Rf And Microwave Field Detection; The Standard And Weighted Modes - TriField TF2 Owner's Manual

RF and Microwave Field Detection

To measure an RF field, turn the knob to the RF setting and point the top of the meter at the
potential source, or simply hold the meter vertically.
Generally, your hand can shield the RF signals, so grip the meter as shown on page 2.
The RF Mode uses the same plate sensor as the AC Electric Mode. The signal is amplified
and converted to a power density magnitude, calibrated at a frequency of 1 GHz (1000 MHz).
Maximum range is 19.999 mW/m with resolution of 0.001 mW/m and accuracy of ±20% of
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reading at 1 GHz. A frequency response graph of the RF mode is on page 7.
When reading RF emitted by digital devices, such as mobile phones and smart meters, the Peak
Measurement (small numerals in the upper-left of the display) is of more interest than the
Field Measurement (large numerals at the bottom). The information from digital RF devices is
transmitted in brief packets that occur irregularly (perhaps once per minute with smart meters
and several times per second with Wi-Fi transmitters or mobile phones that are in use). The
Peak Measurement detects these packets and displays the strongest packet for several
seconds before resetting itself.
RF and microwaves are composed of a particular combination of electric fields and magnetic
fields that is self-sustaining. For frequencies below about 100 MHz the principle effect on
a conducting body is from the magnetic field part only. This is because the electric field
component of radio waves produces much weaker currents in the body than does the magnetic
field unless the wavelength of the waves is smaller than the height of the body. Low-frequency
electric fields by themselves can be strong enough to create significant current, but only if they
are from sources other than true radio waves.

The Standard and Weighted Modes

The light blue Standard modes for AC magnetic fields (MAG) and AC electric fields (ELEC) will
measure fields using a flat frequency response. That is, all frequencies from 40 Hz to 100 kHz
(100,000 Hz) are measured with equal sensitivity. The dark blue Weighted modes for magnetic
and electric fields measure 60 Hz fields with the same sensitivity as the Standard mode.
However, the Weighted modes are more sensitive at frequencies higher than 60 Hz, and from 60
Hz to 500 Hz, sensitivity increases proportional to frequency. That is, 1 milligauss (mG) at 60 Hz
will read "1.0" on the display, whereas 1 mG at 120 Hz will read "2.0". See the frequency response
curves on page 7 for more detail. On Weighted modes, the Field Measurement shows a number
proportional to the average electric current induced inside the human body from the fields,
and the number is equivalent to the amount of 60 Hz magnetic or electric field that would be
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