You won't detect radiation from Japan in the U.S. with old Civil Defense Radiation Detectors

[galacnor]

Man, I love your website. Really hate how that whole japanese radiation thing has put a damper on my collecting. I collect cold war era relics (gas masks, geiger counters, the whole 9 yards)

and its just awful how pricey some of the stuff that can't even help people is. Also, may I ask why some of the docimeters I have are yellow and some are like a copper color without paint? Which is rarer?

cheers

alex

[vanamonde2]

@galacnor The Landsverks were the ones with the gold finish. I guess they were close to the yellow so they didn't have to paint them. The Bendix CD dosimeters were painted. I have seen a few painted yellow landsverks though. Mostly the earlier verision CD V-730/740ish Landsverks were painted. I guess the landsverk anodized dosimeters are the fewer of the CD dosimeter models. I remember some mention that the landverk CD dosimeters were the least reliable. Can't remember who said that though.

[Tomta20012]

@galacnor cash in brah! You won lotto

[FirefighterEMS21]

A few years ago we cleaned out our crawl space in our old Fire Station. We came across like 30 boxes of items like these. Each box came with three units and about 5 dosimeters.

You mentioned in your video about calibrating the units I live in Massachusetts, do you know of any reliable places to send what we have to be checked?

[LarryFine6969]

@FirefighterEMS21 radmeters4u com

[mechanicalbu11]

Why did thyroid cancer spike to epidemic levels? A prominent doctor from Indiana said his case rate went for 3 case per month to 3 cases per week. i guess we need to be careful what we eat.

[vanamonde2]

@mechanicalbu11 What are you talking about?

[Wyowanderer777]

Excellent video, thoroughly explains the difference between a geiger counter and survey meter.

Any suggestions for a good geiger counter and a good survey meter?

[cautionthisissparta]

@Wyowanderer777 Both the 700 and the 715 are decent, and they bring back memories

[Wyowanderer777]

@cautionthisissparta Actually, I meant new manufactured instruments. I have a nice CD V700, a couple 715's, and some dosimeters and chargers, but I'd like some new ones for both high and low levels.

[shadow2155]

so i guess the question is what Geiger counter would you recommend for "shtf" use or play around for every day use

[DracoAquarian1]

Thank you very informative ! Been looking to buy a geiger counter recently !

[bored1980]

Thank you for making this video. Saved me from buying a practically useless device. I owe you a beer.

[Instucablanator]

how can i make a speaker for my CDV-700 ?

[antiprotons]

Good video!  I am glad to see people sorting out the difference between an ion chamber and a Geiger muller tube.

Good job!

[Orcinus24x5]

I bet the 1 dislike is an ebay seller with a shitload of these meters to unload. XD

[Weps21]

Got a question for you vanamode2. I ran across this video and I'm doubting it's authenticity.

It's the "CDV-715 Radiation Survey Meter Conversion", can't link URL's in the comments so it has to be searched, but I was interested to find out if it was a plausible option or if it was a farce that could be fooling people who end up destroying their meters and possibly injuring themselves by trying to measure something.

[FACP07]

I have a question, Ive been looking to get one of these Geiger counters but I'm not sure what model I want/need. I guess I'm looking for a sensitive meter that can detect small radioactive samples and such as I want to start a collection of radioactive elements and other things like radium watch hands. My question is, which model should I get? My local surplus store has a cdv 717 and I was wondering if this is a good model for my uses. Thanks for your help in advance!

[vanamonde2]

@FACP07 No. Not a 717! The CD V-700 is a good model for playing around with and detecting common stuff like radium dials, etc. A 717, 715, 720 are designed to detect levels far higher than you are ever likely to come across in every day situations.

[FACP07]

@vanamonde2 Thanks for responding! I guess Ill go back and ask if they have any 700s!

[ALLERTORLOVER69]

i found one of these at my farm auction. but as always i forgot my wallet

[Tocimah]

What do you recommend civilians buy to check radiation? Also, what do we buy to check radiation in the water as well?

[intercomsec]

gazpipe916, it means your 715 needs servicing & calibration. If it is on max, then you are probably dead by now.

[gazpipe916]

its funny, they say the 715 is for very high levels, i live in sacramento and mine is usually maxxed, does that mean the levels are that high?

[vanamonde2]

@gazpipe916 No. It means your 715 is junk. How is it quote - funny - unquote that the 715 is for high levels.

[gazpipe916]

@vanamonde2 your the expert!

[888Quetzalcoatl888]

@vanamonde2 LMAO ;o)

[nukesvids]

@vanamonde2 Where did you get that Silver/Red Probe for the CDV-700...? Please tell me. I want one :]

[vanamonde2]

@nukesvids That's a CD V-700M. It's not just a different probe stuck on it. The circuit is extensively modified to work with that type of GM tube. That's why it's called a CD V-700M. The M is for modified. Most 700s modified were the Electro Neutronics units but there are some 700M victoreens out there too.

[nukesvids]

@vanamonde2 Oh... Thanks for the info. :D

[nukesvids]

@vanamonde2 The Silver/Red Probe is an Alpha-Detecting probe, right?

[vanamonde2]

@nukesvids Yes. 

[twilson1118]

The wood pencil trick works by creating a very small static charge if held as previously described, similar to what the ion chamber would do if it was exposed to radiation, otherwise you need someone with a cdv-794 calibrator and generally these are not something i'd want to see laying around, they have a cesium 130 source that emits 390R/ hr, scary.

[vanamonde2]

@twilson1118 The chamber doesn't create a -static charge - when exposed to radiation. The radiation ionizes the air in the chamber which allows current to flow thru it. The more radiation going thru the chamber, the more ionization in the chamber the higher the meter reads. I guess sticking that pencil in there causes the current to flow thru the pencil. That wouldnt give you any indication if the thing is accurate or not. It might just show you weather or not the thing is completely dead.

[nukesvids]

@vanamonde2 Vana, I have bought a Lionel CD V-700 6b working and it has the probe. Would it detect things such as uranium marbles or Fiestaware?

[vanamonde2]

@nukesvids Yes. Those are perfect 700 detectables ;-)

[intercomsec]

None of the UK or US Civil Defence geiger counters had built in sound. Its easy to add a homemade sound box for the US versions. The chances are if you have a UK contamination meter it won't work at all (I've tested about 20, and all the tubes were blown. The Survey Meter Trainer No1, the chances are that only the tube and the meter are any good.

[twilson1118]

The best trick i found for checking the meter functionality on the 717's anyways, is to use a dull wood pencil , and holding it onto the contact where the removable chamber is, simply touch it(holding the wood part).and in any scale, the meter should move quite harshly in .1x, .10x and even 100X. this simulates how the chamber tells the meter theirs radiation and is a fast way to weed out failed units that will never read at all!

[vanamonde2]

@twilson1118 Just how does that simulate how the ' ' chamber tells the meter theirs radiation ? ' '

[nukesvids]

@twilson1118 Thanks! I tried this on my 717 it worked! :D So now if Fallout 3 happens I know my 717 is working. :)

[vanamonde2]

@nukesvids Tried what and what worked?

[nukesvids]

@vanamonde2 The pencil thing :P I know you showed that he was wrong.. But, I know it's not completely dead! :D

[RedPillSurvival]

My 715 bounces up to about 3 in the 1x and 5 in .1x

Does this mean it is definitely out of calibration, or what?

If not, is it worth getting calibrated? Or is a meter this flaky just not salvageable?

[vanamonde2]

@RedPillSurvival You can try cleaning the inside (electronic components and circuit board especially the glass resistors) with isopropyl alcohol. Use the stuff you get an electronic supply that doesnt have water in it. Don't touch any electronic components inside after it has completely dried and put it back together. See if the needle stays zeroed after doing that. If it does then you can take a chance and send it to be checked and calibrated.

[vanamonde2]

@RedPillSurvival Oh I forgot one other thing. Try leaving it on for 16 hours or so. Put a new battery in it, then go through all the zeroing bit and see if the needle calms down. It probably won't but it's worth a try. That procedure is from FEMA's Radiation Safety In Shelters booklet.

[naxxramas1onclubpeng]

Can I buy one? :3

[primerib01]

Geiger counters and Radiation Survey Meters compliment each other. You need both. Geigers range 0.000001 to 1.0 REM, and Survey meters 0.01 to 500 REM.

Forget Japan, Rad junk is all over USA and anybody can find it with both instruments. Also, think over micro and nano particle exposure in your personal space. Get educated, don't blindly trust technocrats. Cheers

[GilbertBigelow]

Hello Eric:

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on these radiation meters.

What meter do you suggest to use for measuring the radiation coming over from Japan?

[Instucablanator]

witch civil defence geiger counter can I get that I can HEAR the clicks with out the speaker thing ?? help

[vanamonde2]

@Instucablanator The CD V-700. They usually have the headphone with them that you can hear the clicks through. If you find one that doesn't have a headphone you can make a plug to hook up some cheap new style headphones to the CD V-700.

[Instucablanator]

@vanamonde2 their are none that I can hear the clicks with out the headphones? Is their a way to modify it with a little speaker ?

[tokyoarea]

thank yo i wish i look at your video earlier as i already bought ! any kind of you may offer me that could didcut the radtion in our garden or air or rain etc, we far from Fukushima Plant almost 150KM but still considering the effect

thank you

[HayLotion]

Thank you 

[SilverINVESTr]

Good video. Thanks for helping out the sheeple.

[pepo922]

if it goes up and i didnt know what u just explained.. I WOULD BE SHITTING MY PANTS

[antiprotons]

A CD V-700 can detect radiation from Japan, but it would need to be exposed to air with the beta window exposed. You would run it for many days letting the speaker output voltage feed to a serial input in your pc. Using software, like Geiger Graph, you could see a trend and measure changes. Check out my videos for examples of this and what I have found from Japan.

[vanamonde2]

@antiprotons My video is aimed at people who think they can get an old CD meter on ebay and detect radiation from Japan. You would have been tracking levels well before the tsunami hit the plant and since to be able to know if there was an increase where you are. Just going out in the yard with a plastic counter isn't a very reliable method. Check the EPA site with levels from the US monitoring stations. They show virtually no change at all from a few weeks before the accident to now.

[antiprotons]

@vanamonde2 You are correct. Luckily, I have been checking my readings for weeks before the event. I have many volumes of paper with readings and even videos of them for record. Lucky me I guess. lol

Check my site, anti-proton dot c om to see my most recent data streams with minute by minute counts and averages.

[morttodd]

What does it take to make an external speaker if the tiny headset element wire is broken? The prices for the 705 module are stupid. Will just connecting a tiny speaker work?

[vanamonde2]

@morttodd You can try just hooking up a small speaker. It might work. I made a speaker that hangs on the back of a 700 with a small amplifier kit, box and speaker and it's been working for 10 years. That speaker is on the CD V-700 in the video. The CD V-700M has a 705 on it. I've never paid for a 705. The 705s I have were donated to me for my site.

[Steelfalcon22]

hey no offense its worse than you think thanks

[vanamonde2]

@Steelfalcon22 What's worse than who thinks???????

[Steelfalcon22]

@Steelfalcon22 i truely am sorry for not making sense lol anyways i was talking about radiation fallout from japan, becuase Europe says it advises the European people IN Europe not to eat their leafy vegetables and drink the milk, quote " Drinking th emilk is now consider risky behavior," close quote

[vanamonde2]

@Steelfalcon22 What kind of BS are you spreading? Europe advises people not to eat vegetables or drink milk? Huh? Who in Europe says that?

[zabman23]

@Steelfalcon22 was this the newspapers in England that need women with their tits in it out to sell it?

[Weps21]

Eric,

Thanks for the video. I was actually on the site earlier today, I myself recently purchased a CDV-715 and CDV-717 (post Fukashima scare) and was able to nab both for under $30. I've had these on my Cold War wish list (way before Japan) for a while and now finally have them. Both are in great functioning order, no major issues, but was curious if there was a way to have them calibrated?

It's mostly for my own satisfaction, I like having everything I own in a functionality state.

[MrArireza]

Contd. Naturally, I didn't expect the unit to detect anything. Now, I am sure that the unit is funk. I regret that I didn't have the chance to watch your vid before bidding.

So, I have two specific questions if you will, 1- how do you think about the CD dosimeters, do the ones in the auction have usually similar defects and problems? 2- Any chance to get the CD V 715 work? I prefer to monitor my exposure while in Tohoku and Fukushima, but a modern Geiger counter is too expensive for me. THX!

[MrArireza]

Hey thanks for the video, I actually learned about these things on your website. I live in Tokyo, so I purchased a CD 715, on the Japanese Yahoo auction for about 200 USD knowing that it is a high-range detector, just in case, as I have decided to volunteer in Fukushima next week. Currently we have 0.1-0.4 microS/h equal to 0.00004 r/h (according to the Japanese government) in central Tokyo. But to my surprise, the 715 is reading around 5 r/h.

[vanamonde2]

@MrArireza 5 r/hr? The circuitry is probably contaminated (dirt, residue on resistors) inside like a lot of old CD meters that have been sitting for years in humid warehouses. That causes the meter to drift upscale as you can see in the video and on your meter. You would have to send it away to have it repaired and then it might not be usable if it is in working order. Right around the Fukushima plant you would probably detect with a 715 but I don't think it would be usable 10 miles away.

[TheFlacker99]

i really want a gieger counter......so bad. the ones that click, it would be really cool

[MsFreedom1974]

I want to thank you for posting this information. I bought a 715 on ebay and received it today. I paid 80$. I didn't know how to use it and I came across your video looking fir instructions. I contacted the seller and they gave me a full refund and told me to keep it. That says enough. Its really sad how ppl take advantage of others during a crisis. I need to detect radiation for milk bc I have 2 babies. Thanks again for saving me $ .

[vanamonde2]

@AlembicPools The point is how much are we talking about. A few more CPM that usual? Here in North Texas I've usualy had roughly a 60 CPM background. I couldn't use a CD V-700 here to determine if the level here was any higher because of radiation from Japan.

[vanamonde2]

@AlembicPools What exactly is a .290 level???? What does that even mean? Did whoever you are referring to do regular readings for the last few months and then detect an increase? What were the levels before the rain? Who is detecting this and with what kind of counter?

[kellycat2552]

So then what do you recommend?

[vid009]

hi, which Geiger counters would you recommend ? TKS

[rljohn1990]

yeah and unless your with in 40 miles of the plants in Japan your tossing your money down the drain.

[shivercanada]

THANK YOU SIR!!!! You just saved me about $60 and wasted time getting a 720!!

YOU ROCK!!!

[008626]

Good to get this information out there - I'm also glad I got my CDV-700 for $35 before the rush heh.

[libertymi]

Didnt they used to modify these for uranium prospecting? I bought so many of these under $30 over the last few years.

[vanamonde2]

@libertymi The first model of CD V-700 that was issued in 1955 was pretty much a prospecting counter. It was a bit better quality than the more widely sold prospecting counters but it it's detection range was pretty much the same. The high range civil defense meters couldn't be converted to prospecting counters because they aren't geiger counters.

[anavywife28]

my neighbor has a yellow one she doesn't even know how to use it, she got hers from amazon and it looks just like that. im going to forward her this email so she can know she bought trash. she spent 80 bucks!

[libertymi]

@anavywife28 Its not trash, they do work, but fallout scale is just way higher than would be useful in this fashion. To be honest, dosimeters can do just a good a job.

[vanamonde2]

@anavywife28 I wouldn't say it's quote - trash - unquote but if it's one of the high range meters CD V-715,717 or 720 she really can't do anything with it. 80 bucks isn't too bad though.

[ALARAiswise]

@vanamonde2 That's right, it's certainly not trash.

They make great door stops.

[ALLERTORLOVER69]

so the normal prices for these are fairly cheap. Lol i thought theyd be in the hundreds

[vanamonde2]

@ALLERTORLOVER69 The pre-Tsunami prices for the high range meters -CD V-715, CD V-717, CD V-720- on ebay was from $10-30-ish. Post tsunami/power plant problems I've seen them go for as high at just under $300.

[tesla242]

I think the people who buy survey meters as geiger counter, get a little peace of mind with that. I obliviously disagree with the unscrupulous sellers lying on epay, but it´s the price the people pay for their ignorance. I you what to own a geiger counter, at least the have to read how to use it. Hope your video really helps, but there is a lot of paranoia out there.