Direct mp4 download or play: My Geiger Counter
This is a recording of my Geiger counter in Seattle, Washington on the afternoon of December 8th, 2011, for a little more than five minutes. The recording time was from approximately 4:38 PM to 4:43 PM. The sensor was just lying on my dining room table and pointing in a northerly direction, and the sensitivity was set at maximum. I purchased this unit from a little electronics surplus shop in Pacheco, California called “The Odd Assortment.” Be sure to take a look at my YouTube version here.
Here is the Geiger counter showing the sensor on the right, and the headphone jack on the left. The audio is going to the red wire, and then to my audio mixer. I don’t understand why a BNC connector was used instead of a standard quarter inch jack for the headphones. As far as I know, atomic or nuclear radiation is not electromagnetic, and does not produce radio waves which could interfere with the headphones. BNC connectors are used on radio transceivers where shielding of electromagnetic energy is important.
This shows the Geiger counter was calibrated, and the unit appeared to be new and unused.
If I’m looking at the meter correctly, the reading went no higher than .02 on the video. That appears to be extremely low. I don’t know if the meter retained its calibration, and I have no way of knowing if the unit is actually functioning correctly. In addition, I don’t think I own anything that is known to be radioactive. Any thoughts?
7 users commented on " My Geiger Counter "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYou might try older porcelain, even certain types of colored glass.
How about an analog wristwatch with a self-illuminating face?
Smoke detector?
– Just take the unit with you to a second-hand store… hit the glassware isle and the jewelry case.
The looks you get from people will be well worth videotaping. (HINT)
boops
Now I remember, It was a Paul Stamets Video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4dNpet7qpg&feature=related
I’ll just say that Paul is a veritable genius (and obviously a SubGenius).
If you aren’t aware of his work as a revolutionary mycologist, which has zilch to do with this vid, and everything to do with “Us”, you should really take a few minutes to check out his canon.
And that is a very impressive unit, great find!
“Tyvek™ suit + gasmask and saunter on into grocery outlet with said unit in hand….
ABM, obviously intended to write “Grocery Outlet”.
He is currently being scolded.
I remember The Odd Assortment well; it was originally in downtown Concord before redevelopment drove Owen out to the back room of the Pacheco Post Office. Loved that place, though I moved out of the area by 1984 and probably visited the last time a couple of years later. Any recollection when Owen shut the place down?
Guess I ought to get out the Geiger counter to see if there is any radiation drifting in from Fukushima.
Was there any radiation drifting in from Fukushima you could/can detect?