{ "collection": "meters", "name": "Instruments", "description": "Measurement instrument classes: what each detects, what it cannot detect, the band it covers, and the criteria that separate a usable instrument from a toy.", "count": 12, "dataVersion": "2026.08.1", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "license": { "name": "CC BY 4.0", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "records": [ { "id": "meters:broadband-rf-meter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "broadband-rf-meter", "name": "Broadband RF power-density meter", "summary": "The general-purpose instrument for Wi-Fi, cellular, 5G, smart meters and cordless phones: reports total power density across a wide band in µW/m² or mW/m², with peak-hold and average modes.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "RF meter", "microwave meter", "high frequency meter" ], "measures": [ "power-density", "electric-field-strength" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 200000000, "maxHz": 8000000000, "label": "roughly 200 MHz – 8 GHz for consumer units" }, "axes": "single", "priceBandUsd": [ 150, 500 ], "detects": [ "Cellular downlink and uplink in the covered bands", "Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz", "Smart-meter and other 900 MHz ISM bursts", "DECT cordless phone beacons" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Power-frequency magnetic and electric fields — a different instrument entirely", "Signals below the meter's lower frequency limit, which excludes FM broadcast on most consumer units", "6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E/7 and mmWave 5G on units that stop at 6 GHz or 8 GHz", "Which service a reading came from — broadband meters give a total, not a spectrum" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Peak-hold as well as average mode: pulsed sources read many times higher on peak", "Stated frequency range that actually covers your bands of interest, including 6 GHz if you have Wi-Fi 6E or 7", "Readout in µW/m² or mW/m² rather than an unlabelled 0–100 scale or a colour LED", "An external or clearly specified antenna, isotropic or with a documented pattern", "A published calibration statement" ], "exampleModels": [ "Safe and Sound Pro II", "Cornet ED88TPlus5", "Acoustimeter AM-11", "Gigahertz Solutions HFE59B", "Latnex AF-5000" ], "related": [ "protocols:rf-room-survey", "quantities:power-density" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" }, { "id": "fcc-1310", "title": "47 CFR § 1.1310 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits", "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-1.1310", "kind": "regulation", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/broadband-rf-meter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/broadband-rf-meter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/broadband-rf-meter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:elf-gaussmeter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "elf-gaussmeter", "name": "ELF gaussmeter (power-frequency magnetic field)", "summary": "Measures 50/60 Hz magnetic flux density in milligauss or microtesla — the instrument for wiring faults, service panels, transformers and power lines.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "gaussmeter", "magnetic field meter", "milligauss meter" ], "measures": [ "magnetic-flux-density" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 30, "maxHz": 2000, "label": "power frequency plus low harmonics" }, "axes": "triple", "priceBandUsd": [ 50, 400 ], "detects": [ "Fields from house wiring, panels, transformers and overhead lines", "Net-current wiring faults, which show as whole-house elevation that does not fall off with distance", "Appliance fields at close range" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Radiofrequency sources of any kind", "Intermediate-frequency fields from induction hobs and inverters if the meter stops at 2 kHz", "Static (DC) magnetic fields unless the meter explicitly supports DC" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Three-axis sensing, so the reading does not depend on how you hold it", "Milligauss resolution to 0.1 mG or better, since precautionary bands start at 0.2 mG", "Stated frequency response — a 50/60 Hz-only meter misses harmonics", "Data logging if you need a 24-hour average or a 95th percentile" ], "exampleModels": [ "TriField TF2", "Gigahertz Solutions ME3830B", "AlphaLab UHS2", "Extech 480826" ], "related": [ "protocols:elf-magnetic-survey", "quantities:magnetic-flux-density" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" }, { "id": "niehs-emf", "title": "Electric and Magnetic Fields", "publisher": "National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences", "url": "https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf", "kind": "government", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/elf-gaussmeter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/elf-gaussmeter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/elf-gaussmeter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:ac-electric-field-meter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "ac-electric-field-meter", "name": "AC electric field meter", "summary": "Reads power-frequency electric field strength in V/m, the quantity that reveals energised wiring behind a bed head even when no current is flowing.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "E-field meter", "electric field meter" ], "measures": [ "electric-field-strength" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 16.7, "maxHz": 2000, "label": "power frequency plus harmonics" }, "axes": "single", "priceBandUsd": [ 60, 500 ], "detects": [ "Live conductors in walls, floors and ceilings", "Unshielded lamp flex and extension leads near sleeping positions", "Ungrounded metal surfaces acting as re-radiators" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Magnetic fields — an unshielded conductor can show a high E field and negligible B field, and vice versa", "Radiofrequency fields" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "A defined measurement mode: potential-free or with ground reference, since the two disagree by a large factor", "A supplied grounding lead if ground-referenced readings are wanted", "Resolution to 1 V/m or better, since precautionary bands start at 1 V/m" ], "exampleModels": [ "TriField TF2", "Gigahertz Solutions ME3830B" ], "related": [ "protocols:body-voltage-survey", "limits:sbm-2024-electric-bands" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/ac-electric-field-meter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/ac-electric-field-meter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/ac-electric-field-meter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:body-voltage-kit", "collection": "meters", "slug": "body-voltage-kit", "name": "Body-voltage measurement kit", "summary": "A high-impedance millivoltmeter, a wrist or hand electrode and a ground reference: the standard building-biology method for grading bedroom electric fields.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "body voltage meter" ], "measures": [ "body-voltage" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 16.7, "maxHz": 2000, "label": "power frequency plus harmonics" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 80, 300 ], "detects": [ "Capacitive coupling from nearby energised wiring to the body", "The effect of unplugging individual devices, one at a time", "Whether a demand switch or shielded cable actually worked" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Magnetic fields", "Radiofrequency fields", "Anything comparable between homes unless the same grounding reference and protocol are used" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Input impedance high enough not to load the measurement, typically ≥10 MΩ", "A defined ground reference: protective earth or a dedicated ground rod, documented in the report", "AC millivolt range with 1 mV resolution" ], "related": [ "quantities:body-voltage", "protocols:body-voltage-survey" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/body-voltage-kit", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/body-voltage-kit", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/body-voltage-kit.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:dirty-electricity-meter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "dirty-electricity-meter", "name": "Dirty-electricity (line harmonics) meter", "summary": "Plugs into a socket and reports high-frequency harmonic content riding on the mains, the quantity used to judge dimmers, LED drivers, inverters and switch-mode supplies.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "Graham-Stetzer meter", "line noise meter", "microsurge meter" ], "measures": [ "electric-field-strength" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 2000, "maxHz": 1000000, "label": "conducted harmonics, roughly 2 kHz – 1 MHz" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 80, 400 ], "detects": [ "Harmonic content injected by phase-cutting dimmers and cheap switch-mode supplies", "Relative before/after effect of removing a suspected device", "Power-line-communication carriers used by some solar optimisers and smart appliances" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Radiated fields — this is a conducted measurement at the socket", "Which device is responsible, without switching devices off one at a time", "Anything expressible in a recognised SI exposure unit: the common 'GS units' scale is proprietary and not an exposure metric" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "A stated frequency window rather than an arbitrary index", "Readout that can be compared over time and between circuits", "Ideally an oscilloscope line adapter for anyone who needs the actual waveform" ], "related": [ "emitters:dimmer-switch", "emitters:led-lighting" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/dirty-electricity-meter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/dirty-electricity-meter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/dirty-electricity-meter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:spectrum-analyser", "collection": "meters", "slug": "spectrum-analyser", "name": "RF spectrum analyser", "summary": "Resolves a reading into its constituent services and frequencies — the only way to attribute an RF level to a specific band, operator or device.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "spectrum analyzer", "SDR analyser" ], "measures": [ "power-density", "electric-field-strength", "frequency" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 9000, "maxHz": 8000000000, "label": "instrument dependent" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 500, 20000 ], "detects": [ "Which band and service a reading comes from", "Pulse structure and duty cycle of a source", "Whether an elevated reading is one dominant emitter or many small ones" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Absolute exposure, unless used with a calibrated antenna and the correct antenna factor", "Low-frequency magnetic and electric fields" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "A calibrated antenna with a published antenna factor, which matters more than the analyser itself", "Max-hold and trace averaging", "Sufficient upper frequency for the bands in use locally, including C-band 5G" ], "related": [ "protocols:rf-room-survey", "emitters:macro-cell-tower" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "fcc-oet65", "title": "OET Bulletin 65: Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", "publisher": "Federal Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology", "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/general/oet-bulletins-line", "year": 1997, "kind": "government", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/spectrum-analyser", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/spectrum-analyser", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/spectrum-analyser.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:directional-antenna", "collection": "meters", "slug": "directional-antenna", "name": "Directional antenna (log-periodic or horn)", "summary": "Used with an RF meter or analyser to find the bearing of a dominant source, distinguishing a tower on one azimuth from a neighbour's access point on another.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "log periodic antenna", "yagi", "horn antenna" ], "measures": [ "power-density" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 400000000, "maxHz": 8000000000, "label": "antenna dependent" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 100, 2000 ], "detects": [ "Direction of arrival of the dominant signal", "Whether shielding one facade will help" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Isotropic exposure — a directional antenna deliberately understates everything off-axis" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Published antenna factor across the band, so readings convert to field strength", "Frequency coverage matched to the meter" ], "related": [ "meters:spectrum-analyser" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "fcc-oet65", "title": "OET Bulletin 65: Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", "publisher": "Federal Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology", "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/general/oet-bulletins-line", "year": 1997, "kind": "government", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/directional-antenna", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/directional-antenna", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/directional-antenna.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:intermediate-frequency-meter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "intermediate-frequency-meter", "name": "Intermediate-frequency magnetic field meter", "summary": "Covers the kilohertz gap between an ELF gaussmeter and an RF meter — the band occupied by induction hobs, EV inverters, solar optimisers and switch-mode supplies.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "IF meter", "kHz magnetic field meter" ], "measures": [ "magnetic-flux-density" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 2000, "maxHz": 400000, "label": "roughly 2 kHz – 400 kHz" }, "axes": "triple", "priceBandUsd": [ 200, 2000 ], "detects": [ "Induction cooktop coil fields", "Inverter and optimiser switching fields", "Wireless-charging pads" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Power-frequency fields, on meters that high-pass filter 50/60 Hz out", "Radiofrequency communications signals" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Stated flat frequency response across the band of interest", "Three-axis sensing", "A clear statement of which ICNIRP reference level applies to readings in this band" ], "related": [ "emitters:induction-cooktop", "emitters:electric-vehicle" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "icnirp-2010", "title": "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz)", "publisher": "International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection", "url": "https://www.icnirp.org/en/publications/article/lf-guidelines-2010.html", "year": 2010, "kind": "guideline", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/intermediate-frequency-meter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/intermediate-frequency-meter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/intermediate-frequency-meter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:data-logger", "collection": "meters", "slug": "data-logger", "name": "Logging EMF instrument", "summary": "Any of the above with unattended recording: required whenever the assessment depends on an average, a night-time value or a 95th percentile rather than a spot reading.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "EMF logger", "24 hour logging meter" ], "measures": [ "magnetic-flux-density", "power-density", "electric-field-strength" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 30, "maxHz": 8000000000, "label": "instrument dependent" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 200, 3000 ], "detects": [ "Diurnal variation in power-line loading", "Night-time smart-meter and mesh traffic", "Intermittent sources that a spot survey misses entirely" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Anything outside the host instrument's band" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Sample interval fast enough for pulsed sources, with peak capture per interval", "Exportable raw data, not just a summary screenshot", "Battery life covering the full logging window" ], "related": [ "protocols:elf-magnetic-survey", "emitters:transmission-line" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/data-logger", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/data-logger", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/data-logger.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:microwave-leakage-tester", "collection": "meters", "slug": "microwave-leakage-tester", "name": "Microwave oven leakage tester", "summary": "A 2.45 GHz probe scaled for the FDA leakage limit of 5 mW/cm² at 5 cm — a range where ordinary consumer RF meters saturate.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "microwave leak detector" ], "measures": [ "power-density" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 2400000000, "maxHz": 2500000000, "label": "2.45 GHz ISM" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 30, 800 ], "detects": [ "Door-seal and hinge leakage at the 5 cm reference distance" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Communications signals — single-band instruments are blind outside 2.45 GHz", "Compliance, in the regulatory sense: FDA compliance testing uses a specified load and probe" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Range covering at least 5 mW/cm² without saturating", "A spacer that fixes the 5 cm reference distance" ], "related": [ "emitters:microwave-oven" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "fda-microwave", "title": "Microwave Ovens", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "url": "https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-oven-radiation", "kind": "government", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/microwave-leakage-tester", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/microwave-leakage-tester", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/microwave-leakage-tester.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:flicker-meter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "flicker-meter", "name": "Light flicker meter", "summary": "Measures modulation depth and frequency of a light source, the optical counterpart to dirty-electricity measurements and the metric behind LED comfort complaints.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "flicker tester", "percent flicker meter" ], "measures": [ "frequency" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 0, "maxHz": 100000, "label": "optical modulation" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 40, 600 ], "detects": [ "Percent flicker and flicker index of lamps and screens", "Driver quality differences between lamps" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Any electromagnetic field quantity — this measures light, not EMF" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Reports percent flicker and frequency, not a pass/fail light", "Sample rate high enough for kilohertz PWM dimming" ], "related": [ "emitters:led-lighting" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/flicker-meter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/flicker-meter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/flicker-meter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } }, { "id": "meters:oscilloscope-line-adapter", "collection": "meters", "slug": "oscilloscope-line-adapter", "name": "Oscilloscope line adapter", "summary": "A protected coupling that lets an oscilloscope show the actual mains waveform and its harmonic content, replacing a proprietary dirty-electricity index with a measurable spectrum.", "status": "verified", "lastVerified": "2026-08-12", "data": { "aliases": [ "line probe", "mains waveform adapter" ], "measures": [ "electric-field-strength", "frequency" ], "bandCovered": { "minHz": 50, "maxHz": 10000000, "label": "conducted, adapter dependent" }, "priceBandUsd": [ 100, 1000 ], "detects": [ "Actual waveform distortion, transients and carrier frequencies on the circuit", "Which harmonic order a filter is or is not removing" ], "cannotDetect": [ "Radiated fields", "Exposure, in the sense of any exposure standard" ], "buyingCriteria": [ "Galvanic isolation and correct voltage rating for the mains supply", "Documented frequency response" ], "related": [ "meters:dirty-electricity-meter" ] }, "sources": [ { "id": "sbm-2024", "title": "Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024)", "publisher": "Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN)", "url": "https://buildingbiology.com/site/downloads/SBM-2024_EVALUATION_GUIDELINES_EN.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "ngo", "retrieved": "2026-08-12" } ], "links": { "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters/oscilloscope-line-adapter", "html": "https://emfbase.com/meters/oscilloscope-line-adapter", "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/meters/oscilloscope-line-adapter.md", "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/meters" } } ] }