Description
Geiger counter GAMMA-SCOUT: The radiation measuring device for beginners and experts
The Geiger counter GAMMA-SCOUT is the best-known radiation measuring instrument in the world and is already the gold standard among experts and hobby researchers when it comes to measuring radioactivity. High measuring accuracy and good workmanship clearly set this hand-held measuring instrument apart from the crowd. Many experts are particularly impressed by the high-quality counting tube: it comes from the USA (LND Incorporated) and is considered by experts to be one of the best on the entire market. The plastic casing of the GAMMA-SCOUT is virtually unbreakable and meets all standards for shock resistance for portable handheld devices, which makes the casing extremely robust. It can withstand even the greatest temperature fluctuations.
Features and functions of the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard
The Standard Geiger counter from GAMMA-SCOUT has a wide range of functions. It lies well in the hand and has a minimal battery consumption. During the measurement, the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard convinces with short measuring intervals in a 2-second cycle and a large measuring range of 0.01 - 5,000 microsievert per hour.
The matching accessories for the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard can be found here.
Radon measurement with the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard
The GAMMA-SCOUT Geiger counter is the only hand-held measuring instrument on the German market that can measure alpha radiation in addition to beta and gamma radiation. Radon belongs to the alpha emitters, which is why all GAMMA-SCOUT models can reliably determine radon gas concentrations.
Advantages of the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard at a glance
- High-quality counting tube: Measurement of alpha, beta and gamma radiation with a high degree of measurement accuracy.
- Radon measurement: Exact measurement of radon concentration possible
- Short measuring intervals: 2-second cycle
- Dosimeter function: the GAMMA-SCOUT can also be used as a personal dosimeter
- Large data memory: Enough memory for up to 32,000 measured values
- Wide measuring range: 0.01- 5,000 microsieverts per hour
- Flexible display of units: Units can be displayed in SEM or sievert
- USB connection: The GAMMA-SCOUT Standard can be connected to a PC via USB cable.
- Evaluation software: free download is available for Windows and MAC operating systems
- Official certification: complies with the CE standard (EU) and the American FCC standard
- Patented energy-saving concept: the lithium thionyl chloride cell has a runtime of up to 12 years
- Made in Germany: development and production are subject to high quality standards
- Certified individual calibration: The final test is monitored by the Institute for Radiation Protection of a state university of applied sciences. The test specimens must lie within the confidence interval of 5 % against a master, which in turn has been matched against a tested Cs 137 radiator and the ODL.
For whom is the GAMMA-SCOUT Standard suitable?
The GAMMA-SCOUT Standard Geiger counter has already proven its worth for measuring radioactivity at customers all over the world:
- governmental institutions, such as THW, police, fire brigade
- interested laymen who suspect increased radiation
- people living in a radiation-risk area
- schools, to teach schoolchildren about the laws of radioactive radiation
The four GAMMA-SCOUT models at a glance
The four GAMMA-SCOUT models differ from each other in essential functions. Compare the devices and find the right one for your requirements.
 |  |  |  | |
| GAMMA-SCOUT | Standard | Alert | Rechargeable | Online |
| Measurement of α- also β- and γ-radiation | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Certified single calibration | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Data storage | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Data evaluation via Windows and MAC | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Patented current saving Concept | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Alarm threshold for dose rate & dose | - | yes | yes | yes |
| Ticker: acoustic signal | - | yes | yes | yes |
| Rechargeable battery | - | - | yes | - |
| Real-time data transmission | - | - | - | yes |
| Graphic tool for data evaluation | - | - | - | yes |
Learn more about the respective model by clicking on the image of the desired GAMMA-SCOUT.
Scope of delivery
- Geiger counter GAMMA-SCOUT Standard
- USB cable
- Operating instructions
- Calibration certificate with unit number
Software download for evaluating the measurement data
GAMMA-SCOUT TOOLBOX 5 for Windows 7
GAMMA-SCOUT TOOLBOX 5 for Windows 8, 8.1 und 10
GAMMA-SCOUT Reader for Mac OS X
Note for already purchased units
Please check your FW status first (press the battery symbol on the keyboard of the unit and the Enter key/left arrow in succession) before updating the software, as the new software is not compatible with old units (< FW 5.36). For copy protection reasons, the processor is fused after assembly so that it is not possible to update the FW subsequently.
| Verwendung: | Normal |
| Stromversorgung: | Batterie |
| Anzeige: | Kleines Display |
| Kategorie: | Strahlung |
GAMMA-SCOUT | Standard Manual DE
The manual with operating instructions for the Geiger Counter Standard from GAMMA-SCOUT in German
GAMMA-SCOUT | Standard Manual DE
GAMMA-SCOUT | Standard Manual EN
The manual with operating instructions for the Geiger Counter Standard from GAMMA-SCOUT in English
GAMMA-SCOUT | Standard Manual EN
FAQ (32)
Geiger Counter
If you own a Geiger counter, you will soon come across some terms that a Geiger counter owner has to deal with. There are complex relationships between the voltage activities to be measured and the properties of the respective device type. The following is a brief overview of the most important units involved in the topic of radioactivity. This way you can be sure that you interpret the numbers on the display correctly and then draw the right conclusions.
Activity
The unit of measurement Becquerel indicates how many atomic nuclei of a radioactive substance decay within a second. The half-life is the probability that an atomic nucleus will decay in the next second. If you want to determine the total activity of a substance, you multiply the amount of atomic nuclei that decay in one second by the number of atoms present.
Dose rate
The dose rate indicates how much energy is stored per unit of time in a defined quantity of substance. In order to describe the harmful potential of radioactivity, the pure activity information is not sufficient; it must also be stated how much energy is deposited per unit of time in a substance. The dose rate is measured in joules per kilogram and second.
In medicine, on the other hand, people are not only interested in the energy that is deposited in a substance in a time interval, but above all in the biological damage it causes to human tissue. Since different types of radiation with their different energy ranges have a different damaging potential, the dose rate is weighted by a biological factor. The result is the so-called equivalent dose rate, measured in Sievert per second (Sv/s). The higher the equivalent dose rate, the higher the tissue-damaging potential of radiation.
Since one sievert per second already corresponds to a very dangerous irradiation, the tissue-damaging potential is often indicated in microsievert per second (µSv/s). For longer stays in radiating areas the radiation exposure is also indicated in microsievert per hour (µSv/h).
Dose
If the dose rate is added up over a period of time, the dose is obtained. The dose is given in Gray or Sievert. A flight from Berlin to Los Angeles, for example, produces a dose of 50 to 100 microsievert (µSv), which corresponds approximately to the dose produced by an X-ray of the chest. According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the total effective dose of X-ray examinations is 1.6 millisievert per person per year in Germany (mSv).
Annual dose
The annual dose for natural radiation in Germany is about 2 millisieverts per year (mSv/a). The annual dose can vary greatly for individual citizens, depending on their place of residence and lifestyle. The annual maximum dose for persons who are exposed to radioactive radiation in their profession is 20 millisieverts per year (mSv/a) in Germany. In the USA, the limit was set at 50 millisieverts per year (mSv/a). Even if the maximum annual dose here is quite high, it is worth keeping the annual dose as low as possible.
A Geiger counter measures the number of radioactive decays of a substance. The value shown on the display is the higher the more decays a material produces. If the radiation meter has a ticker, the radiation intensity can even be made audible. The shorter the distances between the individual clicks, the higher the decay rate.
The most important component of a Geiger counter is the so-called Geiger-Müller counter tube. This consists of a metal shell, a cathode and an anode. The tube itself is filled with a gas (often inert gas). If the thin wire in the middle is now energized (500 volts or more), it can attract the electrons that are released when radioactive particles disintegrate. The contact of electrons with the inert gas of the Geiger-Müller counter tube makes the gas briefly conductive, thus closing the circuit. If the Geiger counter has a loudspeaker, a click sound is generated during this process.
In addition to the Geiger meters with Geiger-Müller counter tube, there are also models with semiconductor detectors. These models can not only determine the number of decays of a substance, but also the energy of the incident radiation. In addition, Geiger counters based on semiconductor technology have a very long service life and low energy consumption.
The radiation measuring device Gamma-Scout Standard is known for its particularly high-quality counter tube, which cannot be found in such a quality in any other comparable device. This is the reason why not only employees from science and research as well as from authorities and industry turn to Gamma-Scout, but also more and more laymen who want to get more certainty about a possible radiation exposure in their environment. The Gamma-Scout Standard is used, for example, to check:
- Residential and office buildings
- Walls, ceilings and floors
- Building materials and natural stones
- Postal consignments, on receipt of goods
- Parcels and letters at customs
- Radon concentrations in residential buildings etc.
Since the Geiger counter Gamma-Scout constantly adds up all measured values, the radiation measuring device can also be used as a dosimeter. In this way you can determine the total dose that hits your body in a certain period of time. Afterwards the measured values can be compared with the recommendations of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
Gamma Scout Basic
The battery of the Gamma-Scout Standard is firmly soldered into the device to guarantee an uninterrupted current flow. Therefore a quick battery change is unfortunately not possible. However, the power consumption of this Geiger counter is so low that the device can usually be operated for much longer than 10 years at a time. Should you wish to change the battery of your Gamma-Scout Standard after 10-12 years, we offer you our inexpensive repair service, which will replace the battery for you.
You would rather buy a Geiger counter with battery? No problem! You can recharge the Geiger counter Gamma-Scout Rechargeable as often as you like!
Gamma Scout general
You should choose a gamma scout if you want to be sure that your environment is free of ionizing radiation. Since the Gamma Scout detects even the smallest radiation values, you can use it to check all rooms in your house, apartment or workplace for radioactive contamination.
Even if you work in a company, research institution or public authority, the acquisition of a gamma-scouts is highly recommended. As soon as you or your employees are exposed to increased radioactive radiation, the Gamma Scout helps you to keep an eye on radiation exposure.
Private individuals as well as employees from companies, industry and authorities are interested in Gamma Scout. An important group of customers are, for example, government officials who take care of the security of the population. This includes police officers, the Technical Relief Agency and the fire brigade. Hospitals and research institutes also sometimes need meaningful data on whether and to what extent radiation exposure is present.
Among the private individuals who buy a Geiger counter, there are often craftsmen and hobby researchers. In addition, there are also people who assume that increased radiation levels can be found in their surroundings.
Yes, the Gamma Scout registers every change in background radiation. The measurements are highly accurate. The fluctuations in the measured values are less than 1 percent. This is the reason why the Gamma-Scout allows you to detect even the smallest changes in the radiation values in the soil, in your garden or in your house.
Since the instrument has a memory function, the values can be easily compared even after longer measurement series. You can transfer the measured values to a PC, where you can evaluate the data. An evaluation software is included with all Gamma Scout devices. An equally useful feature is the warning function of the gamma-scouts.
If the measured values exceed the maximum value you have specified, the Gamma Scout will alert you to this fact by means of a warning tone (this applies to all Gamma Scout models except the Gamma Scout Standard!).
The Gamma Scout displays the measurement data in micro sieverts per hour (µSv/h) on the display (dose rate). Sievert is a unit of measurement used to determine radiation exposure to living organisms. The biological effectiveness of the radiation depends on the type of radiation and the radiation energy. 1 Milli-Sievert (mSv) = 1000 Micro-Sievert (µSv) = 0.001 Sievert (Sv).
The measured values can also be displayed in the SEM unit. REM is the former term for the equivalent dose and has not been used since 1985. However, if you want to compare old measurements with today's values, this task can easily be accomplished with the Gamma Scout.
The biological effectiveness of ionizing radiation depends on the type of radiation and the radiation energy. The longer an organism is exposed to radiation, the greater the risk of damage to cells.
The Gamma-Scout therefore not only displays the load in micro sieves per hour, but can also display the data in a bar chart. Another particularly useful feature is that it indicates the maximum duration of exposure to the radiation currently measured. In this way, you always have an overview of all important values and are warned by the gamma scout with a sound signal as soon as certain maximum values are exceeded (all models, except Gamma-Scout Standard, have this function).
