FM5 Path 5G Monitor

A Handheld Monitor for 5G and Everyday Wireless Signals

5G operates at higher frequencies than earlier phone and internet signals, and many affordable EMF meters stop well short of them. The FM5 Path was built to close that gap. It is a compact, handheld RF monitor that measures wireless signals from cell towers, cell phones, WiFi routers, smart meters and more, and shows you the strength of each reading as you move around your home or workplace.

Two Versions: FM5 Basic and FM5 Complete

FM5 Basic covers 1 MHz to 10 GHz. That range takes in cell towers, cell phones, cordless phones, WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth, baby monitors, smart meters, IoT devices and mid-band 5G.

FM5 Complete includes everything in Basic and adds a high-frequency module covering 24 to 32 GHz. This is the millimeter wave range, including the 24 GHz and 28 GHz bands used for millimeter wave 5G in the US, which most consumer meters cannot detect. Millimeter wave bands above 32 GHz are outside the FM5's range.

What Makes the FM5 Path Different

• Directional antenna: point the monitor at a suspected source and watch the reading rise as you line up with it, so you can find where a signal is coming from rather than just that it exists.
• Audio output: the built-in speaker (with volume control) lets you hear the signal. Different sources sound different, which helps you identify what you are picking up and trace it by ear.
• Fast response: measurements are taken thousands of times per second, so short bursts are captured, not missed.
• Peak and maximum display: the LED screen shows both peak and maximum signal strength, so you can compare rooms and see what changes when you move a router or switch a device off.
• Upgradeable: a second antenna slot is designed to accept upgrades as new wireless technology and higher frequencies are rolled out.

What You Can Measure

With the FM5 Path you can survey signals from cell towers (including 2G, 3G, 4G and mid-band 5G), cell phones, cordless phones, WiFi routers and access points, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, smart meters, wireless vehicle applications, and internet-connected household appliances. With the Complete version you can also measure millimeter wave signals in the 24 to 32 GHz range.

The FM5 Path is a dedicated RF monitor. It does not measure magnetic or electric fields, so if you also want to check wiring and appliances, pair it with a general-purpose meter such as the Trifield TF2.

How to Use the FM5 Path

The FM5 Path has a directional antenna, so the reading rises when you point it towards a signal source. Sweep it slowly around the room, and use the speaker to hear the signal change as you trace it to its origin. Watch our how to use the FM5 Path video for a full walkthrough.

Who Is It For?

The FM5 Path suits anyone who wants to measure wireless signal levels at home, in a bedroom or nursery, in an office, or near a cell tower or small cell. Take readings before you make changes, move a router, add shielding or switch devices off, then measure again to see the difference.