is dimmable with time out, brightness and contrast & you can set the screen to off or constant on. If the screen times out (depending on settings) then moving the detector will make the back light come on. The display is nice and easy to read with black font against what looks to me like a very pale blue white light. Its not too cluttered with info either. Its also a dose meter & has a food setting. Dont know how long the battery lasts but I have used it with the back light on for around 5 hours and its still got 80% left. It clicks and a green light flashes, you can turn these off, im really impressed with this, its so well thought out. I also bought the GQ EMF-390 for measuring Electro Magnetic Fields. Same design and user interface & screen as the Radiation meter, meaning you dont have to learn 2 devices. Fantastic products which l highly recommend & I think are a good price too.

This Geiger counter is probably the best value on the market right now. You'll easily pay double for an uncalibrated Soviet model from the seventies, or three times the amount I paid for this model for a US-made CDV-700 or similar. What I'm saying is - this is very good value. This Geiger counter has some features that I really like, namely: 1. The ability to charge it over USB. Instead of faffing around with D-cells or hunting for AA batteries from TV remotes, it uses an internal Lithium-Ion battery that charges over the USB port. I haven't run the battery down yet, but I have been using it on and off and the battery has stayed pretty constant. I have no doubt that it'll last a good amount of time, especially if being used with a laptop or computer. 2. The dual tubes. Instead of using a single Geiger-Muller tube, it uses two. This means that it can detect low-level radiation with a good amount of accuracy, as well as being able to detect higher levels of radiation that you'd probably hope to never encounter. This counter reads the check source from my CDV-700 brilliantly, showing roughly 1150 counts-per-minute. It's decently accurate, especially for the price - though don't expect 100% accurate Alpha emitter measurements, this is strictly a beta and gamma unit - though it lacks a Beta shield, so you'll have to come up with your own material to block gamma rays for purely gamma measuring. 3. Data logging over USB. This was a big draw for me - the ability to plug it in to my laptop over USB and have live reporting to a CSV database is outstanding. I can display the current level of radiation on a graph, right on my laptop display, without hassle. You can also sync it up to a live world map and let other people view the radiation in your area if you like - though you don't have to. A star is knocked off here because the WiFi connectivity is a pain to set up, and logging over WiFi was equally confusing. Not a massive dealbreaker, but be aware. There is a great forum run by users of this counter and other GQ products, so asking there is a good bet if you get stuck. 4. Display clarity - the display on this device is outstanding. The days of having to guess where the needle is sitting on an analog geiger counter, or fumble with an LCD display that disappears in dim light are gone. The display is fully backlit, and you can set it to display measurements in a numbers only format, or on a graph. It refreshes enough to get nice accurate results, and this combined with the classic click-click-click of the counter makes this a very fun, tactile unit to use. 5. Portability - this item is absolutely -perfect- for taking out and about. It includes a nice durable pouch with a belt clip, and the unit is only really the size of one of those Casio calculators that many of us used in our GCSEs. It weighs next to nothing, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's flimsy - it's durable enough to be used out in the field, though I'd probably not drop it or abuse it as much as I might with, say, a CDV-700 or similar military/civil defence unit. The speakers are built in, and a 3.5mm jack allows the usage of headphones with the unit - no hassle, no fuss, no carting around a speaker. Overall, if you're looking for a Geiger counter to monitor radiation levels around where you live, hunt for radioactive rocks, test radioactive watches or military dials, or see why the mysterious object the cat dragged in is glowing, this is a perfect item for you. I just can't believe it's as cheap as it is!

I bought one of these and I love it. I also have a GMC-320e and a Radex 1503+. This twin tube device uses a second tube for higher levels of radiation and can display a much larger range more accurately. The hardest part was setting the wifi using the menu keys but later realised you can type it all in in the software and send it to the device.... Accuracy is good when compared to my Radex 1503+. The best part is that the large display can be set to about ten levels of brightness and also be set to stay on continuously so I have it set at the lowest setting and lit 24/7 so it it is always uploading to the world map and always on display whilst plugged into the laptop via the usb. You can do a multitude of things with the software, logging, display on screens and control the device to some extent remotely. The menus on the device are also quite comprehensive and not just limited to a few options. Basically for the money, you cannot do better.

Is one of the best choices you can do for the money. It has two Geiger tubes for a better counter and accuracy. It could be better for food measurements (a bit longer than others on the market) but this is not a problem for me, the device fulfills all my expectations of a good Geiger counter. I was looking for the 600+ model, due the α particles detection capability of that model, but it's always out of stock and I couldn't wait anymore. This model cover all my needs and probably for the most of you, who are reading this. Recommended.

First off, i'm not a nuclear scientist, so take my opinions with a pinch of salt. Like many though, the dramas, documentaries and renewed news footage of Chernobyl over the last couple of months has renewed my interest in it and radiation in general and I was keen to take some recordings around the house, the back garden, on the plane and at the world famous Ukrainian power plant. Positives Fairly cheap for the quality of readings. Large display with battery life Rechargeable and replaceable battery recharged over USB, which lasts a day or more continuously switched on Records data in the 3 most common units uSv/h, mR/h and CPM, which can all be viewed on screen at the same time It clicks similarly to an old style reader, but thankfully the sound can also be turned off as it can get very annoying on a coach party Negatives Doesn't use the best plastics, so feels a little cheap It isn't water resistant, so would probably need to be in a sealed bag to prevent water damage if using in the rain It takes time to record more accurate readings. I think around 20-40 seconds held near something of interest, so in many cases you'll never see a true high reading for something. It also takes a similar length of time to revert to normal readings. I think it's a good price for the unit, but ultimately it's not as fast to record results as the professional units (which cost many times more), so much better for taking longer readings than for quickly recording sudden spikes of activity. It's nice to have a personal meter for reassurance though, especially if you live or work near a radioactive facility or are a scrap metal dealer. If you use it on a plane then make sure the sound is off as even a short flight to Europe is many times more radioactive than a day spent on a tour around Chernobyl. My alarm went off almost instantly when I turned it on on the flight over.

I bought this because I wanted to know how high the background radiation is where I live. (Thankfully it's low.) I hope I'll never have to use it for other purposes than satisfying my curiosity, but it's a lot better than those old GM counters: it's nice and small with two installed tubes, the price was right, the display is nice and readable, it has a built-in battery - perfect for what I wanted!

Geiger counter works pretty well and it is easy to use. works more than a weeek on single battery charge when counting radiation in background and sending information to the website constantly. I am just recharging it weekly to have. more than 30% of battery. easy to use, with good instruction.