Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter – My Review

Why would you buy the Acoustimeter AM-10 when there are so many other RF meters to choose from? For the uninitiated I am sure it can be difficult to come to any sort of decision.

In this article I am going to explain everything you need to know, in layman's terms, so that you can decide if the Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter is the right meter for you.

Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter

I know when I first learned about electromagnetic radiation it did all seem very confusing.

It is a complex subject but I have found “seeing is believing”, having a meter which can show you in a matter of seconds what you need to know, is a big help. Simplicity is one of the strong suits of the Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter.

Acoustimeter Technical Specifications

The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter has:

– a two line LCD displaying radiation levels:

peak hold levels are shown in Volts/m (V/m)

peak exposure levels are shown in V/m

average exposure levels in microwatts per square meter (µW/m2)

– two lines of LEDS displaying actual radiation levels:

peak exposure levels are shown in V/m

average exposure levels are shown in µW/m2

– measurement range: 200 MHz – 8 GHz ±3 dB

– sensitivity* (Peak Display): 0.02 V/m – 6.00 V/m

– sensitivity* (Average Display): 1 µW/m2 – 100 000 µW/m2

– pulsing signal may be heard through the audio speaker

– power source: 2x AA Alkaline or Rechargeable (1.2 – 1.5V)

– power draw: 105 mA at 3 V

– battery life 20 hours on average

– size in mm: 190L x 102W x 33D

How To Read The LCD Display

The Acoustimeter display has 2 lines where 3 different readings are shown simultaneously. The display can be read as follows:

– on the top line the reading in brackets, (5.29), corresponds to the “peak hold” reading in V/m, that's to say the highest reading recorded since the unit has been switched onAcoustimeter EMF meter display

– the number next to this, 2.45, is the current peak signal strength in V/m

– the number on the bottom line, 140, is the average reading in microwatts per square meter (µW/m2)

What Can You Measure With The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter?

The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter is a dedicated radio-frequency (RF) radiation meter. Now what does that mean?

In simple terms it means this meter is ideal for measuring radiation from the following sources:

– Cell phone towers (masts)

– Digital smart meters

– Wimax and WiFi radiation

– Cell phones (mobiles)

– Household appliances

– Wireless video games (like the Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation etc)

– DECT cordless phones

– Wireless Spy cameras

– Digital baby monitors

– Digital TV Broadcasts

– Audio/Video Sender Receivers

– Tetra frequencies

– Wireless burglar alarms

and more.

What Is So Unique About The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter?

There are two things that really differentiate this meter from other RF meters:

– its exceptional range and sensitivity

– its ease of use

I have found the Acoustimeter AM-10 RF meter to be a sensitive meter. But apart from being sensitive it also has very good directional sensitivity for a meter that cannot be defined as a directional meter, strictly speaking. Whereas many RF meters just tell you what the level of RF radiation is, with this meter you can in certain circumstances tell where its coming from. By tilting the meter at different angles you can home in on RF sources in your environment, a hidden cell tower or distant WiFi router, which you could never have imagined picking up a signal from. (If you are testing in an area where there is RF radiation from many different sources then its unlikely that you will be able to get accurate directional readings).

The second point is the frequency range. Many RF meters only measure up to 2 or 3 GHz. More and more wireless appliances are working above this range, whats the point in buying an RF meter if it can't measure the RF radiation you are being exposed to? The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF meter measures RF radiation from 200 MHz right up to 8 GHz so in terms of wireless radiation there is not much (if anything) that gets past it.

How To Use The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter

First insert the batteries (2 x AA cells) and move the power switch to “on”. Set the volume to a level where you can comfortably hear whats going on and you are good to go. Start moving the meter around slowly, methodically, in all directions all the time listening for any signal and watching the two columns of LED display lights. There is also an LCD display where you can see the RF levels moving up and down in numbers and the peak level since you last switched it on, shown in brackets.

The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF meter can measure from 1 to 100,000 microwatts per square meter [ μW/m2 ] and from 0.02 to 6.00 volts per metre [ V/m ].

Here is a short video of me using the Acoustimeter AM-10 RF meter to measure WiFi radiation:

How Do I Know When The RF Radiation Is Too High?

The beauty of this meter is its audio function. As soon as you pick up any kind of reading you will hear it on the loud speaker (or on your headset if you plug in on the jack). Then you consult the displays to gain an appreciation of what the radiation levels are exactly. This meter gives you quite a lot of information but if you are looking for a quick and easy way to measure RF levels then just look at the left hand column (the peak V/m readings). Even a reading as low as 0.02 volts per metre (V/m) is shown by a green LED , an increase in radiation levels will then light up more green lights, then the orange LEDs and then the red LEDs.

How you interpret these radiation levels depends on your circumstances. There are 2 things to take into consideration:

1. the duration of exposure

2. your own sensitivity

For instance sleeping in a bedroom with radiation levels at the top end of the scale (a red light in the left hand column) means that you are exposing yourself to high radiation levels over a long period of time, this is not advisable for anyone.

So how do you know when the RF radiation levels are too high? For me personally, as an electrosensitive, I try to ensure that any living areas where I am spending more than a few hours are either giving me zero radiation (no LEDs lit) or radiation at the very bottom of the scale (green LEDs lit).

Is This The Right Meter For You?

You might be concerned about radiation being emitted from a nearby smart meter, or maybe you live in an apartment surrounded by other apartments equipped with WiFi and cordless phones. Maybe you are just someone interested in the health benefits of EMF mitigation, or maybe you are someone who is showing the first signs of electrical sensitivity. If you are worried about the radiation levels in your environment but you don't know what the culprits are, this meter because of its directional sensitivity is the ideal choice because it can tell you what the principal causes are of these high levels. Once you have determined your exposure levels you can shield and protect as appropriate.

What About The Disadvantages ?

– its size, it's quite a bulky meter

– it's price

But for this level of sensitivity and accuracy it does seem a fair price. Its not the most expensive meter on the market (you can pay thousands for a professional RF meter) but neither is it the cheapest. And it only measures RF radiation, if you want to measure other EMFs like electrical and magnetic radiation this is not the meter for you.

Where To Purchase The Acoustimeter AM-10 RF Meter?

If you live in the US you will be pleased to know that Amazon.com now stocks this meter. If you live in the UK you can buy your Acoustimeter from this company.

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Comments

  • Dubal said,

    Hi Lloyd,
    Is this AM-10 directional or omni-directional?
    What do you think of TM-196 from tenmars.com? Says it is tri-axis and measures total strength in any given spot without having to point it to any direction. Is that desirable?
    How would it compare with AM-10?
    Thanks in advance.

  • Dubal said,

    Hi Lloyd,

    This AM-10, is it directional or omani-directional?
    What do you think of tenmars.com’s TM-196? It is 3-axis and measures in a given spot from all directions. Is that desirable?
    How should I choose between the 2?
    Your views please.
    Thanks in advance.
    Regards.

  • Lloyd said,

    Hi Dubal
    The Acoustimeter is not a tri-axis meter, this means you need to rotate and measure in all 3 axes in every spot you want to measure. I can’t say that I have found this to be a handicap, by tilting the meter at different angles you can home in on the direction of the source.
    I have not tested the TM-196 so I can’t compare the two meters.

  • soma said,

    hello:)
    thanks for the review. i am looking into getting a radio frequency meter and cannot figure out if i should get the acoustimeter AM-10 or the gigahertz solutions HF35C. was wondering if you could help me make the intelligent choice? seems to me like the HF35C may be a more professionally made, accurate, and reliable meter but it is less sensitive than the AM-10 as it starts its readings at 800MHz. i am not sure if that is low enough to measure the 1000 w/square meter that you consider to be the level that RF starts to get dangerous? i will be using the meter to determine if a nearby cell phone tower is emitting unsafe levels of RF to out potential home building site. If so, i will have to cancel the building of our home. this is a very big deal for our family so i want to make sure that i get an RF meter that is super accurate.

    thank you very much for your information, videos, and help!

    peace,
    soma

  • Lloyd said,

    Hi Soma
    I have not tested the HF35C so I can only go on what it says in the spec:
    Frequency Range: 800 MHz – 2.5 GHz
    Power flux density: 0.1 – 1999 µW/m²
    This means the HF35C can’t measure anything over 2.5GHz, which could be a handicap given that a growing number of RF sources are in the 5-6 Ghz range. The Acoustimeter measures up to 8 GHz.
    The HF35C only measures in µW/m². Measuring in µW/m², again, can be misleading because it works by taking an average of RF levels over a given time – some peak levels can be 100 times higher than average levels. The Acoustimeter gives V/meter readings of peak levels.

  • soma said,

    dear lloyd,
    thank you so much for your quick and helpful response:))) i will purchase the acoustimeter. you are very kind to take the time to help me.
    peace,
    soma

  • Eric said,

    Hi Lloyd!

    What’s the difference or how do you compare the Cornet vs the Acoustimeter?

    Thanks!
    Eric

  • Lloyd said,

    Hi Eric
    As usual the devils in the detail:
    Acoustimeter – has audio function, measures in V/m (therefore gives peak values – considered to be more relevant at non thermal levels), but then it does cost considerably more. The ED85EX is a great meter – for the price.

  • Stephen M. Hall said,

    Hi Eric, have you ever used a Graham-Stetzer (Stetzerizer) Microsurge Meter to measure the most dangerous levels of dirty electricity; i.e. 2KHZ-150KHz? I have been using it for some time now, (and adding the Stetzerizer Power Line Filters to my power points) and have compared the Dirty Power to my new oscilloscope,which also has a filter to separate the RF – Dirty Electricity (2KHz-100KHz) from the the “clean” 50HZ and alslows you to see the dirty power real time on your Laptop, along with the Microsurge Meter GS Unit reading, is amazing. They prove each other and adds to the credibility of what you are measuring and showing your client or observer. I’ll send you a pic if your interested. You will see the “safe” 35 GS Units (Stetzerizer Meter) and the ‘Scope’s Spectrum Analyzer/and 2 Channel Sine Waves on the screen and the dangerous e-radiation of 1800+ GS Units and how the high frequencies (transients and harmonics) RF Radiation on the electrical wires look like!

    I have now taken measurements and pics/BMP’s of what the smart meter does to the 50HZ “carrier” (sine) wave! Before s so-called Smart Meters(mandatory in Australia by 2013)the 50 HZ is smooth and looping nicely, oscilating back and fowards, but after the Smart Meters were installed in our buidling, the 50HZ is totally distrorted and you can see a HF (mictowave?) signal on the wires. They (the Public Utility) are now able to WATCH everything in your home – electrically speaking….This is BIG Brother watching and who knows what they will end up doing with this information about you in the future? This is about CONTROL and not just “marketing”. The RF Radtionan from Smart Meters is so bad that people are literally walking out of their homes and living in camper vans because they are sick and nauseus in the home at night. Maybe, I am the first person in the world to document before and after senarios of smart meter Technology and what it does to our “benign” sineusoidal wave? Keep up the good work… Steve H.

  • DAVID BALFOUR said,

    PLEASE CONFIRM WHETHER THE ACOUSTIMETER IS SUITABLE FOR USE IN CANADA AND WHETHER IT MEASURES RF EX WIRELESS ROUTERS? WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRIFIELD 100XE DOES NOT MEASURE RF EFFECTIVELY, PLEASE ADVISE. WE ARE GOING TO SELL OUR CONDO AND BUY A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE BECAUSE OF MY WIFE’S SENSITIVITIES SO WE WANT TO CHECK OUT NEW HOME AND AREA….WOULD ACOUSTIMETER BE RECOMMENDED OVER THE CORNET FOR THIS SITUATION AND THE FUTURE AS CELL TOWERS CONTINUE TO BE CONSTRUCTED? WE HAVE BEEN TO BE AT LEAST 4 HOUSES SPACE AWAY FROM NEIGHBOURS, WOULD YOU AGREE? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, LLOYD

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