How It Works

Connect Your Device

RadAware works with GQ Electronics Geiger counters — the GMC-500+, GMC-600+, GMC-320+, GMC-300, and any device that supports the GMC server protocol. If your device is already uploading to GMCmap, RadAware passes your data through so you don't lose your GMCmap history.

Calibration Period

For the first 48 hours, RadAware learns what “normal” looks like for your specific device and location. Background radiation varies by geography, altitude, and even building materials — so your baseline is unique to you. During this period, your device appears on the map and contributes to the network, but alerts are suppressed until the baseline is established.

Continuous Monitoring

Once calibrated, RadAware compares every reading against your device's rolling baseline. Background jobs run continuously — evaluating readings, fetching external data, recalculating baselines, and checking source health.

Your readings are also compared against independent sources in your area: community radiation monitors, EPA government stations, NRC reactor status, and NOAA weather data. This multi-source approach is what makes RadAware different from a standalone Geiger counter.

Multi-Source Corroboration

When a reading exceeds your baseline threshold, RadAware doesn't just fire an alert immediately. It cross-references the spike against every available source in the area:

• Other RadAware devices in nearby grid cells
• Community radiation monitoring networks
• EPA RadNet government gamma monitors
• NRC nuclear reactor event reports

A single sensor glitch won't trigger a false alarm. When two or more independent sources confirm elevated levels, the alert is upgraded to “corroborated” — meaning you can trust it.

Plume Direction Tracking

When multiple stations spike in sequence, RadAware determines which station 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 the plume is heading.

Users in the projected downwind path receive pre-emptive warnings — before the plume reaches them. The more sensors in the network, the more accurate these projections become.

Alerts and Notifications

Alerts are classified by severity: mild (dashboard only), significant (email), and severe (all channels). Your subscription tier determines notification channels and speed. All tiers receive the same detection quality — we never delay detection based on plan.

Alerts auto-resolve when readings return to normal for 30 minutes, so you won't get stuck in a permanent alert state from a brief spike.

Weekly Digest

Every week you receive an email summary of your device readings, any alerts that fired, area trends, and network status. Even during quiet weeks, you'll know your monitoring setup is healthy and working.