FAQs

What is EMF?

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are invisible areas of energy produced by electrically charged objects. Your phone, Wi-Fi router, microwave, and even the Earth itself produce EMF. EMF Tracker measures magnetic field strength in microtesla (μT) using your device's built-in magnetometer.

What is RF?

Radio Frequency (RF) refers to electromagnetic waves used for wireless communication — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular signals, and more. RF is measured in dBm (decibels relative to milliwatts), which indicates signal strength.

Are EMF and RF the same thing?

No. EMF is a broader term that includes static and low-frequency magnetic fields (like those from power lines and appliances), while RF specifically refers to high-frequency electromagnetic waves used for wireless communication. EMF Tracker measures both:

EMF from your device's magnetometer (μT)

RF from nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices (dBm)

Is EMF dangerous?

Everyday EMF exposure from household devices is generally considered safe. EMF Tracker uses ICNIRP guidelines (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) to classify safety levels:

🟢 Safe: 0–200 μT

🟡 Caution: 200–600 μT

🟠 Elevated: 600–1000 μT

🔴 High: 1000+ μT

Being aware of your exposure helps you make informed decisions about device usage and proximity.

How does EMF Tracker measure magnetic fields?

Your smartphone has a built-in magnetometer (the same sensor used for compass apps). EMF Tracker reads this sensor in real-time and calculates the total magnetic field strength in microtesla (μT) using the formula:

Magnitude = √(x² + y² + z²)

where x, y, and z are the magnetic field components in three dimensions.

What is calibration and why is it important?

The calibrate feature sets a baseline reading for your current environment. This helps distinguish between background magnetic fields (like the Earth's natural field) and EMF from nearby electronic devices. For best results, calibrate in an area away from electronics.

Does EMF Tracker work without internet?

Yes! All core features work completely offline:

Real-time EMF measurement

RF scanning (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth)

History and trends

Data storage

Only AI Insights and Cloud Sync require an internet connection.

What does the Nearby Devices feature show?

The RF Scanner detects wireless signals around you:

Wi-Fi networks — Shows SSID, BSSID, frequency band (2.4/5/6 GHz), and signal strength

Bluetooth devices — Shows device name, MAC address, and signal strength

What is Signal Power (dBm)?

dBm (decibels relative to milliwatts) measures how strong a wireless signal is when it reaches your device. Think of it like volume — the closer you are to the source, the stronger the signal.

Signal Quality: Range

Excellent: −30 to −50 dBm

Good: −50 to −60 dBm

Fair: −60 to −70 dBm

Weak: −70 to −80 dBm

Very Weak: Below −80 dBm

Note: Values closer to 0 mean stronger signals. A device at −40 dBm is much stronger than one at −70 dBm.

What is the Exposure Index (0–100)?

The Exposure Index is a simplified score showing how much RF energy you're receiving from a device. It converts complex dBm values into an easy-to-understand 0–100 scale:

Minimal exposure: 🟢 0–42

Noticeable exposure: 🟡 43–69

Strong exposure: 🔴 70–100

How is the Exposure Index calculated?

For Wi-Fi devices:

The signal strength (−90 to −30 dBm) is mapped to 0–100:

Index = ((rssi + 90) / 60) × 100

So −90 dBm = 0 (very weak), −30 dBm = 100 (very strong).

For Bluetooth devices:

Uses a wider range (−110 to −30 dBm) since Bluetooth signals vary more:

Index = ((rssi + 110) / 80) × 100

Overall Index:

Takes the median exposure from all detected devices in each category, then shows the highest contributor.

Why can't the app see all nearby Wi-Fi networks on iOS?

Due to Apple's privacy restrictions, iOS apps cannot scan for all nearby Wi-Fi networks. On iOS, EMF Tracker shows only the currently connected network. This is an Apple platform limitation, not an app limitation. Android users can see all nearby networks.

What are Trends?

Trends analyze your EMF measurement history to show patterns over time. They help you understand:

How your exposure changes day-to-day

Peak vs. average exposure levels

Time-of-day patterns

Day-of-week patterns

Your scanning consistency

Why do I see "Keep scanning to unlock trends"?

Some trends require minimum data. Keep taking measurements regularly, and more trends will unlock automatically as your history grows.

How are trend directions calculated?

Trends compare averages between time periods:

↑ Increasing: Current period average is higher

↓ Decreasing: Current period average is lower

→ Stable: Less than 5% change between periods

What are AI Insights?

AI Insights uses artificial intelligence to analyze your EMF data and provide personalized observations, recommendations, and context about your exposure patterns. It goes beyond simple trends to find meaningful patterns in your data.

How do AI Insights work?

Your EMF history is analyzed locally
Patterns are identified
An AI model generates insights
Insights are cached locally to minimize data usage

What kind of insights will I see?

AI Insights cover several categories:

Exposure patterns — When and where you have higher/lower exposure

Behavioral observations — Your scanning habits and consistency

Comparative analysis — How current readings compare to your history

Contextual tips — Practical suggestions based on your data

Anomaly detection — Unusual spikes or changes in patterns

How often are insights updated?

Insights refresh automatically when:

A new day begins and you have 5+ new scans

You reach certain milestones (10 scans in a day, new location, etc.)

Do AI Insights require internet?

Yes, AI Insights require an internet connection to process your data. However, insights are cached locally so you can view previously generated insights offline.

Is my data private?

Yes. Your raw EMF data is processed to generate insights but is not stored on external servers. Only aggregated, anonymized patterns are used for AI processing. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How is my measurement history stored?

All measurements are stored locally on your device using a secure database.

How long is data kept?

Your data is kept indefinitely on your device. You can manually delete records or clear all history from the app settings.

What is Cloud Sync?

Cloud Sync (Premium feature) securely backs up your EMF history to the cloud, allowing you to:

Access your data across multiple devices

Restore data if you switch phones

Never lose your measurement history

Cloud Sync requires a Premium subscription and is end-to-end encrypted.

Troubleshooting

The EMF reading seems stuck or inaccurate

Try these steps:

Move your device — Wave it in a figure-8 pattern to recalibrate the magnetometer
Calibrate — Use the calibrate button to set a new baseline
Remove cases — Some phone cases with magnets can interfere
Restart the app — Close and reopen EMF Tracker

Bluetooth scan shows no devices

Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your device
Grant Bluetooth permissions when prompted
Other devices need to be in discoverable mode to appear
Try scanning in an area with known Bluetooth devices

Wi-Fi scan shows limited results on iOS

This is an iOS platform limitation. Apple restricts apps from scanning nearby Wi-Fi networks. On iOS, only your currently connected network will appear.

The app is draining my battery

EMF measurement uses the magnetometer sensor, which is very power-efficient. However, continuous RF scanning (especially Bluetooth) can use more battery. Tips:

Use shorter scan durations

Don't leave the app running in the background

Reduce scan frequency if not needed

How do I get help?

In-app: Menu → Support

How do I report a bug?

Go to Menu → Support and describe the issue. Include:

Device model and OS version

Steps to reproduce the issue

Screenshots if possible

How do I request a feature?

We love hearing from users! Send feature requests through Menu → Support