Geiger Counters / Radiation Detectors

Our #1 Pick is the Gamma-Scout^® Alert - Radiation Detector

Weighing a trim 6 ounces, it's surprisingly light and compact, roughly 6" x 2.5". But what really impressed us was the rich functionality. While other Geiger counters offer basic radiation detection and maybe some audio enhancements, the Gamma-Scout^® Geiger counter comes loaded with numerous standard features.

A large display and 10-button control panel displays measured radiation 3-ways: as dosage rate, as counts per second, and as cumulative counts. The readout is both analog and digital, switchable between µSv/h and mRems/hr and includes a nifty analog scale that shows maximum allowable human exposure per dosage level.

The unit measures all 4 types of radiation, alpha, beta, gamma, and x-rays. And, with sensitivity from very low range (atmospheric) to high (1000 uSv/hr) you're covered for all likely exposure scenarious up to an including a visit to the Chernobyl reactor, which by the way, is fatal.

In addition to all that, it has a built-in clock/calendar plus data memory with logging function. You can punch in time, date, and sample interval, and then download the readings via USB 2.0 for analysis and display on your PC. And, of course there 's an audible ticker function, plus a set-and-forget alert feature to warn when radiation exceeds a user-specified limit.

Eurami Group guarantees their battery will last 10 years. After that they will replace it free of charge. I definitely liked the idea of never having to buy batteries!

Surprisingly the Gamma-Scout^® was not the most expensive of the Geiger counters we reviewed. With a price at under $450 it's very affordable, and comes bundled with download software, black leather case, serialized calibration test certificate, and USB cable. Of all the Geiger counters we tested, it clearly offered the BEST overall combination of design, features, and cost.

The Inspector Alert is touted by its manufacturer, Medcom, as a Geiger counter for emergency responders. The Inspector has been around a while while probably accounts for its somewhat dated appearance (time for a redesign?). Moreover, the manufacturer has burdened it with a very high retail price. (I suspect to cover distributors.)

Medcom has kept bells and whistles to a minimum and concentrated on application specific functionalities. There are calibration controls on the bottom and a data port for external recording of raw counts. There a data capture software package available at additional cost.

One important difference I noticed was a pancake type Geiger-Mueller collector. With an effective aperture diameter of 1.75", Medcom claims it is more sensitive to alpha and beta sources.

As the name implies, the Inspector Alert is equipped with an audio alert function, as well as standard Geiger counter ticker. It weighs roughly 12 ounces and comes powered by a single 9-volt alkaline battery, good for about 90 days of life at ambient radiation levels. A 3-month battery life isn't a lot so you might want to keep a stock of replacement batteries on hand.

I was happy to see that both units of radioactivity, µSv/h and mRems/hr, were available. The vinyl "faux leather" carrying case seemed a little on the cheap side but the counter fit snugly inside and since the device isn't shock resistant, you might need the extra protection.

Priced at $540, the Inspector Alert is a good quality but perhaps too expensive counter, overpriced compared to other options.

Leave it to the Japanese to integrate both a digital timepiece and a fully functional Geiger counter, all of it crammed into into a standard sized wristwatch. What's next, a combination iPod and toaster?

Feature-wise there are limits to what you can do in a wristwatch format. There's the time display in traditional dial analog format - it is a watch after all. For displaying radiation dosage, in addition to a digital display, the GammaMaster has an LCD analog display, which provides a visual indication of the current dose rate and cumulative dose. Both can be run in dosimeter mode or in survey meter mode.

Warning alarms can be set to indicate when a specified dose rate or cumulative dose is exceeded. Alarm settings are always displayed on the analog scales.

Some minor negatives with the GammaMaster. For one, the radiation units of are in metric µSv/h and don't include mRems/hr, more commonly used in the U.S. Also, the watch is larger than most, and I personally don't understand the idea of wearing a Geiger counter on your wrist unless you intend to be a 24 hour walking radiation alarm.

But even so, it is just sooooo cool! If they ever come back into production, I will definitely ask Santa to bring me one for Christmas!

The Terra MKS-05 by Ecotest is a Ukrainian built counter that gets good marks for a clean, modern look and simple operating controls. It's a relative newcomer with quite a few showing up recently on eBay, shipping directly from Lvov in eastern Ukraine.

Operation is fairly straighforward. There are two control pads located above the display, one to change the radiation detection mode, the other to adjust the threshhold setting.

There's a pulse count ticker plus a two-tone audio alarm that warns of levels above a user programmed threshold. The digital display is backlit, which partly explains the relatively short (<3 month) operating life of its two AAA batteries.

Beneath its modern exterior lurks the open question of Eastern European reliability. These are the same guys that used to make the Lada, right? What about service, maintenance, calibration and replacement? I searched their site and couldn't find any information about their warranty.

So if you are feeling courageous about dealing with a Ukrainian company and are more limited in your budget or purely a hobbyist, the MKS-05, priced at around $250 retail, might merit consideration.

With one star in fifth place is the Russian Radex 1706 built by Quarta. Following the old adage, "you get what you pay for", the company, Quarta-Rad, has designed an inexpensive counter for the ultra-low end consumer market.

Features and functionality are minimal, as is the price, a reasonable $160 list. The reliability question is addressed up front with a standard 3-year warranty. How to redeem that warranty with a Moscow based company is, of course, another question entirely.

The design is simple and functional. A 42mm backlit LCD panel displays updated readings at 10 second sampling intervals. Measured dosage is in both µSv/h and µRem/h with ticker and threshhold alarm functions included.

The RD 1503 is controlled by three buttons, for switching the unit on and off, a backlight toggle, and a main button for screen menu navigation. As for size, it’s small, at just 4"x 2.5" x 1" and weighing just over 3 ounces. It's powered by a pair of AAA cells, which deliver a little over only 3 weeks of continuous operation.

So if you're really on a tight budget the Radex could just be the ticket.