Welcome back my fellow radiation nerds, Today we are taking a closer look at the BetterGeiger S-2 meter and if it’s really a better geiger counter!
Geiger counters are one of the most common tools for measuring the radiation around us, but they’re not perfect. They often suffer from limitations such as inaccurate dose rates and low sensitivity which are a characteristic of the Geiger-Muller tube used by the most meters.
In the recent years, there has been a surge in products that use small scintillation crystals instead of the more traditional GM tubes but they are usually more advance devices, target at experienced users, not entry level amateurs
This is where the BetterGeiger S-2 meters comes in
BetterGeiger S-2
First things first, I would like to thank Robert from Better Geiger who was kind enough to provide me with the S-2 meter making this video possible.
The Better Geiger S2 is a personal radiation detector manufactured in Colorado, USA. It is made out of high quality plastic which feels solid and durable and for extra protection, the unit is wrapped in a rubber case which should prevent it from any fall damage if it would slip out of hand.
While slightly on the bigger side, it can be operated singlehandedly and navigating through the menus and setting was pretty simple and intuitive.
Despite its name, Better Geiger does not use a geiger muller tube. Instead it has a small scintillation crystal which gives about 100 CPM of background activity and is rated for a maximum dose rate of 100 mSv/h for Cs-137.
Unlike most geiger counters, BetterGeiger factors in the different gamma energies detected to give accurate gamma dose readings. The measurements can be displayed as uSv/h, mRem/h or CPM and the unit does also has an alarm feature which threshold can be adjusted to the user’s preference.
While it can detect some strong betas, it’s not particularly sensitive to them and I think it’s better to think of the meter as gamma only.
When compared to my other meters, the BetterGeiger showed much higher sensitivity to gamma radiation which is particularly helpful when looking for radioactive minerals. I got a few uranium hunting trips planned, and I’m very excited to take the meter with me and see how it performs.
Improvements for the future BetterGeiger S-3
I really did enjoy using the BetterGeiger S-2 meter, however I see some potential improvements for future versions to make it even better.
The firstly, I would love to see a bigger sensor which would increase the sensitivity of the meter.
Secondly, I would move the sensor to the top of the meter. At the moment it is facing the user, making it hard and impractical to measure different sources, as it’s not always easy to see the readings on the screen.
Thirdly, I would like to see an improved algorithm which would quickly adjust the readings when there is a sudden increase in activity but then stabilises once the correct measurement is reached. The one currently used is definitely not bad and does the job well but it would make the unit faster and more responsive.
Lastly, the plastic used over the display screen is way too soft which makes it very easy to scratch. I would to see it replaced with a harder one that is more resistant to wear and tear of everyday use.
So, is it worth it?
Considering that the unit is priced at just under 150 dollars, I think it is a good alternative to many other meters in the same price range. I love that it shows accurate gamma dose readings and that it has a higher sensitivity to gamma radiation than a conventional geiger counter. While it isn’t the perfect tool for everyone, as it doesn’t detect beta radiation very well, I think it’s still solid meter offering something new and unique to the market.
I want to hear from you. What are your thought about Better Geiger S-2 and do you have any experience in with it? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you so much for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new! If yes, please make sure to subscribe to the email list so that you get notified when new posts are added. Also feel free to check out my Ko-Fi page where you can donate a nice cup of radioactive coffee and support my work financially.
and remember, stay active!
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