PRA Version 25.0.2.1 running on Windows 10 Pro 64 bit

[Rokumon]

Hi,

I have just downloaded PRA 25.0.2.1 on a computer dedicated to gamma spectroscopy running Windows 10 Pro 64. I have a Gamma Spectacular 1100A that I bought brand new years ago. (I am planning on getting the latest model next month...) My detector is a Ludlum Measurements 44-2 NaI probe running at 900 volts.

I am in need of some guidance (preferably written, but video is OK too), on how to use this software and set it up. I ran it for the first time tonight, and data was acquired from a Cs-137 check source. However when I viewed the pulse height histogram, it was "reversed" on the horizontal scale... the noise that should be close to the X axis was toward the end of the X axis.

Any suggestions for finding instructional material on how to properly use this software would be most appreciated.

Thank you very much!

Best,

Joe

P.S. The Cs-137 is about fifteen years old. It still has plenty of activity, just not quite as much as when it was new. Time to get a new one along with a new Sr-90 source...

J.

[Rob Tayloe]

Steven Sesselman (the owner of this website and maker of the Gammaspectacular devices) placed several instructional videos on YouTube that illustrate use of PRA. I found these videos to be very helpful. Links follow -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZN4CPdQhk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFZ8zWYdCQU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VtMjrrrd64

Here is a link to videos that addresses use of older versions of PRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md434uN8dCM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI2lVW3n6ic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13H7J6g-xqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RukU23-Kf88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-bX0OjaxQM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyyhBY9qslM

[Sesselmann]

Joe,

Some screen shots of what you are seeing in PRA would be most helpful for diagnosing your problem.

Using the old GS-1100A you need a computer with a Line-In port, hard to come by these days, but you can use a USB sound card.

Setup is pretty simple, you open PRA find your sound card in Audio Settings and set it to 384 kHz 16 Bit Left channel.

Then it is just a matter of finding the right gain. The GS-1100A only has one variable, voltage, so you set it to something like 750V and adjust the gain in your PC Sound settings.

Good luck..

Steven