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

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.

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.

Lots of features, reasonable quality. Quirky interface. Good value compared to others. Would recommend for someone just starting.

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!