GQ Electronics GMC-800 Geiger Counter User Guide

GQ Electronics GMC-800 Geiger Counter

Product Information

The GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter is a radiation detection device manufactured by GQ Electronics LLC. It is equipped with a Type-C USB port for communication and external power supply/charging of the internal rechargeable Li-Ion 3.6V/3.7V battery. The device can be charged with a standard wall adapter, allowing for continuous data monitoring. It also features a real-time clock for time-related data logging purposes. The USB port is used to communicate with the GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer software, which can download and save radiation data from the unit for future analysis.

The GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter has the following specifications:

• Range of exposure dose rate indications: 0.00 to 2000 mRem/h
• Range of registered beta radiation energy: 0.00 to 200 MeV
• Range of gamma radiation energy: 0.25 to 3.5 MeV
• Range of registered X-ray radiation energy: 0.1 to 1.25 MeV
• Reproducibility of indication Gamma Sensitivity Co60: 0.03 to 3.0 cps/mR/hr
• Alarm levels by CPM: 0 to 999999 (continuously)
• Alarm levels by uSv/h: 0.00 to 9999 (continuously)
• Alarm levels by mRm/h: 0.00 to 999 (continuously)
• Date indication: YYYY-MM-DD (continuously)
• Time indication: HH-MM-SS (continuously)
• Elapsed time indication: up to 99 years (maximum)
• Radiation detection range: 0.1 ~ 3 MeV
• Instrument background: 0-2 pulses/s
• Working voltage: 3.6-3.7V
• Display: Color LCD dot matrix with backlight
• On-board memory: 2M Bytes flash memory for data storage

The device is calibrated to GQ Electronics’ strict QA standard and is eligible to be calibrated to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulation 10-CFR-34, 10-CFR-35, ANSI/NCSL Z540.3-2006(R2013), ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E), MIL-I-45208A, and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Product Usage Instructions

Charging the Battery:

• Connect the GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter to a standard wall adapter using the provided USB cable.
• The rechargeable battery will start charging. Continuous data monitoring is possible while charging.

Communication with GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer Software:

• Connect the GQ GMC-800 Geiger Counter to a computer using the USB cable.
• Install the GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer software on the computer.
• Launch the software and establish communication with the device.
• Use the software to download and save radiation data from the unit for future reference and analysis.

General Usage Tips:

• Avoid doing measurements when the battery is low.
• Avoid getting the Geiger counter wet. Use a sealed plastic bag to avoid moisture.
• Avoid doing measurements in direct sunlight.
• Avoid direct contact with radioactive material. Use a sealed plastic bag if needed.
• Turn off the unit when not in use.
• Keep the Geiger counter in a protective pouch after use.

Note: Please refer to the user manual for detailed instructions and safety precautions.

Overview

The GQ GMC-800 digital Geiger Muller Counter is specially designed to be a U.S. NRC-compliant, portable, and convenient device. It can be used in industrial, commercial maintenance, research, evaluation, simulation and other analytical or scientific applications in areas such as industrial plants, public utilities, hospitals, universities, laboratories, and electronic repair shops. The device comes with built-in audible and visual signals for the level of radiation detected. It can be used for radiation detection and monitoring in both indoor and outdoor environments. It features automatic data recording, continually monitoring the radiation level, and logging the data into internal memory every second. Users can check and analyze this data by connecting the GMC-800 to a computer and downloading with provided software. The GQ GMC-800 also comes with a high-quality color LCD Module, the friendly designed graphic user interface is fully utilized the color LCD. The device has one front LED indicator.

• The device is equipped with a Type-C USB port, utilized for communication and external power supply/charging of the internal rechargeable Li-Ion 3.6V/3.7V battery.
• The GQ GMC-800 rechargeable battery can be charged with a standard wall adapter. Using the adapters, continuous data monitoring is possible. The GMC-800 can run on only the wall adapter, giving users freedom from the limitations of a battery and guaranteeing consistent and accurate measurements.
• The main board also has a real-time clock on board for time-related data logging purposes.
• The USB port communicates with the GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer software.
• The GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer software can download the time-stamped radiation (history) data from the unit and save it on a computer for future reference and analysis.

Specifications

• Range of dose rate indications, μSv/h 0.00 to 2000
• Range of exposure dose rate indications, mRem/h 0.00 to 200
• Range of registered beta radiation energy MeV 0.25 to 3.5
• Range of gamma radiation energy, MeV 0.1 to 1.25
• Range of registered X-ray radiation energy MeV 0.03 to 3.0
• Reproducibility of indication 20% Gamma Sensitivity Co60 (cps/mR/hr) 22
• Alarm levels by CPM 0 to 999999 (continuously)
• Alarm levels by uSv/h 0.00 to 9999 (continuously)
• Alarm levels by mRm/h 0.00 to 999 (continuously)
• Date indication YYYY-MM-DD (continuously)
• Time indication HH-MM-SS (continuously)
• Elapsed time indication 99 years(maximum)
• Radiation detection: ß,γ, x
• Detectable Radiation Range: 0.1 ~ 3 MeV
• Instrument Background: 0-2 pulses/s
• Working Voltage: 3.6-3.7V
• Display: Color LCD dot matrix, backlighted
• Onboard Memory: 2M Bytes flash memory for data storage
• Power: Consumption 25mW – 125mW (count rate dependent)
• Power: Supply 3.7V Li-Ion battery/USB power

This device is calibrated to GQ Electronics’ strict QA standard and eligible to be calibrated to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulation 10-CFR-34,10-CFR-35, ANSI/NCSL Z540.3-2006(R2013), ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E),MIL-I-45208A, and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Packing List

1. GMC-800 main unit.
2. USB cable
3. Quick start guide

How it works

The GQ-800 Geiger Counter installed a Geiger tube to detect radiation. When the radiation passes through the Geiger tube, it triggers electrical pulses for the CPU to register as count. The basic count rate unit is CPM (Count Per Minute). The CPM count rate indicates the radiation level and it can be converted to other traditional radiation units, such as uSv/h or mR/h. After GMC-800 is turned on, it will show the background radiation reading. The background radiation reading (in CPM) indicates the nature radiation detected at that minute. This reading may change from time to time and location to location. To get an accurate reading, user may need to get an average value over a longer time period.

Caution

1. Avoid doing measurements when the battery is low.
2. Do not get the Geiger counter wet. Use a sealed plastic bag to avoid moisture.
3. Avoid doing measurements in direct sunlight.
4. Avoid directly contact with the radioactive material. Use a sealed plastic bag if needed.
5. Turn off the unit when not in use.
6. Keep it in a protective pouch after use.

Background Safe Levels

Suggested background readings levels:

1. Safe level. Less than 50CPM or 0.25uSv/h. Nothing to worry about
2. Attention level. 51CPM – 99CPM. OR 0.26uSv/h – 0.39uSv/h . Unnaturally high, time to figure out what is wrong
3. Warning level. More than 100CPM or more than 0.40uSv/h. Dangerous to stay in this area for long.

Hardware setup
There are four buttons on the front of the unit: Key1, Key2, Key3 and Key4 (from left to right)

1. Power up the unit. Pressing the Key4 (power) key for 3 seconds will turn on the unit. Check the battery level. Charge the battery fully for first time use. It may take a few hours to get the battery fully charged. Check the battery icon on the display, a fully charged battery icon will be filled with solid color, without flashing.
2. Set date/time. Press the Key4 key to enter the menu and set the date and time. This is very important for time stamping the recorded data. Do not skip this step. Most of the recorded data are related to the date and time.
3. Set the backlight timeout in second, in order to minimize the power consumption. Set the power savings mode. If the power savings mode is ON, then the LCD display will be turned off after 30 second if no key is being pressed during this period.
4. Now the unit is ready to use. You should see the background CPM rate in absence of a radioactive source.

Software set up (optional)
Before connecting the GMC-800 Geiger Counter to a computer, download the application software and install the USB driver. Download these from: http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com.

1. For the Win 10/11, NO USB driver is needed to install. Other earlier Windows version may need an USB driver in order to communicate with the application software. Running GQGMCGeigerCounterUSBDriverV4.exe will install the USB driver.
2. GMCDataViewer.exe is for viewing the data on a computer.

For technical questions and support, please use the forum at the following link:
http://www.GQElectronicsLLC.com/forum

For the latest software, please visit our software download page:
http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com/comersus/store/download.asp.

Verify USB driver installation in Windows (Optional)

Once the GMC-800 is connected to a computer, from the device manger, you should see which COM port is assigned to the GMC-800. See the example below. Windows assigned COM5 to the GMC-800 unit in this example.

For the data viewer or the data logger software, selecting COM5 will establish the connection to the GMC-800 Geiger counter for the above example

GQ GMC Geiger Counter Multi-Function Keys

The multi-function keys, Key1, Key2, Key3 and Key4 explained:

These key’s function will be reassigned dynamically based on the context of the current (sub-) menu being displayed.

Key1

1. There are four display modes: Does Rate, Graphic, Dosimeter, History and Menu mode. Pressing the Key1 toggles between these modes.
2. In the menu screen, pressing the Key1 will exit the current menu and will return back one menu level.
3. In the data input mode, pressing the Key1 will delete the last character entered.
4. Listen to the voice reading. Hold this key for two seconds will read the current value in Dose Rate mode.

Key2

1. In Does Rate and Graphic mode, pressing the Key2 will change the reading unit.
2. In menu mode, the Key2 acts as the UP key to move the highlight menu item upwards.
3. In history mode, the Key2 changes the reading unit.
4. In the menu mode, while a popup message box is opened, the Key3 changes the value by cycling through the predefined values.

Key3

1. In Does Rate and Graphic mode, pressing the Key2 will change the reading unit.
2. In menu mode, the Key3 acts as the DOWN key to move the highlight menu item downwards.
3. In history mode, the Key3 changes the reading unit.
4. In the menu mode, while a popup message box is opened, the Key3 changes the value by cycling through the predefined values.
5. Key3 is a shortcut key to menu mode. Hold the Key3 for two seconds will change the display mode to menu mode.

Key4

1. In power off state, only the Key4 acts as the power switch. Holding it for 3 seconds will power up the unit.
2. In Graphic mode, press Key4 will switch between Total, Max and average readings.
3. In power on state, holding Key4 for 3 seconds will switch the unit off.
4. In menu mode, Key4 is the “Confirm”, “Select”, “Enter” key

Power saving mode
The unit’s factory default power saving mode is ON. In this mode, the unit will dim the LCD backlight to minimum after 30 seconds of idle time. It will back to normal backlight when any key is pressed.

Popup Windows
The Popup Windows will show the current status/value of selected features. The current status/value can be changed only when it is displayed in the Popup Window and the currently displayed status/value will be stored when the Popup Window has timed out after 3 seconds if no key has been pressed.

Graphic User Interface (GUI)

Graphic Icons:

There are four display modes, Dose Rate, Graphic, Dosimeter, History Mode and Menu Mode

Dose Rate Mode:

Key2 and Key3 toggles between CPM, μSv/h, mR/h and CPS units

Navigation keys:

• Key1: Dose Rate/Graphic/Dosimeter/History Mode Selection
• Key2: CPM,μ, Sv/h, mR/h, CPS selection
• Key 3: CPM,μ, Sv/h, mR/h, CPM selection. Or hold for 2 seconds to enter menu mode.
• Key4: Power Off (when hold for 3s)

Graphic Mode:

Key2 and Key3 toggles between CPM, μSv/h, mR/h and CPS units

Navigation keys:

• Key1: Dose Rate/Graphic/Dosimeter/History Mode Selection
• Key2: CPM,μ, Sv/h, mR/h, CPS selection
• Key 3: CPM,μ, Sv/h, mR/h, CPM selection. Or hold for 2 seconds to enter menu mode.
• Key 4: switch between Total, Max, and average readings. Power Off (when hold for 3s)

Graphic Mode:

Navigation keys for both modes:

• Key1: Dose Rate/Graphic/Dosimeter/History Mode Selection
• Key2: μSv/h, mR/h
• Key3: μSv/h, mR/h selection. Or hold for 2 seconds to enter menu mode.
• Key4: Power Off (when hold for 3s)

History Mode:

• In History mode, the device displays historical data stored in internal flash memory.
• It starts from the first timestamp detected and 4 minutes of data thereafter.

Navigation keys for both modes:

• Key 1: Dose Rate/Graphic/Dosimeter/History Mode Selection
• Key 2: Next timestamp or next four minutes of data whichever first occurs.
• Key 3: Previous timestamp or previous four-minute data whichever first occurs. Or hold for 2 seconds to enter menu mode.
• Key 4: Power Off (when hold for 3s)

Menu Mode

• The menu screen shows special function menu items the user can select.
• The left-side list is the main menu list and the right-side list is a submenu list corresponding to the main menu highlighted item.
• Press Key 4 to confirm a main menu item first. Then the highlighted cursor will move to the submenu section to let you select.

Navigation keys:
Key1: Back Key2: Up Key3: Down Key4: Select/Enter

Click sound

Navigation keys:
Key1: Back Key2: Up Key3: Down Key4: Select/Enter

Alarm

Alarm Threshold

The audio alarm will be triggered once the radiation level reaches the preset alarm threshold in CPM.

Navigation keys:

• Key1: Back
• Key 2: Change the digit value in the highlighted position.
• Key 3: Change the digit value in the highlighted position.
• Key 4: Confirm and move to the next digit.

Beep Volume (Alarm)

Navigation keys:
Key1: Back Key2: Up Key3: Down

The final volume will be saved when the pop-up Window close 6 seconds times out.

Vibration

Navigation keys:

• Key 1: Back
• Key 2, Toggle the On/Off selection
• Key 3: Toggle the On/Off selection

Display (in main menu)

Theme
Press select button (Key4) to enter them selection mode. There are two display themes. LIGHT mode and DARK mode.

Navigation keys:
Key1: Back Key2 and Key3 Toggle between LIGHT and DARK display thems.

The system default them is in LIGHT mode. Once user select the DARK mode, all displays will switch to DARK mode. Here are the examples:

Dark Theme
Dark Theme provides a function to let user set a preferred font color and graphic color.

There are total

• Press Key4 to select Dark Them in menu to enter Dark Them color selection mode.
• There are total 65.5K colors can be set from this setting.
• There are R (red) , G (green) and B (blue) original colors to be combined into a Final new color.

Navigation keys:

• Key 1: Back/Exit
• Key 2: Increase value
• Key 3: Decrease value
• Key 4: Change/Select an original color to change between R G B.

Tips:
Select and Moving the white triangle indicator to the color you desired in the color bar.

Backlight

The backlight is to set the LCD brightness.

Navigation keys:

• Key 1: Back/Exit
• Key 2: Increase value
• Key 3: Decrease value

Power Saving

• If power saving mode enabled, then the device will deem the LCD backlight and set CPU into power saving mode after 30 seconds idle mode.

Navigation keys:

• Key 1: Back/Exit
• Key 2: Change the setting
• Key 3: Change the setting

Save Data
Save Data uses to set the frequency of saving data.User can select data saving mode between every second,every minute,every hour and turn off the data saving function.

Erase Data

Erase Data will completely delete all history data in flash memory. The erasure is permanent, and no way to recovery back.

Select Yes and press Key4 to confirm.

Set Clock

Navigation keys:

• Key1: Back
• Key 2: Change the digit value in the highlighted position.
• Key 3: Change the digit value in the highlighted position.
• Key 4: Confirm and move to the next digit.

Factory Reset

Calibration

This menu mainly for qualified calibration facility. User may change the value when needed. Press Key4 to enter each calibration item.

Navigation keys:

• Key 1: Back
• Key 2: Change the digit value in highlighted position.
• Key 3: Change the digit value in highlighted position.
• Key 4: Confirm and move to next digit.

Tube Voltage

Tube voltage setting is for professional calibration purpose. User may not change it unless instructed by professional.

Select Key2 and Key3 to change the value.

About
About displays device system information.

GQ GMC Data Viewer Software

The GQ GMC Data Viewer is a free utility software. It can be downloaded from GQ website download page.

Main features:

• Download the history data from GMC-800
• Real-time monitoring with graphics when it connected with GMC-800
• Save the history data in .bin OR .csv MS Excel format.
• Synchronize the data and time to GMC-800 with the computer’s data and time
• User-defined automatic date and time synchronization period.
• The GQ Terminal feature provides a detailed communication protocol exercise interface.

GQ Terminal

• The GQ Terminal provides an immediate access interface to the GMC-800 communication protocol.
• The following are “click to send” commands in the software, for unlisted commands user can type into the command box of the software:
• GETTER, GETSERIAL, GETCPM, KEY0, Key1, Key2, Key3, SPEAKER0, SPEAKER1, ALARM0, ALARM1, GETVOLT, GETGYRO, GETCFG, GETCPS, HEARTBEAT0, HEARTBEAT1, GETDATETIME, CFGUPDATE, POWEROFF, POWER ON, SETDATETIME, FACTORY RESET.

For detailed communication protocol commands, please see:
http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com/downloads/download.asp?DownloadID=62.

• Optional software is the GQ GMC Data Logger PRO. It is a generic software for different brands and model Geiger Counters. It has much more advanced features for advanced users.
• See the download page for the demo version.

Online Geiger Counter World Map

www.GMCmap.com

• The Geiger Counter World Map is free and open protocol map. Anyone can use it for free. It provides a free space to all Geiger Counter users.
• As a registered user, each user can have multiple Geiger Counters at different locations. All registered Geiger Counters have free history data storage space. User is able to retrieve their history data anytime, anywhere. Users can publish their history data to others by set the data properties.

Software

• The GMCmap accepts any software automatically submitted data.
• The GQ Geiger Counter Data Viewer software is a tested free software for automatic submit data feature. It can be found and downloaded from GQ Electronics LLC download page

Auto Submit Data Protocol

• In order to use automatically submit data, user has to be registered on GMCmap.com, so that to get a valid user account ID and Geiger Counter ID. Each user can have multiple Geiger Counters at the different locations.

• Auto submit data url format:
  http://www.GMCmap.com/log.asp?id=UserAccountID+GeigerCounterID+CPM+ACPM+uSV

• At least one reading data has to be submitted.

Here:

1. UserAccountID: user account ID. This ID is assigned once a user registration is completed.
2. GeigerCounterID: a global unique ID for each registered Geiger Counter.
3. CPM: Count Per Minute reading from this Geiger Counter.
4. ACPM: Average Count Per Minute reading from this Geiger Counter(optional).
5. uSv: uSv/h reading from this Geiger Counter(optional).

Followings are valid data submission examples:

1. http://www.GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=13.2&uSV=0.075
2. http://www.GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=0&uSV=0
3. http://www.GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=0&uSV=0
4. http://www.GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15
5. http://www.GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=13.2.

The result will be returned immediately.

The following are the returned result examples:

1. OK.
2. Error! User is not found.
3. Error! Geiger Counter is not found.
4. Warning! The Geiger Counter location changed, please confirm the location.

If a location change warning received, the user will need to confirm the location from that Geiger Counter profile OR create another Geiger Counter from your account. In this case, you can have two locations share one Geiger Counter.

Applications

• Stationary Application
  The unit can be placed to almost anywhere for stationary monitoring of radiation and long-term surveillance applications. With the wall adapter, it is able to monitor the data continuously, 24/7.

Other Important Technical Details

• USB Port
  The USB port is the standard mini-USB port. It is used for data communication, external power and the battery charger connection.

• Data collection time
  The GMC-800 radiation data is collected continuously, and every second the measured data is being transmitted to the CPU for processing.

Extend battery operating time

• Turn on the Power Saving mode to extend the battery operating time. Turn off the speaker if it is not necessary. If a fully charged battery run-out in less than 3 operating hours, then the battery needs to be replaced. Use a standard 14500 (14 x 50.0 mm) 3.6V-3.7V Li battery OR 14500 (14 x 50.0 mm) 3.6V-3.7V rechargeable Li-ion battery.
• The GMC-800 will operate normally when a non-rechargeable battery is installed. Select the battery type to non-rechargeable battery from the unit menu.

Third party software developers
The GMC-800 is an open application protocol product. Users are encouraged to develop their own software based on the published GQ-RFC1201 protocol. We encourage you to share your generic software with other users. Please contact support@gqelectronicsllc.com if you have any questions.

You can find the GQ-RFC1201 protocol at the software download page.
http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com/comersus/store/download.asp.

References

• Geiger Counter World Map
• Geiger Counter World Map
• GMCmap.com/log.asp?id=UserAccountID+GeigerCounterID+CPM+ACPM+uSV
• GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15
• GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=0&uSV=0
• gmcmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=13.2
• GMCmap.com/log2.asp?AID=0230111&GID=0034021&CPM=15&ACPM=13.2&uSV=0.075
• GQ Electronics
• gqelectronicsllc.com/downloads/download.asp?DownloadID=62
• GQ Electronics Technical Support Forum

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