Geiger Counter / Radiation Detector Reviews

Introduction:
This site was created to rate, review, and compare various Geiger counters and radiation detectors being sold on the Internet. While most Geiger counters appear similar, the fact is there are important differences in features, performance, and functionality! The focus is on devices falling within the consumer/commercial mid-range, from $200-$600. We present here a range of six devices to illustrate the breadth of product offering at this price range and to show which ones we believe are best.

At one time I was also looking for a Geiger counter to warn about potential radiation hazards, whether from radon laced granite countertops, contaminated scrap metal, nuclear plant discharge, depleted uranium waste, or even something as simple as in-flight atmospheric background radiation. I was shocked to learn how much low-level radiation we're exposed to every day. Even at home there are unexpected sources I hadn't ever considered. So while the possibility of a dirty bomb exploding nearby seems remote, I can easily see the benefits of owning a personal detector to tell me if I am being exposed to harmful levels, even if relatively low.

I want to offer special thanks to the makers of the Geiger counters I reviewed. They or their distributors furnished demo units and technical details. One company also furnished a calibrated test source to benchmark devices against a known dosage. However, please note none of the counter specifications were verified by certified radiological laboratories - the assumption being that since all have been on the market for some time, any discrepancy between actual and published performance would have long since been discovered.

So here then are our findings:

No.	Device	Ratings	Stars	Site Link
1		First Place: Gamma-Scout Alert - Radiation Detector Our #1 Pick is the Gamma-Scout^® Alert - Radiation Detector, built by Eurami Group. 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 measurement and maybe some audio enhancements, the Gamma-Scout^® Geiger counter comes loaded with numerous standard features. A large LCD 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. In addition, 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. Discounted price is just under $450 and it comes bundled with download software and USB cable. Of all Geiger counters we tested, it clearly offered the best overall combination of design, functionality, price, and value.		Go

2		Runner Up: GammaMaster 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 units of measurement 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!		Go

3		Third Place: Inspector Alert The Inspector Alert is touted by its manufacturer, Medcom, as a Geiger counter for emergency responders. This may be true since it was the most expensive of all units we examined. 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. One important difference I noticed was an extra large 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. I was happy to see that both units of measurment, µSv/h and mRems/hr, were available. Add in the vinyl carrying case and you have a basic counter with most of the features a professional or consumer might need. Priced at $525, the Inspector Alert is a high quality albeit expensive counter, even though some may feel it to be a bit overpriced compared to other options.		Go

4		Fourth Place: Terra MKS-05 The Terra MKS-05 by Ecotest is a Ukrainian built counter that gets high 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 measurement 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? Even so, all in all, a modest handheld from a country that knows a lot about nuclear contamination. For the budget minded consumer or hobbyist, the MKS-05, priced at around $200, it definitely merits consideration.		Go

5		Fifth Place: Radex 1503 With one star in fifth place is the Russian-made Radex 1706. Following the old adage, "you get what you pay for", the company, Quarta-Rad, has designed an inexpensive counter for the low end consumer market. Features and functionality are minimal, as is the price, a reasonable $200 retail. 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, measuring just 4"x 2.5" x 1" and weighing just over 3 ounces. It's powered by a pair of AAA cells, which deliver only 3 weeks of continuous peration. While far from my first choice, the Radex counter is a reasonably good value in the increasingly crowded low end of the consumer market.		Go

6		Last Place: Sper Scientific Coming in last on our list of handhelds is the Sper Scientific Model 840026 Radiation Detector. This meter has been on the market for many years, which is plain to see by the outdated analog pin meter. Like all the other counters we reviewed, this device uses a Geiger-Mueller tube as its core sensor. The Sper unit measures 0 to100 mR/hour (milli-Roentgen) and 0 to 1000 µSv/h (microsieverts) on a barely readable dual scale. To its perhaps only credit, it has an audible clicking feature, which increases with background radiation. Sounds begins at 20mR/hr, proportionally following radiation level. Powered by a single 9-Volt battery, the user can expect a useful life of about 50 hours at normal background levels. A weak product with obsolete design and minimal features. And at $180, overpriced to boot . You can avoid this one!		Go

Final Comments:

In evaluating any technical product there are always trade-offs between price and performance, features and applications. It's the same when we evaluate Geiger counters. The key question to ask youself is what radiation measurement problem do you want to solve? At the upper end of our range are devices which both the consumer/hobbyist and commercial/professional can use. If reliability and versatility are important then better a unit like the Gamma-Scout. On the other hand, if you anticipate only infrequent or casual use, then perhaps the Terra MKS might suit your needs better.

The fact remains that the risks of radioactive materials pollution, from whatever source, are not going away anytime soon. Each of us needs to take the same kinds of precautions we take when dealing with risks from fire, smoke, and other health hazards. Hopefully, the information we've presented here will help you make an informed choice on how to protect yourself from an often ignored but none too real health danger.