Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about RadAware, your devices, and how crowdsourced radiation monitoring works.
- What Geiger counters work with RadAware?
- RadAware works with any GQ Electronics device that supports the GMC server protocol — including the GMC-500+, GMC-600+, GMC-320+, and GMC-300. If your device can upload to GMCmap, it can upload to RadAware.
- Do I need a Geiger counter to use RadAware?
- A personal device gives you the best experience — your own readings, personalized alerts, and direct contribution to the network. However, the public map is available to anyone without an account.
- Will I lose my GMCmap data if I switch?
- No. RadAware passes your data through to GMCmap automatically, so your GMCmap history continues uninterrupted. You simply change two WiFi settings on your device — the server address and URL path.
- What does "corroborated" mean?
- When your device detects elevated radiation, RadAware checks if other independent sources in your area see the same thing — other personal monitors, community networks, and government stations. If two or more sources confirm, the alert is marked "corroborated," meaning you can trust it's a real event, not a sensor glitch.
- How is this different from just watching my Geiger counter?
- A standalone Geiger counter can only tell you what's happening at one point. It can't tell you if a spike is a local anomaly or part of a regional event. RadAware cross-references your readings against multiple independent sources and can even project the direction a plume is traveling using wind data — giving you actionable intelligence instead of raw numbers.
- How fast are the alerts?
- RadAware evaluates readings every 2 minutes and dispatches notifications every minute. All subscription tiers receive the same detection quality — we never delay detection based on your plan.
- What notification channels are available?
- Email notifications are available on all tiers including free. SMS notifications are available on paid plans. Alert severity determines which channels fire: mild alerts appear on your dashboard, significant alerts trigger email, and severe alerts use all available channels.
- Is my location private?
- You control exactly how your device appears on the public map. Options range from exact coordinates to city-level approximation (~1 km offset). You can also make your device completely private — it still contributes to corroboration for your area without being visible on the map.
- What is the 48-hour calibration period?
- When you first connect a device, RadAware spends 48 hours learning what "normal" background radiation looks like at your specific location. This prevents false alerts from geographic variation — a device at high altitude naturally reads higher than one at sea level. During calibration, your device appears on the map and helps the network, but personal alerts are suppressed.
- What happens if there are no other sensors near me?
- RadAware uses a higher threshold for isolated devices (no nearby sensors to corroborate). You'll still get alerts if readings spike significantly above your baseline — the system just requires a higher deviation before alerting, since it can't confirm with a neighbor. As more sensors join the network in your area, thresholds automatically adjust.
- Does RadAware replace FEMA or government emergency alerts?
- No. RadAware is an informational tool for environmental awareness. It is designed to give you earlier warning from crowdsourced data, but it is not a replacement for official government emergency alert systems including FEMA Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Emergency Alert System (EAS), or local emergency management notifications.
- What data sources does RadAware use?
- RadAware aggregates data from personal Geiger counters, community radiation monitoring networks, EPA RadNet government gamma monitors, NRC nuclear reactor status, EPA AirNow air quality data, and NOAA weather observations. Each source is independently fetched and health-monitored.
- Can I export my data?
- Yes. Community tier and above can export readings as CSV. Your data is yours.
- What is plume direction tracking?
- When multiple sensors spike in sequence, RadAware determines which sensor spiked first (closest to the source) and calculates the direction of spread. This is cross-referenced with real-time NOAA wind data to project where a potential plume is heading. Users in the projected path can receive pre-emptive warnings.
- Is the free tier really free?
- Yes. The free tier includes 1 device, 7 days of history, and email alerts — no credit card required. We offer a free tier because every sensor that joins the network makes the system better for everyone.
- Can I cancel anytime?
- Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. Downgrade to free or cancel entirely at any time from your account settings.
Still have questions?
Reach out at support@radaware.com or get started and see for yourself.