You bought an EMF blanket. The packaging says it blocks radiation. But how do you actually verify that claim? Fortunately, there are several straightforward tests you can run at home — no lab equipment required.
1. The EMF Meter Test
An EMF meter (also called an RF meter or electrosmog detector) is the most direct way to measure shielding effectiveness. Basic models from brands like TriField or Cornet start around $30-$50 and measure radio frequency (RF) radiation in milliwatts per square meter (mW/m²) or volts per meter (V/m).
How to run the test
- Place your WiFi router or phone (with WiFi on) on a table
- Hold the EMF meter about 12 inches away and note the baseline reading
- Drape the EMF blanket between the source and the meter
- Compare the new reading to your baseline
A functional Faraday blanket should produce a noticeable drop in the reading. The exact reduction depends on the frequency being measured and the blanket's material — but you should see a clear, measurable difference, not a negligible one.
2. The WiFi Signal Test
This is the easiest test and requires no extra equipment — just your phone. WiFi operates at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, both of which fall squarely in the RF range that Faraday fabric is designed to attenuate.
How to run the test
- Open your phone's WiFi settings and note the signal strength (bars or dBm if your phone shows it)
- Wrap your phone completely in the EMF blanket, leaving no gaps
- On another device, try to ping or call the wrapped phone
- Unwrap and check — did the signal drop? Did calls fail to connect?
If the blanket meaningfully attenuates RF, your wrapped phone should lose WiFi connectivity or show a dramatically weaker signal. This is essentially turning the blanket into a makeshift Faraday pouch.
3. The Multimeter Conductivity Test
Faraday shielding works because the material is electrically conductive. A simple multimeter set to resistance (ohms) mode can verify this fundamental property.
How to run the test
- Set your multimeter to the lowest resistance range
- Touch both probes to the fabric surface a few inches apart
- A conductive Faraday fabric should show low resistance — typically under 1 ohm for quality copper-nickel fabric
- Compare this to regular fabric, which will show infinite resistance (open circuit)
This test doesn't tell you how much RF the blanket blocks, but it confirms the fabric is genuinely conductive — a necessary condition for any Faraday shielding effect.
What Readings Should You Expect?
Be wary of any product that claims specific shielding percentages without referencing the frequency tested and the testing standard used. Shielding effectiveness varies by frequency — a blanket might perform differently at 900 MHz versus 5 GHz.
What matters is that you can see a consistent, repeatable reduction in EMF readings when the blanket is placed between you and the source. If you're interested in the science behind how conductive materials achieve this shielding effect, our science page breaks down the physics of Faraday shielding.
Ready to Test for Yourself?
The RADIHALT blanket uses copper-nickel Faraday fabric — the same family of conductive alloys used in aerospace and marine shielding. We encourage every customer to verify its performance with their own meter. Real materials produce real results.