Nuclear Radiation Detector GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter USA Design Product US National Standard Large Color LCD Display 5 Alarm Types Dosimeter Data Save & Global Share Beta Gamma X-ray Portable Device

I bought this to test some old dishware I suspected might still carry a bit of a radioactive legacy, and it absolutely delivered. As soon as it arrived, I unboxed it and was happy to find the battery had some charge. I immediately grabbed one of my 1940s Fiesta "Radioactive Red" plates and a few newer dishes to compare. It showed a normal background level until I brought it within about a foot of the old plate, and then it alarmed when it touched the dish—exactly what I was hoping for to confirm the reading.It seems like the sensor is located in the middle of the device since that's where the readings peaked. I also checked around the house a bit, especially in the basement since we have radon and a mitigation system. The floor drain brought the readings up just a bit, but overall everything looked safe, which was reassuring. I know Geiger counters at this price aren't going to give lab-grade precision, but this one is more than good enough for practical use, and I was genuinely impressed with how effective it was right out of the gate.The style and compact form factor were also a big plus for me. It feels modern, it’s easy to handle, and the interface is intuitive without being cluttered. I’ve never used a radiation detector before, and this one just clicks (and beeps) for me. I'm honestly kind of ecstatic to have found something that works so well and is this easy to use.

I like it, and it works well. It's fun to play with. Most of the time it's a boring 10-15 CPM. Took it on a plane and indeed the reading is higher - 250 CPM - at altitude. What they say is true about getting an x-ray worth of radiation by flying. Don't freak out if you see 1000 CPM minute once in a great while. I might be taking a walk. :)There have been incidents in In other countries where Cesium-137 got recycled improperly and ended up in homes resulting in deaths. Don't buy this thinking that this could happen to you. However, if you are like the Monk character on TV, then do buy it for peace of mind. However, please try not to worry too much about how much harm you are doing to yourself by worrying. :)If you are getting a gamma scan or RAI, this might be interesting to get. If you do not understand the differences between material, beta, and gamma exposure, then take it with a grain of salt and just follow the safety instructions given - keep a distance, don't share a bathroom, and isolate urine cleaning materials until they are safe. For RAI, your body absorbs the more dangerous cell killing beta radiation before it can reach others. Their exposure from you will likely be the less dangerous gamma radiation. Urine outside of your body will have radioactive iodine and be highly radioactive with both beta and gamma radiation. So sit and don't miss. The CPM of the counter will not tell you the if it's beta or gamma radiation or the energies involved.The highest reading I've got so far on this device is 170000 CPM next to a pill I took for a medical diagnostic gamma scan. It was 60000 CPM next to my belly after swallowing it. I think this device would saturate near you if given a RAI treatment dose. In this case, give the counter to your spouse to use when you are at a distance to verify they are not getting unnecessary exposure. Your spouse can also use it to make sure you are not "leaking" material that's radioactive. (The radioactivity should leave with you.) For example, my bed reading was normal background after I went into the next room.The hospital would not let you go if there was any risk to the public. You can turn the click off if you don't want to freak people out while walking out of the hospital. Or leave it on if you do. :)

Nice to have on hand. Seems to respond the same way others here are describing. YouTube videos help to establish unit as a worthy item for general radiation assessment in your environment. It's a valued item added to my emergency kit at home. Easy to use.

I bought this counter because my spouse had radioactive Iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. Due to isolation requirements i wanted to track contamination levels, this counter has allowed me to keep track of utensil and anything touched to prevent contamination specially clothing. For the required task it is great, you could buy more precise equipment but this was more than enough. Also price is fairly decent. The noise level is not that bad, during regular operation the chirping is ok, when level are high then the alarm is fairly loud i would say bout 80-90dbs, didn't do an actual measurement.