A simple system is described for determining the velocity of detonation or strong shock waves, with temperatures above 3000°K, by using the conductivity behind the wave. Wave contact is made by two 36‐mil wires set 0.1 inch apart in a Teflon plug mounted in the experimental tube. When a wave passes, signals are produced across a 30‐K resistor in series with these wires and a 0.001 &mgr;f capacitor charged to 300 v. Any number of circuits may be paralleled across a single signal resistor if a diode is added to each circuit to prevent signal deterioration. The arrival time of a wave at a pin can be determined with an accuracy of almost 10−8sec from an oscilloscope record of the signals. The principal advantages of this system are excellent space resolution and very simple basic circuitry. An amplifier is described which can be used with an individual pin circuit to fire a thyratron and extend the range of applicability of this system to waves with temperatures as low as 1000°K.