I purchased this geiger counter over the others as I was more interested in the local web server interface.

Its very nice and easily accessible from the local network.

Unlike the first review. I too would have oriented the pi this way (upside down) as it makes for a nicer cleaner look. And gives better access to the ports.

Although when I put my ear close I can hear a buzz, I have this on my window sill in my lounge room and cannot hear it from more than around 30cm away so no problems there.


Notes for future DIY'ers:

1: Make sure you install the Raspberry Pi Zero header UPSIDE DOWN. So DONT purchase a Pi zero with the header already soldered as its on the wrong side.

2: The whole thing can be powered by the raspberry pi power port rather than the barrel plug. Which is what I did as it was much easier.

3: I designed a case for this kit which can be freely printed from thingiverse. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3811286


Phate

THE GOOD

It works! There's a lot of software associated with the project, but the only file you need to test that it works is: geigertest.py. This file also has all the code you need to incorporate the board into your own projects. All the other files are for a very specific web implementation. Note the software is for python2. If you want to run it in python3, you'll need to make changes.

THE BAD

The board uses a standard (0.1" 2.54mm) female 2x20 GPIO connector. So naturally you may assume that you can simply plug in a Pi Zero WH and call it a day. WRONG. If you do that, it will be connected BACKWARDS, and power will be going to the wrong pins! This board is thus incompatible with the Pi Zero WH unless you want to remove the header and resolder it. The board requires that you take a headerless Pi Zero W and solder a male header BENEATH it, with the pins facing DOWN. If you want to stack another HAT on top, you'll need to find a "double-sided" or "centered" header at least 17mm long, so that you have pins going in both directions, above and below.

I can't fathom why the board was designed this way. It would have been so much easier to simply let the Pi Zero connect to a female header beneath the board, and with a male header emerging on the other (GM tube) side to allow for additional HATS. In other words: it should be designed like every other HAT on the market. Then no special soldering would be required. If you used a Pi Zero WH, then no soldering would be needed at all. At the very least, the vender needs to update the docs and make all of this manifestly clear. It's a miracle I didn't damage something with the Pi Zero WH plugged in backwards!

Moving on, the barrel connector will only take 7-9V input. That's pretty limiting. If you're going to go through the trouble of adding a buck-boost converter, why not use a TPS630701 or something and ensure a wide input range? Nominal 12V is the voltage of choice for solar applications. LiFePO4 batteries charge at around 14.6V. So a range of 3-16V would cover many possibilities—including always-on solar-powered applications without the need for an additional converter.

THE UGLY

When the board is actively counting (as opposed to merely being plugged in), it makes a slight but noticeable high-pitched whining noise that is characteristic of tiny transformers. It's no doubt related to the electronics involved in raising the input voltage for the tube. In any case, don't expect to deploy this to any quiet room in which people reside. It will drive them nuts.

I also think the board ought to come with at least one power LED. It's disconcerting to power up a board and see... nothing. Heck, how about going cRaZy and adding TWO LEDs—one for power and one that blinks for each count! OMG! And allow the user to disable the latter. After all, there's a microcontroller and an I2C connection, yes? Shouldn't be too hard to work that out.

CONCLUSION

Overall, despite all the nits, I do like the board. Not pancake-tube sensitive, but the price reflects that. All the mounting holes are a perfect Pi-compatible M2.5. The Pi conveniently mounts right to the board (that is, once you inconveniently do a custom solder job). I just wish more care had gone into the docs and following Raspberry Pi standards and conventions.