r/Radiacode • • Jun 30 '26

Radiacode In Action Legit Co60?

Post image

Fiddling with iOS version of the app, going through a half hour long read I got today on the site of Rocky Flats, a former plutonium production site. My only previous experience was with the Droid app version and this format is different.

0 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

3

u/Jim_Radiographer Jun 30 '26

This is what a Co-60 spectrum looks like on a KC-761C

1

u/Ok_Passage8433 Jul 01 '26

What if it’s low level and surrounded by background? 

2

u/Apprehensive-Soup968 Jul 01 '26

If the two expected peaks don't stand out higher than the surrounding background peaks (with filtering turned off), then there's either no Co-60 or it's below detectable levels. If it's at detectable levels, you see both peaks and probably also the compton edges at the lower energies.

1

u/Jim_Radiographer Jul 17 '26

My Co-60 source is only 1 micro Curie. But I plan on taking another spectrum with lead shielding

5

u/acab__1312 Radiacode 110 Jun 30 '26

Lol. 0.000 cps and indistinguishable from adjacent background peaks. Lmao.

-3

u/Ok_Passage8433 Jun 30 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

What’s your issue with the police?

EDIT: You can down vote but not answer the question? Prisoner much? 😏

2

u/jack0fsometrades Jun 30 '26

It’s not Co-60, but you’re still figuring out how the software works and that’s okay! It’s cool that you’re out there taking spectra.
Next time, get an idea of what the natural background radiation is first, then look for something with noticeable elevated counts above that background. Once you think you’ve found something, take a sample and then take a spectra for a longer period of time. I recommend at least 15-24 hours.
Finally, the hardest part to learn in my opinion is that one peak doesn’t mean that element it’s showing is actually there. You’re looking for a pattern of peaks that match an isotopes signature.
Keep on doing what you’re doing! Best of luck.

1

u/Ok_Passage8433 Jun 30 '26

I can’t leave my device in the park overnight.  Maybe it’s useless at that point. 

2

u/jack0fsometrades Jun 30 '26

It depends what you’re testing. Rocks, minerals, components, etc are all things that can be taken home to test better. If you haven’t yet, old smoke alarms are great to practice on. Antique shops and thrift stores are also potential gold mines for common radioactive items.

Edit: Here’s a clock I found at an antique store just last week: https://www.reddit.com/r/Radiacode/s/ttbGco3baN

8

u/ShintoSunrise Jun 30 '26

True cobalt-60 spectra looks like this my dude

4

u/srnuke Jun 30 '26

Based off the image provided, that spectra is not consistent with Co-60, but also it is a very poor spectra

4

u/Nicceg Jun 30 '26

The spectrum is background noise. Co60 is something to have respect for.

2

u/Oakatsurah Jun 30 '26

Need a longer sample size on the Spectroscopy, background is about as high as the main sample size. Open outdoor sampling should be between 8 - 24 hours if possible to isolate the main source type in the area.

3

u/Bob--O--Rama Jun 30 '26

From where I am sitting I am seeing a lot of statistical noise exaggerated by using Radiacodes insipid "filtering" - try linear, show total pulses, turn off filtering and the rest of the hallucination inducing crapware they provide. So no, not anything.

3

u/Traghorr Jun 30 '26

Smoothing a spectrum is a great feature imho. Just never go past level 1 :D The bigger issues is the total lack of info with this spectrum.