Geiger Counter Summary

Radiation Detection

Geiger Counter Summary - Popular Models

Below, I present a nuclear radiation detector buying guide.

Are you planning to buy a Geiger Counter or ionizing radiation detector? Here is a list of Geiger Counters currently being sold on eBay. I have listed the manufacturer, Model #, power source, "Buy Now" price, and a suggested maximum bid price, to aid in your purchase. Good luck!

1. Nuclear Radiation Detection Summary - for general information
2. Geiger Counters Summary - for descriptions and pricing
3. Geiger Counter Data Compared - for sensitivity comparisons
4. Ludlum Radiation Product Summary - detection devices and probes
5. Victoreen CDV-700 6B Detector Summary - True Geiger Counter (antique)
6. Victoreen CDV-715 1A Detector Summary - Ion chamber detector (antique)
7. Victoreen CD V-750 5B Dosimeter Charger - Charges CD quartz dosimeters
8. Uranium Ore Summary - common types of radioactive ore

Dosimeters*
2. Kvarts DRGB-90
7. Radex RD1503
10. Terra-P

US$
$ 45
$ 120
$ 168

Geiger Counter Only*
1. Gamma Scout
3. Kvarts DRSB-01
4. Kvarts DRSB-88
5. Monitor4
6. RadAlert 50
8. Sper Scientific 840007
9. Technika 400026

US$
$ 349
$ 24
$ 15
$ 289
$ 390
$ 202
$ 226

Geiger Counters and Dosimeters Sold On eBay
Photograph	Model Description	"Buy Now Price" U.S. $
1.	Gamma Scout Type: Geiger Counter Manufacturer - Gamma Scout Source Country - Germany Power = Lithium/Thionil Chloride 3.7V cell soldered to circuit board - 10 year life	$349 Suggested Max bid $270
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2.	Kvarts DRGB-90 Type: Dosimeter Geiger Counter Manufacturer - Kvarts (looks like "KRAPU") Source Country - Russia Power = (3) AA Batteries On/Off . . . . x1 x10 Light . . . . . . . . Search (sound) Dump (zero meter) I am getting one of these next.	$48 Suggested Max bid $45
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3.	Kvarts DRSB-01 Type: ~~Dosimeter~~ Geiger Counter Manufacturer - Kvarts (looks like "KRAPU") Source Country - Russia Power = (2) AA Batteries Kvarts DRSB-01 Review Mental Socket DRSB-01 Review My Review: EXCELLENT! Although it is not a dosimeter (it only measures rate), this is an excellent Geiger Counter. It is very sensitive, seems to be built pretty strongly, and has both loud audio and video output. I love mine - at this price, it is a giveaway! Buy from annakozub on eBay- it takes awhile to get here (US), so be patient. Best packaging ever, bubble-wrapped to the max. This unit measures background counts of 30 CPM, just like my Geiger counters that cost over 10 TIMES as much.	$24 Suggested Max bid $23
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4.	Kvarts DRSB-88 Type: ~~Dosimeter~~ Geiger Counter Manufacturer - Kvarts Source Country - Russia Power = (1) AA Battery DRSB-88 Review My Review: EXCELLENT AGAIN! Although it is not a dosimeter (it only measures rate), this is an excellent Geiger Counter. It seems to be built pretty strongly, and has both audio and video output. It is really small. I love mine - at this price, they are giving it away! Buy from annakozub on eBay- it takes awhile to get here (US), so be patient. Best packaging ever, bubble-wrapped to the max. This unit will NOT measure low background radiation counts of 30 CPM. It produces about 1 CPM. However, when the radiation gets high, it works just fine.	$15 Suggested Max bid $14
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5.	Monitor 4 Type: Geiger Counter Manufacturer - International Medcom Source Country - Sebastopol, CA Power = (1) 9V Alkaline Battery	$289 Suggested Max bid $190
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6.	Radalert 50 (obsolete, replaced by the Radalert 100 @$429) Type: Geiger Counter Manufacturer - International Medcom Source Country - Sebastopol, CA Power = (1) 9V Alkaline Battery	$390 Suggested Max bid $250
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7.	Radex RD-1503 Type: Dosimeter Geiger Counter Manufacturer - Quarta Technologies Source Country - Moscow, Russia Power = (2) AAA Batteries	$120 Suggested Max bid $90
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8.	Sper 840007 (more sensitive) Type: Geiger Counter "... sensitive enough to detect minuscule amounts of gamma, beta or X-rays." Meter= 0 ~10mR/hour (milliRoentgen) Manufacturer - Sper Scientific Source Country - Scottsdale, AZ Power = (1) 9V Battery Disadvantage: There is no "On" switch - just a square "Push-to-Test" button. Holding this button down gets old really fast! This unit is for quick checks, not for survey.	$202 (direct) Suggested Max bid $180
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9.	Technika 840026 (more robust) Type: Geiger Counter "Used in applications where radiation may be present in greater than trace amounts." Meter= 0 ~100mR/hour (milliRoentgen) Manufacturer - Technika Source Country - Scottsdale, AZ Power = (1) 9V Battery Disadvantage: There is no "On" switch - just a square "Push-to-Test" button. Holding this button down gets old really fast! This unit is for quick checks, not for survey.	$226 (direct) Suggested Max bid $160
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10.	Terra-P IP20 (MKS-05) Type: Dosimeter Geiger Counter Manufacturer - ECOTEST Source Country - Russia Power = (2) AAA Batteries Terra-P MKS-05 Review	$168 Suggested Max bid $158

NOTES:
*Geiger counter: Measures intensity of radiation (rate)
*Dosimeter: Measures intensity of radiation (rate) AND accumulated exposure over time (dosage). A dosimeter may be based upon a Geiger counter, or upon an ionization chamber counter, quartz fibers, or other technology.

eBay - New Low-end Units
Initially, I dismissed all the Russian Geiger Counters as "too far" and "problematic". My eyes have been opened - I love mine. The best deals seem to be Russian, and all with a flat, worldwide shipping fee - $9.00 US. Note that other types of Gieger counters (sic) are available on eBay, but the low-end devices listed above are all new devices, and are the most popular (available).

eBay - Used High-end Units
High-end Geiger counter units such as Berthold, Bicron, Eberline, and Ludlum are usually sold as "used, working", or "as is" (your top bid should be much lower). Some come without a required external probe. "Don't know" or "can't test' is a red flag. It may be honest, it may be deception. Look carefully at the seller's rep. I avoid anyone under 99%. I prefer 99.7% or better.

Hint: Decide how much you are REALLY, REALLY willing to pay for a used unit, at least 1 hour before the end of the auction. Don't let the heat of the moment decide your last bid. Because the winning bid is usually determined in the last 30 seconds of the auction. I'm a six-time loser in the last 30 seconds. Do your analysis early, and then bid and forget. Decide the $, early. Bid only half as much for "as-is" items. In some cases, "as-is" means "doesn't work" - some folks are not as honest as they pretend, nor as forthcoming as they should be.

Antiques, but still in use
Some Civil Defense Victoreen antiques from the 1960's -
CDV-700 - Geiger Counter - These are capable of detecting low-level radiation - built-in check source.
CDV-710, CDV-715, CDV-717, CDV-720 - Ionization Chamber Radiation Detectors - Useless, unless bombed

Victoreen CDV-715 Model No.1A Ion Chamber Radiation Detector Schematic Diagram - Parts List - Comments

Some Higher-End Geiger Counters on eBay
	Manufacturer	Model #	List (no probe)	Suggested Used w/probe
1 2	Bicron 50 Bicron 2000	Surveyor 50 Surveyor 2000	$ 995 $ get quote	$300 $300
1 2	(was Bicron Instruments - Canada) Now - Thermo.com
1 2 3 4	Eberline Eberline Eberline Eberline	E-120 E-130A E-520 ESP-2	$ xxx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx	$150 $150 $150 $150
1 2 3 4	Above instruments are obsolete, but serviceable. (was Eberline Instruments, Santa Fe, New Mexico) Now - Thermo.com
1 2 3 4 5	Ludlum Ludlum Ludlum Ludlum Ludlum	Model 3 Model 5 Model 6 Model 14C 2401-EC	$ 425 $ 850 $ 525 $ 595 $ 395	$300 $500 $350 $400 $275
1 2 3 4 5	Ludlum seems to be the leader/ standard in radiation detection.

Radiation Detection Rate - Sensitivity Scales
Scale	Rems/Hour	Sieverts/Hour	Danger Level after 1 Hour
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	10 µRems 100 µRems 1 mRems 10 mRems 100 mRems 1 Rem 10 Rems 100 Rems 500 Rems	0.1 µSv 1 µSv 10 µSv 100 µSv 1 mSv 10 mSv 100 mSv 1 Sv 5 Sv	Background radiation Low level radiation Daily human limit RATE Do not stay here Substantial exposure CDV-715 lowest scale Extreme danger 50% chance of death CDV-715 highest scale
	For years, we were told that low-level radiation won't hurt us. Most scientists now concede that ANY amount of radiation CAN be harmful. Radiation damage is accumulative. Reduce your total exposure.

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DISCLAIMER
Although the author has tried to be as accurate as possible, errors are possible. Prices are continually changing, based upon varying supply and demand.

I could not find a Geiger counter summary like the above. So, I made this ionizing radiation detector comparison chart, to help myself understand the technology and pricing available. I hope that it helps you.

I am an electronics engineer by trade, who knows little about nuclear radiation.

This Vaughns eBay Geiger Counter Information summary web page was updated on 2012-02-11.