Mini Review:  PALESSE 26K-86 Geiger Counter
Part 2 of 2
 
Note:  Part 2 was lost due to administrator error.  What follows is a rewrite.
 
The enclosure of the PALESSE 26K-86 is not as sturdy or industrial as the other units I have reviewed.  The entire front of the PALESSE 26K-86 is actually the translucent red plastic typically used as a bezel filter for LEDs or LED displays. In the right light, you can actually see the components inside.  This also makes it much thinner than the plastic used on most of the other units.  The PC board is not conformal coated.  These factors all make for something that has a definite consumer or household feel to it.  I don't think it would fare as well as the SEARCH-2 or Rodnik 3 if it were dropped onto a hard surface or if it were sat on.  Mine arrived with some small chips out of the corners, and the case creaks if squeezed slightly or otherwise manipulated.
 
The PALESSE 26K-86 runs on 4 standard 'AA' batteries.  As I mention in the Buyers Guide, in a Civil Defense emergency, having a unit that runs on readily available batteries could be important.  
 
Overall, the PALESSE 26K-86 is fully functional for both finding radioactive objects, or sampling ambient radiation levels in an area.  Both the PALESSE 26K-86 and the SEARCH-2 use only a series of LEDs as a display, and while the PALESSE 26K-86 has 14 LEDs compared to the 9 LEDs in the SEARCH-2, that is probably still not sufficient resolution to detect the radiation in a bundle of bananas or that box of tile you are considering for your bathroom remodel.  
 
In the review of the SEARCH-2, I state the following: "In an actual radiation emergency, it would be better than nothing, but for those wanting to explore the ever present, but unseen world of ionizing radiation that surrounds us all, or have a true concern about encountering hazardous items or places, a more functional Geiger counter and true dosimeter is recommended.". While I would probably say the same about the PALESSE 26K-86, I will add that if it were a little more durable, it would actually be a good thing to have in a radiation emergency.
 
 
So Have I Found Anything Radio Active?
 
Obviously, a device like the PALESSE 26K-86 proves its worth by actually finding something radioactive. So have I actually found anything radioactive with my PALESSE 26K-86? --- Well -- Sort of.
 
As mentioned in the other review updates I like to take a radiation meter with me when going to flea markets and antique stores. I went to the same flea market where I found my "bit of hyperactive nature", and this time I was carrying my PALESSE 26K-86.  As I walked down one of the isles, I overheard one vendor loudly and emphatically telling another vendor "It's Radioactive!  Look it says it right here. It really is Radioactive!"  As you can probably guess, this got my attention.  Having passed the booths where where this conversation was happening, I turned around, and went to see what the vendor was going on about.
 
The vendor was waiving around an old yellow Civil Defense (CD) radiation meter.  As these meters often do, it had a small test sample attached to the side. The vendor did not have any batteries for the CD radiation meter, so I offered to show him that the test source was in fact radioactive.  I produced my PALESSE 26K-86 from my back pocket (fortunately, my tactical pants have very large back pockets), and the PALESSE 26K-86 reacted almost immediately to the test source.
 
The vendor seemed very gratified by this, and mentioned that he had a dozen or so of these CD radiation meters.  I answered a few questions for him about replacement batteries, the headphones that can be used with these meters, and their value in working and non-working condition.
 
I also found out that the discussion about radioactivity actually started because the other vendor had some Vaseline glass tableware.  I placed the PALESSE 26K-86 on top of a stack of Vaseline glass plates, and after a short time, it indicated a few LEDs higher than the background level.  The vendor selling the Vaseline glass seemed to be a little disappointed at loosing the radioactivity contest.
 
I explained that the PALESSE 26K-86 reacted only mildly because first, most Vaseline glass is only mildly radioactive, and second, the PALESSE 26K-86 did not have any way to expose the Geiger-Muller tubes, and much of the radiation for Vaseline glass is alpha (α) particles.
 
So it's a bit of a stretch to say that the PALESSE 26K-86 "found" the radioactive item, when that item was bright yellow and being waived around by someone yelling "It's Radioactive!, It's Radioactive!", but it does show how a use for the PALESSE 26K-86 happened in a totally unexpected way.
 
 
Teaser:
 
Another product will be reviewed soon here on Linuxslate.com and a review/usage video will be posted to YouTube.  To be alerted to the video and review, subscribe to the CarCynic YouTube Channel.
 
And ... Yes, there will be both a Radiation, and a Linux aspect to it.  
 
UPDATE:  The Product referenced above is the Polimaster PM1208M "Gamma Detector" watch.
The Review discussion (with links to videos) is here:
http://linuxslate.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1627308877