Hi, I see here posts from United States, I suppose, and I'm not sure if this model was sold there. I would like to ask from Europe anyway.
Is here someone who can give me an advice on what to be beware of before buy in title mentioned used car? In my scope are cars specifically with this engine from years 2021 to 2023. Are there some red flags?
So far I read about automatic transmission, so I go for manual one.
During a run with my Radiacode 102 at the Komora sports area in Tábor, Czech Republic, I noticed something unusual.
The entire area was consistently showing about +10 CPS above the surrounding environment, and at one spot I measured up to 0.26 µSv/h.
What makes it interesting is that this was not just a tiny hotspot. The elevated readings covered a relatively large modified terrain area.
Here is the Radiaverse map segment:
Radiaverse map location
My first thought is that the terrain may have been landscaped using imported material with naturally elevated radioactivity, possibly crushed granite, industrial aggregate, or soil containing more uranium/thorium-bearing minerals than the local background.
The surrounding area is noticeably lower, so the transition is quite visible.
Has anyone else found large “artificial” elevated background zones around sports fields, parking lots, or landscaped public areas?
I noticed that the same feature request was already discussed here about three years ago, so I wanted to ask whether there has been any consideration of implementing it since then. How do you resume a spectrum measurement? : r/Radiacode
I’d really like to see a feature allowing saved spectroscopy sessions to be resumed later instead of always starting from zero.
For weak sources, long acquisition times are extremely important, and this could significantly improve spectrum quality and isotope identification. Many of us don’t have two devices available, so when using a Radiacode as an everyday dosimeter, it’s difficult to leave it measuring one sample continuously for 12–24 hours or even longer.
A “resume spectroscopy” option could make long-term measurements much more practical:
• continue measuring the same sample over multiple sessions/days
• build better statistics for weak sources
• improve peak visibility and identification confidence
• reduce the need for uninterrupted measurements
Of course, keeping the measurement conditions consistent would still be the user’s responsibility. Same geometry, same distance, similar background conditions, etc.
Even with that limitation, I think this could be a very useful advanced feature for hobby spectroscopy users.
Has the idea evolved any further since the previous discussion?
I recently checked an old watch that belonged to my grandmother, and it seems to be my first real radium-related find.
I measured it with a RadiaCode-102. The dose rate close to the watch is around 1.6 µSv/h.
I also collected a longer gamma spectrum:
Watch measurement: 3 h 31 min
Background measurement: 3 h 30 min
Watch: average about 60 cps
Background: about 9.2 cps
Net difference: about 50 cps above background
After background subtraction, the spectrum shows peaks consistent with the Ra-226 decay chain, especially Ra-226 itself and its daughters Pb-214 and Bi-214.
The most visible lines are around:
186 keV, consistent with Ra-226
242, 295 and 352 keV, consistent with Pb-214
609, 1120 and 1765 keV, consistent with Bi-214
I have not opened the watch and I do not plan to. I know the main concern with old radium watches is not just external dose, but possible contamination if the paint is damaged or disturbed.
For me, this is a fascinating find. It is one thing to read about radium-painted watches, but seeing the spectrum from an old family object makes it feel much more real.
I recently found an old watch that belonged to my grandmother. Out of curiosity, I measured it with my Radiacode 102, and this turned into my first proper gamma spectrum from this kind of find.
The dose rate near the watch is about 1.6 µSv/h.
I also made a longer measurement:
Watch measurement: 3 h 31 min
Background measurement: 3 h 30 min
Watch: average about 60cps
Background: about 9.2 cps
Net difference: about 50 cps above background
After subtracting the background, the spectrum shows clear peaks consistent with the Ra-226 decay chain, especially:
Ra-226 around 186 keV
Pb-214 around 242, 295 and 352 keV
Bi-214 around 609, 1120 and 1765 keV
For me, this is a pretty fascinating find. It is one thing to read about radium paint in old watches, but seeing the spectrum from a family object makes it feel very real.
I have not opened the watch and I do not plan to. It will be stored safely as a collectible, not worn.