Sniff out electrosmog with the Elektor Tapir

Wireless is supposed to be cool. We all love Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, radio and television, mobile phones and various gadgets and instruments freed from any cable, as long as we don't worry about the electromagnetic pollution caused. Are they harmful for living organisms or not, and if so, to what extent?

TAPIR is assembled from 7 small PCBs

Does this worry you? If you want to learn how dirty the ether really is, then the E-smog detector is what you need. Also known as Elektor Tapir* this tiny electronic device with an antenna comes as a complete kit including two types of electromagnetic detectors and earphones. Sturdy and easy to build thanks to a comprehensive Construction Guide  the three-dimensional assembly will sniff electro smog of almost any frequency.
   

The TAPIR is assembled from seven small PCBs supplied as a PCB panel. They collectively form the enclosure for the circuit. Each of these PCBs is numbered:

1. Top piece
2. Side piece with switch
3. Bottom piece with components
4. Side piece with headset connector
5. Negative battery connection
6. Positive battery connection
7. End piece 

Required Items

The following items are required for the proper assembly of this kit:

• The TAPIR kit
• A soldering iron with a fine tip
• Tweezers for placing small SMDs on the board
• Resin-core solder with a maximum diameter of 0.5 mm (0.02 inch)
• A small drill bit for countersinking the cover screws
• One AAA battery
• A length of heat-shrink tubing or electrical tape
• If necessary, a magnifying glass for checking component markings and solder joints
• A coping saw and a file or Dremel tool as necessary
• Clamping tweezers as necessary 

* ​A tapir is a large browsing mammal with a short, prehensile snout.