RF Meter

This very sensitive RF and Cell Tower meter gives an approximate measurement of electromagnetic radiation from cell phone towers and antennas, cellular base stations, TV and FM radio towers, wireless and mobile phones, cordless phones, microwave oven leakage, WiFi, wireless communications (TDMA, CDMA, GSM, DECT, UWB), wireless LAN, Bluetooth, wireless spy camera and wireless bugs. Check personal RF exposure and environmental EMF/EMR safety.

This RF meter provides excellent sensitivity so it can pick up weak signals as low as 0.18 nanoWatts per square centimeter (equals 0.0018 milliWatts per square meter). It also has very wide RF/Microwave frequency range for picking up numerous frequencies, and low cost, so it's a great value. For accuracy you should find out the frequency of the transmitting antenna (see table at right).

Also click here for Frequently Asked Questions about this meter and RF exposure.

RF and Cell Tower Meter Technical Features:

· 100 MHz to 3000 MHz frequency range. Super-fast response time.

· Measures digital as well as analog Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

· Measures continuous wave and also high speed burst RF (GSM, TDMA, PCS, CDMA, Wi-Fi)

· Best performance is at cell phone frequency of 1.9 GHz:

· Wide dynamic range from 0.18 nW/cm.sq. to 58 uW/cm.sq. (55 dB), which equals

1.8 uW/m.sq. to 0.58 W/m.sq. and electric field from 25mV/m to 14.8 V/m

· Factory calibration accuracy of ± 3.5 dB at 1.9 GHz (not independently confirmed).

· Includes a built-in single-axis dipole antenna which detects the electric field. At RF frequencies the

electric and magnetic fields are usually coupled, so the meter displays electromagnetic power.

· Small compact, handheld size: 5" x 2.5" x 1" (13 cm x 6.5 cm x 2.5 cm) . LCD back light.

· Battery operated (9VDC). Alkaline battery provides > 20 hours of operation. Battery not included.

This meter is actually two meters in one: an RF Cell Tower meter, and an AC gaussmeter: switch between the two with a push of a button.

AC Gaussmeter Features: A single-axis gaussmeter is also included in this meter to measure alternating (AC) magnetic field strengths from 5 mG to 600 mG (0.5 uT to 60 uT) at frequencies from 50 Hz to 15 kHz. These fields are generated by appliances, office equipment, home wiring, computer monitors, power lines, and most electrical and electronic equipment. It does not measure static fields from magnets or the earth's magnetic field. Typical accuracy of this AC gaussmeter at 60 Hz is approximately +/- 10% of reading, or +/- 4.0 mG (0.4 uT), whichever is greater, so it cannot accurately check for magnetic fields below 4 mG. For better accuracy checking 50-60 Hz magnetic fields in homes we suggest the Bell-4180.

Frequency Correction Table:

The RF meter is most accurate at frequencies near 1.9 GHz. At other frequencies the RF meter will read low by the following approximate dBm at each frequency:

Frequency dBm

0.1 GHz -30 dBm FM Radio towers

0.15 GHz -29 dBm police,fire,industry radio

0.3 GHz -25 dBm

0.5 GHz -15 dBm UHF TV is 0.5-0.9 GHz

0.9 GHz -8 dBm mobile phone, cell towers

1.0 GHz -2.3 dBm Air Traffic Control radar

1.5 GHz -2.2 dBm

1.8 GHz 0 dBm

1.9 GHz 0 dBm mobile phone, cell towers

2.0 GHz 0 dBm

2.1 GHz -0.2 dBm

2.2 GHz -1.2 dBm

2.3 GHz -3.6 dBm

2.4 GHz -4.6 dBm Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

2.45 GHz -5.0 dBm microwave ovens

2.7 GHz -12 dBm

3.0 GHz -13 dBm

For example: if your mobile phone operates at a frequency of 900 MHz (0.9 GHz), then this table shows the RF meter reading will be about -8 dBm too low, so you should add 8 dBm to the dBm reading on the RF meter for improved accuracy. Then you can use a table printed on the meter to convert the resulting dBm to electromagnetic field strength in mW/m.sq.

The RF meter measures the strength, but not the frequency of the electromagnetic signal, so an internet search or phone call may be necessary to find out the frequency of a tower or antenna. Then you can use the table above. For more frequencies: click here.

Customer Testimonial: "We rented this RF meter and discovered extremely high RF fields in our living room from a cell phone company antenna that had been placed on the exterior wall of our apartment building, right next to our living room, without our knowledge. Our baby was being exposed to high RF fields at power levels like using a cell phone inside the crib all the time: 24/7. The meter was very useful in discovering this RF exposure." - Alicia, New York