Electromagnetic fields are the combination of invisible electric and magnetic fields of force generated by natural phenomenon such as the earth’s magnetic field or human activities, such as the use of electricity. Though you cannot see these fields, you can detect and measure them using EMF meters.
Electric and magnetic fields are often referred to as radiation and are typically grouped into two groups based on their frequency.
- Non-ionizing – low-level radiation that is considered harmless to humans
- Ionizing – high-level radiation that may cause cellular and DNA damage
Radio Frequency (RF), Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radiation, Microwaves, and Visible Light – all are non-ionization radiations that are perceived to be harmless and produced or used by devices and equipment such as microwave ovens, computers, Wi-Fi networks, Cell Phones, Bluetooth devices, Power lines, and MRI machines.
The term EMF is mainly used for low frequency alternating or direct current that produces electromagnetic fields.
Elevated EMF levels are often caused due to wiring problems, stray currents, or bad grounding problems. In homes and other buildings, you usually need to measure EMF fields or RF by using EMF Radio Frequency meters.
What is the need for measuring EMF and RF?
EMF meters can detect and monitor harmful, magnetic, or electromagnetic fields that surround personal or work areas. One of the most common places for electromagnetic fields is power lines; however, they may also be present near electrical appliances and office equipment. Research has shown that elevated levels of extremely low-frequency (ELF) EMFs can cause serious diseases such as cancer and leukemia. Hence, electrical workers and other professionals often use EMF meters before entering a job site.
Some EMF meters come with the feature of detecting magnetic, electric, and radio frequency. That’s why they are also called EMF radio frequency meters. These are handheld devices that differ in terms of measurement speed, accuracy, and cost and are considered reliable devices when it comes to detecting electromagnetic pollution.
The specifications that you need to look for in EMF radio frequency meters include:
- Measurement range
- Frequency bandwidth
- Accuracy level (%)
- Sampling rate
- Minimum resolution
- Number of axes
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Power Requirements
- Operating temperature
For EMF radio frequency meters, there are two units for measurements, i.e. milliGauss (mG) and microTesla (microT). Most gauss meters have a range of 0.1 to 0.199.9 mG, while most Tesla meters have a range of 0.01 to 19.99 (microT).
These days, you can find highly advanced EMF radio frequency meters in a wide range of specifications and types. For example, if you buy RF Explorer 6G Combo, you will be able to see what frequencies are present and the strength of each signal. With this EMF meter, you can check cell phones, Wi-Fi, cordless phones, FM radio, CB radio, and a lot more. It can measure the low end of 5G frequencies, run for more than 16 hours continuously, can be connected to your PC, and is rechargeable by USB.
So, if you want to buy EMF radio frequency meters, shop online only after proper research on what kind of meter you need and what features you can benefit from the most.
