Training for Radiation Pagers

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Training for Radiation Pagers
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation 2955 Kerner
Blvd. San Rafael, CA 94901 www.berkeleynucleonics.
com info_at_berkeleynucleonics.com
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User Training for NukeAlert II 1703M

• The PM1703M Gamma and Gamma Neutron personal
  radiation detectors

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1703M

• New pager-type design
• Meets the ITRAP/ANSI requirements
• Easy to use
• Configuration via PC
• Dose rate indication
• Shock-resistant plastic case
• Reference to the background
• Light weight

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Training Overview
This training will cover the use of the
operational features and some advanced features
of the PM-1703M units.

• Components of the 1703M
• Battery installation
• Turning the unit on/off
• Alarm settings
• Display
• Obtaining a background
• Calibration of the unit
• Setting parameters
• Troubleshooting

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Components of the 1703M

• MODE Button 7. RADIATION Symbol
• LIGHT Button 8. Neutron Radiation Indicator
• Window of IR-Transceiver 9. Unit of
  measurement s -¹ (counts per second, cps) in
• Gamma Radiation Indicator search mode,
  uSv/h or uR/h, in the dose rate mode
• Analog Scale 10. Lid of Battery compartment
• Battery Discharge Warning Symbol 11. Battery
• 12. Audio alarm Outlet

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Battery Installation
Battery
The 1703 uses one AA alkaline battery. Insert the
positive () end first. You can use a
dime/screwdriver or your fingers to remove the
cover. When the battery is installed, the word
test tESt will appear on the display. If the
battery voltage drops below 1.1 V, the LCD will
indicate the battery discharge warning sign. The
battery needs to be replaced.
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Turning the unit on

• Press and release MODE Key to turn the unit on
• tESt will appear on the display
• A numerical value indicates the unit is ready to
  use. The value is set to uR/h (micro r per hour)

MODE BUTTON
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Turning the unit off
LIGHT BUTTON

• Press and hold the light button until unit says
  OFF
• If the word CAL appears, release the buttons and
  repeat the process

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The button MODE is used

• to turn the unit ON
• toggle between detect mode and search mode
• to enter/change the threshold setting
• to turn ON/OFF the audio and/or vibration alarm
  devices.

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The button LIGHT is used

• to turn the LCD (liquid crystal display)
  backlight ON
• to initiate IR communication with PC
• to activate changing the low threshold alarm
  setting
• to decrease the low threshold alarm setting
• to change the status of audio and vibration alarm
  devices ON or OFF.

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Modes of operation

• self-test mode
• background updating mode
• search mode
• detect/dose rate mode
• PC communication mode.

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Alarms Setup of the Unit

• If radiation is detected over the threshold, the
  alarm will sound and unit will vibrate if
  enabled.
• In some areas, you may have to increase the
  alarm threshold due to higher natural background
  radiation.
• To change the threshold and/or to enable or
  disable the alarms, Press and Hold the MODE
  button. CAL will appear, continue to hold and you
  will see numerical value and THR. Then press the
  LIGHT button to trigger the edit capability, you
  will know by the numerical value blinking. Use
  the MODE or LIGHT buttons to increase or decrease
  the number you want.

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Alarms Setup Continued
THRESHOLD VALUE

• Threshold levels from 15-360 can be used, where
  15 is for the lowest possible threshold level and
  360 in higher background areas.
• Press the MODE button again, and you will see
  Aud. This is for the audible alarm setting.
  Pressing the LIGHT button will switch it on/off.
  Press the MODE button again and it will display
  Vibr. Pressing the LIGHT button will switch it
  on/off.

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Exit the Set-up Mode

• To exit the setup mode, do not press any buttons
  for 5-10 seconds.

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PM1703M Searching for gamma sources.

• The 1703M is intended firstly for efficient
  searching, detection and location of gamma
  radiation sources. It is not energy compensated
  and so it has a high sensitivity at low energies
  (33-300 keV), which allows efficient detection of
  nuclear materials.

• When the 1703M operates at temperatures below
  -22?F, the LCD normal operation can not be
  guaranteed. In this case the audio and/or
  vibration alarm devices only should be used to
  detect radiation sources. When the normal
  conditions with temperatures higher than -22?F
  are restored, the LCD will resume its normal
  operation.

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Searching with the 1703M

• If the device gives an indication of radiation
  presence, hold the unit with the belt clip
  towards you and the opposite large flat side
  directed towards the target area.
• Scan slowly.
• The Value on the Display (cps or uR/h) will
  increase as you get closer to the target.

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Searching with the 1703M Continued

• The Alarm and Vibration will increase as you get
  closer to the source.
• When it reaches the maximum rate, a continuous
  alarm will sound but the rate of vibration will
  not change.

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1703M Overload Alarm

• If the count rate is higher than the factory
  preset high limit, the Unit will give an OL or
  overload alarm
• The Overload alarm is triggered if the dose rate
  exceeds approximately 7000 ?R/h

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Communication with PC

• 1703M with the installation of the software, in
  conjunction with the IR adapter, this unit is
  able to communicate with a PC.
• Minimum requirements to a computer and its
  software
• P100
• 32 Mb RAM
• Windows 98, 2000, XP (small font in Windows
  settings)
• 2 Mb free on the hard disk and an adequate space
  available to install the database
• 800X600 resolution of a monitor
• IrDA.

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Calibration Check

• Background level is automatically established
  upon start-up.
• It is recommended that a functional test be
  performed periodically to verify the response of
  the unit. This can be done by using a 1 ?Ci 241Am
  (smoke detector source) or 1 ?Ci 137Cs Test
  Source
• Hold source to front of PM-1703 (large side
  opposite side of the belt clip)
• Observe increase in counts and actuation of alarm
• No other calibration is required

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TROUBLESHOOTING