EMFields AM-10 User Manual

Acoustimeter User Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction.............................................................................. 2

Safety Instructions ................................................................. 3

Specifications .......................................................................... 3

Instrument guide..................................................................... 4

Operation ................................................................................. 5

Peak & Average -what are the differences ...................... 6-7

Peak & Average LED guide ................................................. 8

Troubleshooting ..................................................................... 9-10

Guarantee ................................................................................ 10

Appendix A: Some international guideline levels .......... 11

Appendix B: Conversion table between V/m and µW/m

for c ontinuous wave signals ......................................... 12

Disposal & Disclaimer ......................................................... 12

2

Introduction

The Acoustimeter has been designed to enable you to make a quick and
informed judgement regarding the level and nature of microwave signals

in your environment. It is a broadband instrument that accurately
measures the totality of the radiation in the range 200 MHz to over 8000

MHz (8 GHz), which covers the frequencies used by most modern
communication systems encountered in our everyday environment. The
Acoustimeter was designed using the experience gained from many years

of practical RF and microwave measurements using a wide variety of
professionalinstruments.

Readings are shown on both an LCD display and two series of graduated
LED lights. The LEDs update rapidly, and allow you to quickly gauge the

levels in an area and find any hot-spots. The Acoustimeter also has a
loudspeaker (and audio output socket for headphones or an audio

recorder), allowing you to determine, with a small amount of practice,
what type of device is creating the signals. Sound samples are available

on http://www.emfields.org/detectors/acoustimeter.asp to help you
identify different signals.

2

Safety instructions

Please read through these instructions carefully before operating the
instrument. It contains important information regarding usage, safety and
maintenance.

The instrument is not waterproof and should not come into direct contact
with water, nor should it be used outdoors in the rain. If it is raining and

you want to take measurements outside, please cover the instrument in a
plastic bag that does not have holes in it. Clean the case using a damp

cloth,and do not use detergents.
This instrument is sensitive to heat and impact. Exposing the instrument to

high temperatures or dropping the instrument may cause it to stop
functioning properly. It may not display properly below freezing (0°C).

This instrument is not intended to be serviced by the user and it needs no
special maintenance from the user. Unscrewing the case will void the

guarantee.

Specifications

Typical overall frequencyresponseusing the internal antenna:
200 MHz –8000 MHz ±3dB; 150-200 MHz and 8000-10000 MHz ± 6dB

Measurement sensitivity:0.02 to 6.00 volts per metre [ V/m ]
1 to 100 000 microwatts per square metre [ µW/m2]

The detector can respond tolevels below 0.02 V/m - audio from signal
demodulationmay be heard at RF levels below 0.02 V/m

LED Scale Points: (peak LEDsupdated approximatelyevery 0.1 seconds)
Peak: 0.02,0.03,0.05, 0.07, 0.1, 0.2,0.3,0.5,0.7,1, 1.5,2, 3, 4.5, 6 V/m

Average: (calculated as the average 1024 samplesmeasuredeveryc. 0.35 seconds)
1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1 000, 2 500, 5 000, 10 000, 25 000,50 000,100 000

2

µW/m
Power Draw: 105 mA at 3 volts (2 x AA AlkalineorRechargeable cells @ 1.2 - 1.5V)
BatteryLife: Up to 20 hours. ‘Lowbattery’ detectionisindicated.
Typically15 hourson two new 1500 mAhrAAalkaline cells and

Typically25 hoursontwocharged 2700mAhr NIMH rechargeable cells
Size:190mm x 102mmx33mm (LxWxD)
Weight: 280g, excludingbatteries

3

Instrument guide

Key

1. Display 4. Audio, mono2.5mm 7. Internal antenna

2. Peak signal LEDs 5. Volume control 8. Loudspeaker

3. Average power LEDs 6. On - Off switch 9. Battery compartment

4