User manual

so that up to eight RM-60s can be plugged into one PC for
the simultaneous monitoring of eight locations.
Aw-mrad (the TSR program) will allow more than one copy
of itself to be loaded into memory, as long as no two copies
are configured to use the same IRQ number. The IRQ num-
ber is selected from Aw-srad’s "Setup" menu, sub selection
"Input Port". For more information about multiple RM-60s
per P.C., read the text file "MULTI-RM.TXT" on the disk.
CLOCK:
Both the TSR code and AW-SRAD keep track of the time
and date by way of the computer’s clock. Check the com-
puter’s time/date before gathering data, to insure the data file
is stamped with an accurate time and date. You can set the
time by typing "TIME" at the DOS prompt. The date can be
set by typing "DATE" at the DOS prompt. Real time clocks
automatically set the date and time every time the computer
is turned on. They can be inexpensively added and quickly
reveal their value.
COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS (SWITCHES):
Aw-srad recognizes six command line arguments, namely -B -
M -D -S -C -U and -T. You can use more than one switch.
The -B switch will force bios video mode, for example: "AW-
SRAD -B". -M will force monochrome colors.
The -D -S or -U switch loads a previously generated radiation
data file then (D)isplays info or (S)hows chart. -U is like -S
but enters auto update mode. The -D -S or -U switch must be
followed by a file name, for example:
"AW-SRAD -DMYFILE.RAD" would tell Aw-srad to load
the file MYFILE.RAD and display data about it.
The -C switch tells Aw-srad to enter Capture-Display-File
mode wherein Aw-srad will gather radiation data, display it
and file it. If the -C switch is followed by a filename, Aw-
srad will place the radiation data in the file. For example
"AW-SRAD -CMYFILE.RAD" will tell Aw-srad to start
gathering radiation data and place it in a file named
MYFILE.RAD. If the -C switch is not followed by a file-
name (with or without a path), as in "AW-SRAD -C", Aw-
srad will make up a new, unique file name for you with a
name format of UNQXXXXXX.RAD, wherein the
XXXXXXX is a number, for example UNQ1.RAD.
The -T switch is just like the -C switch but unique filenames
are generated from the PC’s system date-time. See the RE-
ADME.TXT file on disk for info. about additional args.
MICROSOFT WINDOWS
Win 95, works well with Aware Programs. Create a shortcut
to AW-SRAD.PIF file and AW-GRAPH.PIF file. For highest
performance, disable Win 95’s COM port manager as follows:
"Control Panel"; "System"; "Device Manager"; "COM port"
(the one the RM-60 is plugged into); "Properties"; "Disable in
this hardware Profile", or uncheck "Dock & Undock". WARN-
ING: It is best not to start Windows with Aware’s TSR program running. It
is fine however to use Aw-srad in a Window. When Windows begins to load,
it first switches your display into graphics mode, then issues a global inter-
rupt to tell any loaded programs that Windows is starting. At this point, if
a program does not want Windows to install, it can answer the interrupt
telling Windows not to install. This is what Aware’s TSR code does. Win-
dows will not install but will return to the dos prompt. The TSR program
will make an error sound. In such a case, Windows doesn’t bother returning
your video monitor to text mode, so even though you are back at the DOS
prompt, you can’t see the prompt. Type MODE CO80(enter) to restore your
video to text mode.
To load Aw-srad.exe into a window, use Window FILE
MANGER to click on the supplied Aw-srad.pif file or if
Windows is not running, at the dos prompt type: "WIN AW-
SRAD.PIF". This will load Aw-srad into a window, at which
point you can run the program as you normally would. Much
more information about Windows is contained in the "Readm-
e.txt" file on disk. You can read it with your text editor or
with DOS by typing "edit readme.txt" or "type readme.txt |
more" or by typing it on your printer ("copy readme prn") or
clicking on it. Be sure to read it, particularly if you plan on
using the programs with MS Windows.
UNITS OF RADIOACTIVITY
The RM-60 is calibrated in microroentgens/hr. You may want
to know more about roentgens and about other units of radia-
tion. If so, a brief explanation follows.
ROENTGEN:
One roentgen is that quantity of X-rays or gamma rays that
produce 1.61 x 10
12
ion pairs per gram of air, which corre-
sponds to the absorption of 83.8 ergs of energy per gram of
air, or ions carrying one electrostatic unit of either sign per
cubic centimeter of air.
The roentgen is a unit of the total quantity of ionization pro-
duced by gamma or x-rays. Dosage rates are therefore ex-
pressed in terms of roentgens per unit time (like miles per
hour, roentgens per hour expresses a rate).
One roentgen equals one thousand milliroentgens (1R =
1000mR), and one milliroentgen equals one thousand micro-
roentgens (1mR = 1000uR).
One curie of radium (approx. one gram) with decay products,
produces .97 roentgens/hr. at one meter.
RAD:
The rad (Radiation Absorbed Dose) is a unit for measuring
absorbed doses of radiation equal to 100 ergs of energy per
gram of exposed biological tissue.
REM:
The rem (Roentgen Equivalent Man) is a measure of ionizing
radiation of the type that produces the same damage to human
beings as one roentgen of X-rays. The rem takes into effect
the greater damaging effects of alpha radiation, beta radiation,
protons, fast neutrons and thermal neutrons. Protons and
neutrons are normally only emitted from nuclear reactors or
accelerators.
(When dealing with X-rays and gamma rays, a rough equiv-
alency exists between roentgen, rad and rem:
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