GQGMC-500Plus Geiger Counter Nuclear Radiation Detector Monitor Dosimeter, White

so out of the box this is a pretty decent detector other than the cheap tubes it uses in it being good only for high energy beta gamma and x ray but what really make is shine is the ability to change the voltage to the tubes in software which allows you to modify the detector like i did by putting in a thin window alpha beta gamma tube in my case i am using a small LND712 tube at 510 volts and it works pretty good for my stuff though i plan to get a larger tube that is more sensitive the detector seems to be pretty accurate also as i get the same CPM from it as a certified source so its worth the money as an entry level geiger counter

ALL Geiger Muller tubes age. If you are checking rocks, granite counters, and habitations for unusual radiation, this is a great device that will last many years.If you are doing background radiation surveys over time, as I do, it is still a great device as you CAN replace your tube every three to five years. When my older counter read higher than my new one, I called them, they reminded me about tubes aging, (Duh! How could I forget!) so I ordered a replacement tube. They have good tech support and stand behind their products. I have two of their counters.Having worked a bit with the high vacuum of physics, I can say that ALL vacuum tubes age as air diffuses in through the glass, reducing vacuum and providing more atoms to become ionized over time. Whether it takes years, decades, or centuries depends on the thickness of the glass. Geiger Muller tubes have to be thinner to detect particles, so age faster than radio tubes. So if you are interested in cosmic rays over time, you will need to replace your tube every three to five years REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND of your device! This company will support you with replacements. I replaced the tube in my older counter already, and it was very easy to do! Great American company, great product, great support.

Nice baseline package with dual Consumer-grade tubes that can be easily upgraded. Battery lasts about a week so perfect for field measurements. Includes decent carrying case and hand strap. A lot of display options. American made. Loses a star for clunky buttons, limited Mac support, and a very small hole in back for wall mounting. Easy (though a pain with the clunky GUI/buttons) to set up to display current and historical readings online. Recommended.

Great product.

For the price point this is a great Geiger counter. It is more than sensitive enough to warn you of dangerous situations and that it is time to exit the area. However, it is not quite as sensitive as the GQ-600+ which uses a U.S. made "pancake" style Geiger Muller tube (I purchased both to compare the units).The GQ-500+ and 600+ come with a flat top "unprotected" 3.7V 2,600mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries, this is the first thing that I replaced with a 3.7V 3,400mAh Japanese button top "protected" battery. It is a tight squeeze in the GQ500+, but the protected cell fits and provides longer run time (approx. >1/4 battery capacity used over 24 hours once the upgraded battery was installed). The onboard charger had no issues with the battery upgrade and charges it as it should using a USB connection (quite quickly I might add)Software for PC interface and expanded documentation is available at the company's website as well as the option to connect your meter via WiFi to allow regular updates to the worldwide radiation tracking website (address included in the documentation on their site) and included on a plastic card that comes with the meter.Easy to use only got 4 stars as there is a learning curve to the buttons that are poorly labeled.Battery Life only got 4 stars because better batteries could have been used (unprotected batteries vs. protected), and a protected 3,400mAh would be preferable to the 2,600mAh unprotected battery that is provided.Note on "Unprotected" vs. "Protected" batteries. The protected batteries actually have a small microcontroller included in the cell that monitors charge levels and will cut off charging at the battery level if it senses an overcharge condition, unprotected batteries will continue to accept charge current even though they are at full capacity. Goolge the difference in the batteries for confirmation.The charge controller in the 500+ seems to act appropriately by cutting off charge current when it senses the battery has reached the proper charge level, and this is goodness. The protected batteries come into play if you want more than one battery available for use and you have a questionable charger for the extra batteries. In my opinion it is a good safety measure on top of an already good charging system in the meter. I have personally seen "thermal runaway" in a Li-Ion cell and it is a most spectacular, and dangerous, reaction when it happens.

User Interface is simple to learn and understand. Can't really say how effective it is... I suppose I hope I never have that knowledge, but if I do, probably won't be writing another review anytime soon.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter Nov/27/2022Bought this unit mostly due to me being an electronics geek and watching manyreviews and attending Youtube University to learn about ionizing radiation.Finding it to be very interesting to use.Some of my work areas take me out to the deserts of Nevada so I plan on using it as a pseudo exposure meter in case there are any radiologicals to worry about in the soils on the dirt roads I drive.Currently using it to keep an eye on general back ground radiation levels and posting those on line.Over all, pretty cool. The manufacturer has a map on line. gmcmap.Pros:Battery lifeEasy to read displayEasy to understand instructionsWiFi enabledUSB enabled.Free software from the manufacturers site.Not $1,500+Cons:Mini USB for charging and hook up (REALLY? Yes, I'd prefer USB-C by now)Definitely not water proof or resistant. (Zip-Loc bag solves this easily enough)If I think of anything else to report I'll return and update my review.-Paul