I just did this upgrade on a CQ model GMC-300S, which came equipped with a Chinese glass J321 tube (M4011 equivalent). I did need to relocate both tube holders as shown in this video. Since the J321 sensitivity is 158.3 CPM per mR/h and the SBM-20 is 175 CPM per mR/h, all I did was change the CPM levels in the three Calibrate points. Calibrate 1: From 1,538 to 1,750 Calibrate 2: From 15,380 to 17,500 Calibrate 3: From 30,760 to 35,000 With the above CPM changes, the mR/h and uSv/h levels should not be changed.
Have you or can you do a comparison taking readings of the same samples before and after replacing the tube to show whether there is a practical benefit in addition to theoretical?
I upgraded my GQ GMC-320+ V4 to the SBM-20. I used my smoke alarm as my radiation source. The stock tube which is the J305 got 68CPM at most. The SBM-20 got 103CPM at most. Just be aware while installing bigger tubes in the GQ GMC-320+ V4, the traces didn't go all the way on the negative terminal so I had to solder a wire from the end of the trace to the negative tube holder.
Hello, In my case, after soldering the wire, the light stays green and it's clicking so much that it's almost emitting no sound. Could this be a faulty sbm20 tube ? The M4011 still works.
you can use 70 CPM and 0.4 uSv for calibrate 1 and 350 CPM 2 uSv for calibrate 2 and 14016 (closest to 14000) CPM and 80 uSv for calibrate 3. The magic is in getting the factor of 0.0057 right. 175*0.0057=1 or 1/175=0.0057.
This was the first generation 300E, by the time you uploaded this video they already had the plus version that uses a more standard 14500 cell lithium battery. Thankfully the process is still the same for swapping this tube in.
shame you didn't test these tubes with some check sources and created some benchmarks, so you could compare the results and the viewer could relate to the gain, as this "it should be better" is as relative as it comes for a video.
Why did you choose those CPM values in the calibration menu? My 320 Plus has 60, 240 and 1000 as CPM calibration points. I understand the 50 and 500 but for the last setting you've chosen 15020. Why? Or is that the maximum you can set?
+Ni5ei The three calibration values form a curve that is used to convert CPM to uS. There is a thread discussing how to use the calibration on the GQ Electronics forum. As for the exact values, some kind person on the same forum worked out the values based on the sensitivity of the SBM-20 tube, also on the GQ Electronics forum.
+DextersLab2013 Thanks, that makes sense. However, I've just replaced my tube as well and can't get the Calibration 3 setting to 15020 CPM. It jumps in amounts that don't make much sense to me and I can't get it to read 15020.
Ni5ei LOL! yea the method used to input numbers is crazy bonkers, i recall cursing at mine while setting. Unless your measuring big CPMs with it the Cal 3 setting you dont have to be too accurate.
+DextersLab2013 Ah, managed to get it at 15020 now. Raise it with the arrow up button until it reads 1xx20 and then lowering the value with the down arrow until it reads 15020. Very odd way of setting it to a preferred value indeed :/
+DextersLab2013 Hey I was just thinking: if you divide your CPM by 175 for all 3 calibration points, wouldn't that be linear? You're talking about a curve but that would mean the conversion at high count would be different from that at low count CPM. I've been searching on the GQ forums but can't find the topic you're referring too.
I wonder if its posible to change the speaker on the board, for some reason these speakers tend to sound quiet to me and i wanted to switch them out for louder ones.
Still a great video ! Noticed that my Circuit Board is Red and also have a Li-Ion Rechargeable 3.7 V Battery... The G-M Tube is Glass but have not opened the case yet. And have not upgraded to the Russian Tube... How long do the Glass Tubes last ? Still have to get back to the Trinity Site with my GMC-300 E Plus (Made in Seattle) ! Mine still works after two years... tjl
+Tim Lipinski thanks! All GM tubes last a long time, decades even! Sounds like they updated the battery in as well. The nimh batteries where not great tbh.
I installed the smb-20 tube in a 3.7V rechargeable model. The software will not boot up now. Is this due to voltage difference? Is there an easy way to adjust from 3.7V-9V?
I just replaced my tube in a GMC-320.. SBM-20 tube with the and did the cal just as you showed but, now im gettting 8-12 cpm where it was 20 - 30 this morning? Maybe a bad tube? (UPDATE): OPPS I put the thing in backwards... Works fine now....
Quick question : I have a sts-5 tube (pretty much the same as sbm-20) and I don't know if it even works. If I put it in the geiger counter and it does not work will it damage the geiger counter?
Thank you for this great video! Very informative. What other tubes are compatible with the GMC-300E? Does it only need to be in the same voltage operating range? What is the maximum this counter can take? Also, if the tube is too big, I figured you can still mount it externally and solder wires to it. Thanks
@@lolazam1497 the only reason why it can't detect alpha is the tube (alpha can't go through much of anything), there's a few people that has replaced the tube to something that can detect alpha and it works just fine.
Thank you for the video and looks like a great upgrade. Have you been to the Trinity Site ? Hope to be there in the Spring again with the CD V-700 and the Cd V-742. tjl
+DextersLab2013 Thank you for the update. Been to the southern edge of Japan for a few hours, but not Hiroshima.Is your upgrade still doing well after nearly a year ? Have ordered both parts, just no rush to do the upgrade.. Thank you, tjl
Quick question, I've noticed some videos appear to have film on the meters front where as yours does not. I'm assuming it is removable and they have neglected to?
Great video, I have the same model and will probably do this mod as it looks like a good upgrade, but I am currently unable to register any CPM on my device. Everything seems to be working on the device, battery is fully charged, menu buttons and display all work fine, just no clicky and no CPM. It reads 0CPM after days. I've had the back off and the tube is intact. I was reading on the forum they changed tube from M4011 to J305 in order to make it less sensitive to visible light. I have the J305 tube in mine. Any ideas much appreciated.
I would measure the dc voltage across the tube with it powered up. it should be 160 or more. make sure the tube is installed the right way with + to +. if it all checks out, the tube is probably dead. the J tube is trash from what I heard. I bought the smb20 and its a great tube
Unfortunately geiger-muller tube based meters, especially lower quality ones, are not going to be useful in a radiological emergency. They simply can't handle the level of radiation that you will encounter. I am going to suggest investing in a higher quality item if you would like something you can use.
I just replaced mine which had a red board by following all steps in the video but I had to solder an extra wire to the positive terminal as the existing circuit doesn't reach them. So far it's working good
scooter dee Yes, there is a small increase in sensitivity. Also removing some of the plastic from the back of the counter around the tube area helps as well. Both of these modifications are common for this counter.
Why didn't you do a comparison of the 2 different tubes?? You should have showed the CPM of the original tube (using some radioactive source) and then the CPM using the new tube. Without a comparison, your change-of-tube is meaningless! The proper comparison was never demonstrated. Very poorly done!
Am I the only one brave enough to mention that I can influence the Geiger counter with somatic sensory cortex activity? Surely I'm not a mutant. I hear an unexpected noise and then my Geiger counter jumps a few extra points. I have a Radex One and it takes extremely fast readings (10 seconds) therefore it's alerting me much more frequently than my far more expensive GMC-600 Plus. Ideally you would be able to test with the Radex One, and you would set the alarm to be slightly higher than your local background radiation. I set mine to alarm at 20. It doesn't even tell me what that means but that's irrelevant for the result. I set alarm to as both beep and vibrate - then I wait. The effect is most pronounced in morning and evening for some reason, I haven't figured it out. I'm guessing a longer refractory period is needed during the day. Early morning and late evening it chirps with each plane that is "heard" passing, and each time a/c turns on and each time it turns off, and each time someone walks above and makes the wood floor creak, and really any noise at all that was unexpected. It's as if there is a noise processing in subconscious in which brain has an "aha!" moment recognizing the noise then triggers something which notches up the wave count enough to trigger the alarm. Other "aha!" moments can include visualizing solution to a problem and then "beep beep beep" - the greater the enthusiasm the greater the alarm. My experience anyway. Your miles may vary. If I don't ask, I'll never know if I'm truly alone. I don't think I am. I think everyone has the ability. Probably just need to set up the right environment. If other people are within 20 feet then it is possible they could influence your results to the point you consider it all random "background". I assure you, that is not the case for me. I've tested nonstop for 3 months. Using the GMC600 PLUS I have to set it a bit differently. I set the uSV to .17 or sometimes .15 depending the current average. The idea is to have it alarm for any spikes but not too much or too little. For me, if background is .13 then I might set it to alarm at .15 or .16 you get the idea. Keep at it and you'll find the sweet spot - unless you have too many other variables messing it up. I must have the perfect environment otherwise I must have something unique but I doubt it. I am willing to bet I can prove this to any Google jockey or textbook thumper that shouts "IMPOSSIBLE" if given the opportunity. I don't have delusions of grandeur, but I can fully appreciate that someone else can stand on this logic and see further. I don't know if I should be pestering doctors to check my brain, as this whole idea going against textbooks takes a bit of courage and self confidence. For now, I can only ask others to test this for themselves. Maybe there is a Nobel Prize waiting for you, but my suspicion is that we can all do this given all the right variables in the right environment. It's likely being hidden for some unexplained reason just like there is no explanation that XRF (xray fluorescence) is no longer publicly available for the case of testing after the lead in your blood gets absorbed into your brain and bones. Pay close attention to the details given and test. Hopefully environmental variables will not get in the way too much.
The 300e vs the 320+ The 300e has 64KB storage, the 320+ has 1MB storage The 320+ has a temperature sensor while the 300e doesn't The 320+ has a gyro while the 300e doesn't (it flips the screen depending on what orientation you're holding it like a smartphone can). The 320+ has Treshhold Data Logging while the 300e doesn't. This is probably due to the limited space the 300e has vs the 320+ the GQ website has a page showing a comparison chart of the different Geiger counter models they make.
I just did this upgrade on a CQ model GMC-300S, which came equipped with a Chinese glass J321 tube (M4011 equivalent). I did need to relocate both tube holders as shown in this video. Since the J321 sensitivity is 158.3 CPM per mR/h and the SBM-20 is 175 CPM per mR/h, all I did was change the CPM levels in the three Calibrate points.
Calibrate 1: From 1,538 to 1,750
Calibrate 2: From 15,380 to 17,500
Calibrate 3: From 30,760 to 35,000
With the above CPM changes, the mR/h and uSv/h levels should not be changed.
Main benefit of changing the existing tube for the SBM-20 is its much more capable of taking a knock. Its not much more sensitive but its all metal.
It's also more sensitive to low energy beta emitters (soft beta). You get more CPM in general from commonly found test sources.
Have you or can you do a comparison taking readings of the same samples before and after replacing the tube to show whether there is a practical benefit in addition to theoretical?
I upgraded my GQ GMC-320+ V4 to the SBM-20. I used my smoke alarm as my radiation source. The stock tube which is the J305 got 68CPM at most. The SBM-20 got 103CPM at most.
Just be aware while installing bigger tubes in the GQ GMC-320+ V4, the traces didn't go all the way on the negative terminal so I had to solder a wire from the end of the trace to the negative tube holder.
Hello,
In my case, after soldering the wire, the light stays green and it's clicking so much that it's almost emitting no sound.
Could this be a faulty sbm20 tube ? The M4011 still works.
you can use 70 CPM and 0.4 uSv for calibrate 1 and 350 CPM 2 uSv for calibrate 2 and 14016 (closest to 14000) CPM and 80 uSv for calibrate 3. The magic is in getting the factor of 0.0057 right. 175*0.0057=1 or 1/175=0.0057.
This was the first generation 300E, by the time you uploaded this video they already had the plus version that uses a more standard 14500 cell lithium battery. Thankfully the process is still the same for swapping this tube in.
I've got an awesome project idea. Solder two wires and make your own casing for the Geiger tube so you can make the tube mobile
which tube is better?
shame you didn't test these tubes with some check sources and created some benchmarks, so you could compare the results and the viewer could relate to the gain, as this "it should be better" is as relative as it comes for a video.
Why did you choose those CPM values in the calibration menu?
My 320 Plus has 60, 240 and 1000 as CPM calibration points.
I understand the 50 and 500 but for the last setting you've chosen 15020. Why? Or is that the maximum you can set?
+Ni5ei The three calibration values form a curve that is used to convert CPM to uS. There is a thread discussing how to use the calibration on the GQ Electronics forum. As for the exact values, some kind person on the same forum worked out the values based on the sensitivity of the SBM-20 tube, also on the GQ Electronics forum.
+DextersLab2013 Thanks, that makes sense. However, I've just replaced my tube as well and can't get the Calibration 3 setting to 15020 CPM. It jumps in amounts that don't make much sense to me and I can't get it to read 15020.
Ni5ei LOL! yea the method used to input numbers is crazy bonkers, i recall cursing at mine while setting. Unless your measuring big CPMs with it the Cal 3 setting you dont have to be too accurate.
+DextersLab2013 Ah, managed to get it at 15020 now. Raise it with the arrow up button until it reads 1xx20 and then lowering the value with the down arrow until it reads 15020. Very odd way of setting it to a preferred value indeed :/
+DextersLab2013 Hey I was just thinking: if you divide your CPM by 175 for all 3 calibration points, wouldn't that be linear? You're talking about a curve but that would mean the conversion at high count would be different from that at low count CPM. I've been searching on the GQ forums but can't find the topic you're referring too.
I wonder if its posible to change the speaker on the board, for some reason these speakers tend to sound quiet to me and i wanted to switch them out for louder ones.
Hello. awsome video.
Do you think BeF neutron counter tube will work too? if it has the same voltage rating?
Still a great video ! Noticed that my Circuit Board is Red and also have a Li-Ion Rechargeable 3.7 V Battery... The G-M Tube is Glass but have not opened the case yet. And have not upgraded to the Russian Tube... How long do the Glass Tubes last ? Still have to get back to the Trinity Site with my GMC-300 E Plus (Made in Seattle) ! Mine still works after two years... tjl
+Tim Lipinski thanks! All GM tubes last a long time, decades even! Sounds like they updated the battery in as well. The nimh batteries where not great tbh.
I installed the smb-20 tube in a 3.7V rechargeable model. The software will not boot up now. Is this due to voltage difference? Is there an easy way to adjust from 3.7V-9V?
@@yehat17 did you fix it?
I just replaced my tube in a GMC-320.. SBM-20 tube with the and did the cal just as you showed but, now im gettting 8-12 cpm where it was 20 - 30 this morning? Maybe a bad tube? (UPDATE): OPPS I put the thing in backwards... Works fine now....
Good news, glad it's still clicking!
Quick question : I have a sts-5 tube (pretty much the same as sbm-20) and I don't know if it even works. If I put it in the geiger counter and it does not work will it damage the geiger counter?
Im no expert..... but, im sure so long as its not short circuited you should be fine.. check the continuity with multimeter.
Thank you for this great video! Very informative. What other tubes are compatible with the GMC-300E? Does it only need to be in the same voltage operating range? What is the maximum this counter can take? Also, if the tube is too big, I figured you can still mount it externally and solder wires to it. Thanks
I'm interested as well. I'm particularly curious if there are compatible tubes that also detect alpha radiation.
@@johnmarks714 Honestly probably not, theres only so much these cheap counter can do.
@@johnmarks714 this already can detect the alpha
@@kishascape you mean in stock condition? No it only detects beta, gamma and xrays,
@@lolazam1497 the only reason why it can't detect alpha is the tube (alpha can't go through much of anything), there's a few people that has replaced the tube to something that can detect alpha and it works just fine.
SBM-20 tube is more sensible than the old one? Is it the better choice ?
Can you visually see if the problem is in the tube?
My tube had some heatshrink on it, do you know why?
Thank you for the video and looks like a great upgrade. Have you been to the Trinity Site ? Hope to be there in the Spring again with the CD V-700 and the Cd V-742. tjl
+Tim Lipinski Never been to Trinity, it would be an expensive trip for me though as i'm in the UK, but i have been to Hiroshima.
+DextersLab2013 Thank you for the update. Been to the southern edge of Japan for a few hours, but not Hiroshima.Is your upgrade still doing well after nearly a year ? Have ordered both parts, just no rush to do the upgrade.. Thank you, tjl
Is this the same for GQ GMC-320 Plus?
Quick question, I've noticed some videos appear to have film on the meters front where as yours does not. I'm assuming it is removable and they have neglected to?
Great video, I have the same model and will probably do this mod as it looks like a good upgrade, but I am currently unable to register any CPM on my device.
Everything seems to be working on the device, battery is fully charged, menu buttons and display all work fine, just no clicky and no CPM. It reads 0CPM after days.
I've had the back off and the tube is intact. I was reading on the forum they changed tube from M4011 to J305 in order to make it less sensitive to visible light.
I have the J305 tube in mine. Any ideas much appreciated.
I would measure the dc voltage across the tube with it powered up. it should be 160 or more.
make sure the tube is installed the right way with + to +. if it all checks out, the tube is probably dead. the J tube is trash from what I heard. I bought the smb20 and its a great tube
The 320 plus is different can someone give me the cal readings please?
Is it worth installing SBM-20 tube? Glass one is not reliable in fallout survival?
Unfortunately geiger-muller tube based meters, especially lower quality ones, are not going to be useful in a radiological emergency. They simply can't handle the level of radiation that you will encounter. I am going to suggest investing in a higher quality item if you would like something you can use.
Is it possible to modify the new red Board version with sbm 20?
I just replaced mine which had a red board by following all steps in the video but I had to solder an extra wire to the positive terminal as the existing circuit doesn't reach them. So far it's working good
Sadly does not work on the red borad 3.7 volts.
Does it work better?
scooter dee Yes, there is a small increase in sensitivity. Also removing some of the plastic from the back of the counter around the tube area helps as well. Both of these modifications are common for this counter.
is it really a product of the USA or here where that is the Chinese who produce in the USA?
правды ищущий it’s made in America by an American man.
Direct change?
Do not update software?
Why didn't you do a comparison of the 2 different tubes?? You should have showed the CPM of the original tube (using some radioactive source) and then the CPM using the new tube. Without a comparison, your change-of-tube is meaningless! The proper comparison was never demonstrated. Very poorly done!
Am I the only one brave enough to mention that I can influence the Geiger counter with somatic sensory cortex activity? Surely I'm not a mutant. I hear an unexpected noise and then my Geiger counter jumps a few extra points. I have a Radex One and it takes extremely fast readings (10 seconds) therefore it's alerting me much more frequently than my far more expensive GMC-600 Plus.
Ideally you would be able to test with the Radex One, and you would set the alarm to be slightly higher than your local background radiation. I set mine to alarm at 20. It doesn't even tell me what that means but that's irrelevant for the result.
I set alarm to as both beep and vibrate - then I wait. The effect is most pronounced in morning and evening for some reason, I haven't figured it out. I'm guessing a longer refractory period is needed during the day.
Early morning and late evening it chirps with each plane that is "heard" passing, and each time a/c turns on and each time it turns off, and each time someone walks above and makes the wood floor creak, and really any noise at all that was unexpected. It's as if there is a noise processing in subconscious in which brain has an "aha!" moment recognizing the noise then triggers something which notches up the wave count enough to trigger the alarm. Other "aha!" moments can include visualizing solution to a problem and then "beep beep beep" - the greater the enthusiasm the greater the alarm. My experience anyway. Your miles may vary. If I don't ask, I'll never know if I'm truly alone. I don't think I am. I think everyone has the ability. Probably just need to set up the right environment. If other people are within 20 feet then it is possible they could influence your results to the point you consider it all random "background". I assure you, that is not the case for me. I've tested nonstop for 3 months.
Using the GMC600 PLUS I have to set it a bit differently. I set the uSV to .17 or sometimes .15 depending the current average. The idea is to have it alarm for any spikes but not too much or too little. For me, if background is .13 then I might set it to alarm at .15 or .16 you get the idea. Keep at it and you'll find the sweet spot - unless you have too many other variables messing it up. I must have the perfect environment otherwise I must have something unique but I doubt it.
I am willing to bet I can prove this to any Google jockey or textbook thumper that shouts "IMPOSSIBLE" if given the opportunity. I don't have delusions of grandeur, but I can fully appreciate that someone else can stand on this logic and see further. I don't know if I should be pestering doctors to check my brain, as this whole idea going against textbooks takes a bit of courage and self confidence.
For now, I can only ask others to test this for themselves. Maybe there is a Nobel Prize waiting for you, but my suspicion is that we can all do this given all the right variables in the right environment.
It's likely being hidden for some unexplained reason just like there is no explanation that XRF (xray fluorescence) is no longer publicly available for the case of testing after the lead in your blood gets absorbed into your brain and bones.
Pay close attention to the details given and test. Hopefully environmental variables will not get in the way too much.
Wilhelm Reich suggested that the orgone energy would be detected with a modified geiger tube.
F
R
What exactly is the difference between the GQ GMC-300EPlus and GQ GMC-320-Plus models?
Maybe you can describe this in an extra video...
The 300e vs the 320+
The 300e has 64KB storage, the 320+ has 1MB storage
The 320+ has a temperature sensor while the 300e doesn't
The 320+ has a gyro while the 300e doesn't (it flips the screen depending on what orientation you're holding it like a smartphone can).
The 320+ has Treshhold Data Logging while the 300e doesn't. This is probably due to the limited space the 300e has vs the 320+
the GQ website has a page showing a comparison chart of the different Geiger counter models they make.