Portable PEMF Machine Specifications Explained: Gauss, Frequency, Channels and Coil Size
Short answer: four specifications on a portable PEMF machine actually change what you can treat — the frequency range in hertz, the number of independent output channels, the diameter and shape of the coils, and the case size and weight that decide whether the unit travels. Gauss figures, programme counts and penetration claims are the ones most often used as marketing, and they are the ones worth reading last.
This article takes each specification in turn and explains what it physically measures, how it behaves on this platform's portable range, and what it does and does not tell you about a machine.
Why the specification sheet decides more than the price
Portable PEMF machines look similar in photographs and are frequently priced in the same band, which makes the specification sheet the only place where the real differences show up. Two units at the same price can differ in output channels, in the frequency range they can reach, in the coils they ship with, and in the case weight that decides whether they ever leave the cupboard.
The number that gets quoted most often in sales material — Gauss, or magnetic flux density — is the one that tells you least on its own, and it is worth understanding why before you compare two machines on it.
Gauss: what the number actually measures
Gauss is a unit of magnetic flux density. On a PEMF device it describes how strong the magnetic field is at a specified point — usually at the surface of the coil, or at some fixed distance from it. That qualifier is the entire problem with comparing Gauss figures between brands: a rating taken at the coil surface and a rating taken 20 cm away are not the same measurement, and neither is comparable to a number quoted with no reference point at all.
On this platform the portable range is quoted at two energy levels, 5,000 Gauss and 8,000 Gauss, across the single-control and dual-control classes. What matters operationally is not which of those two numbers is larger in the abstract, but that the field strength falls off with distance from the conductor. A 8,000 Gauss unit with a coil held away from the body can deliver less to the target tissue than a 5,000 Gauss unit with the coil in contact.
The practical rule: treat Gauss as a class indicator rather than a quality ranking, always ask at what distance a figure was measured, and weight coil geometry and contact more heavily than the badge on the case.
Frequency in hertz: the specification with the widest real range
Frequency is how many pulses per second the driver sends through the coil, and it is expressed in hertz (Hz). It is the setting users adjust most often, and it is where portable machines differ most from one another — not in peak output, but in how finely and over what span the frequency can be selected.
On this platform's portable range the two classes behave differently, and the difference is visible on the control panel.
| Specification | Compact single control | Wheeled dual control |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency selection | Fixed settings at 2 Hz, 4 Hz, 6 Hz and 8 Hz, plus an MF option | Adjustable across 1 to 10 Hz, with a programme table reaching into the tens of hertz |
| Intensity | Adjustable in 5 steps | Adjustable in 5 steps, displayed as a percentage of output |
| Timer | Fixed 5 and 10 minute sessions | Adjustable from 1 to 20 minutes |
| Case | Around 34 × 27 × 16 cm, carried by hand | Rolling suitcase around 35 × 27 × 65 cm, roughly 20 kg, pulled on a lever and wheels |
| Control | Single channel, one applicator at a time | Dual channel, two applicators independently |
Two notes on reading this table honestly. First, a wider frequency range is only useful if you have a reason to use the settings inside it — the platform supports a range, and the programme table in the manual maps settings to applications. Second, the same platform is supplied with both a human interface and an animal interface, so a specification sheet mentioning both is not a mislabelling; it is one hardware platform serving two markets.
For a first dual-control machine
Honkay · Dual Control
Dual Control PEMF Pulse Magnetic Therapy Equipment
- Two output channels, so two applicators run at the same time
- Low-frequency pulsed field settings for muscle, joint and swelling applications
- Portable case format for home use and professional rooms alike
Dual Control Two Applicators Portable
$3,199.00 $2,699.00
Intensity, pulse parameters and the timer
Intensity is an amplitude control, not a power rating: it scales how strong the pulse delivered to the coil is. On this platform it is adjustable in five steps, and on the dual-control class the screen shows it as a percentage of output together with the selected frequency and the timer. There is no single correct setting — the working target is the strongest intensity that remains comfortable for the whole session.
The timer is a genuinely underrated specification. Fixed 5 and 10 minute sessions on the compact class and an adjustable 1 to 20 minute range on the dual-control class are different products in use, because a longer settable session is what allows a whole back or a pair of joints to be covered in one pass rather than several.
Channels: single, dual and four-control
Channel count is the specification that changes how a machine is used rather than what it can treat. A single-channel unit drives one applicator at a time, so two areas are two passes. A dual-channel unit drives two applicators independently, which means two areas of one person can be treated simultaneously — or two people from one machine.
On the dual-control class here, two applicators can also be run from a remote control, and the platform supports a four-control configuration on some builds, where four outputs are addressed from one panel. For a clinic room working through a schedule, channel count is the throughput specification; for a single home user, it is usually the first thing that can safely be dropped to save money.
For clinics and two-person sessions
Honkay · SKU HKS-29D
Portable Dual Control PEMF therapy machine
- Dual channel, dual control — two applicators or two people at once
- 7-inch touchscreen with adjustable frequency, intensity and timer
- Wheeled hard case with a retractable trolley handle for clinic use
Dual Channel 7-Inch Touchscreen Two-Person Sessions
$3,499.00
Coil diameter and shape: the specification that decides coverage
Ask which single specification limits what a machine can treat, and the answer is almost always the coils. The coil is the delivery system: the field is produced by current in that conductor, so its diameter and shape decide where the field is concentrated and how much of the target area it covers. A machine rated at a higher output with the wrong coil will underperform a lower-rated machine with the right one.
On this platform the standard kit is a 30 cm large loop and a 15 cm butterfly loop, measured as coil diameters. The large loop covers broad areas — back, waist, hips and large muscle groups. The butterfly loop, at 15 cm (6 inches), is the targeted coil for shoulders, neck, elbows, knees, wrists and ankles, and its two-lobe shape lets it sit around a joint rather than beside it. Beyond those, the accessory list solves coverage problems: a 20 cm bat loop for a compact spot, a 6-metre long loop for a whole limb or a wrap, MagFlex braided coils at 25, 33 and 50 cm for irregular shapes, and 50 cm X-Wings for wide-area work. Mats and cushions handle the body positions a loop cannot hold.
| Applicator | Size | Standard or optional | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large loop | 30 cm diameter | Standard | Back, waist, hips and large muscle groups |
| Butterfly loop | 15 cm (6 inches) diameter | Standard | Shoulders, neck, elbows, knees, wrists and ankles |
| Bat loop | 20 cm diameter | Optional | A compact, targeted spot on a larger region |
| X-Wings | 50 cm diameter | Optional | Wide-area coverage on a torso or a large muscle group |
| MagFlex braided coil | 25, 33 and 50 cm diameters | Optional | Wrapping an irregular shape or a limb |
| Long loop | 6 metres | Optional | Whole-limb coverage and multi-pass wrapping |
| Mat loop | 140 × 64 cm | Optional | Lying on the back or the front for broad coverage |
| Square mat | 30 × 30 cm | Optional | A seated or reclined position on a small area |
| Chair cushion | 49 × 49 cm | Optional | Seated sessions on the hips and lower back |
| Dual mat | 150 × 45 cm | Optional | Two mats on dual channel, for upper and lower body at once |
For upper and lower body coverage in one session
Honkay · Dual Control + Mat
Dual Control Portable PEMF Machine With PEMF Therapy Mat
- Dual mat system covering upper and lower areas in one session
- Modes A to E for different session profiles
- Air cooling system for longer continuous use, CE certified
Dual Mat Modes A-E Air Cooled
$3,699.00
Case size, weight and power supply
Case and weight are specifications in the strict sense — they are measurable, they are on the sheet, and they decide the most important question in this category: whether the machine is actually used. A portable range splits along weight, from a compact case around 34 × 27 × 16 cm carried in the hand, up to a rolling suitcase around 35 × 27 × 65 cm at roughly 20 kg, pulled by a lever and wheels.
Weight is also where the hidden cost sits. A heavier machine that stays in one room is fine; a heavier machine that was bought to travel is a mistake. If the unit is going into a car several times a week, the carry-case class wins on that fact alone.
On power, one specification needs checking before the order rather than after delivery: the voltage and plug type for the market the machine will be used in. Units are supplied in 110V and 220V variants, and they are not interchangeable. For buyers serving more than one market or reselling, this is the item to settle first.
Cooling, duty cycle and how long a session can run
Because the driver pushes a pulsed current through a coil, the electronics build heat, and heat is what limits how long a machine can run continuously. This is why the timer ranges on portable machines differ, and why cooling is a real specification rather than a footnote: a unit with active air cooling can hold a longer session than one without, which matters directly for a clinic running back-to-back appointments.
Read the timer alongside the cooling design. A machine with a 1 to 20 minute settable session and active cooling is suited to continuous clinic use; a machine with fixed short sessions and passive cooling is not, however similar the two look in a photograph.
Which specifications are worth ignoring
Some numbers appear in marketing material because they compare well, not because they inform a decision.
- Gauss with no reference distance. A field strength figure is only comparable if it states where it was measured. Without that, it is a badge rather than a specification.
- Programme counts. A long list of numbered programmes is a menu, not a capability. What matters is whether the frequency range behind those programmes covers the settings you will use.
- Claimed penetration depth. Magnetic field strength falls off with distance, so any depth claim depends on the coil, the setting and the tissue in between. Contact and coil geometry predict the result better than a depth number.
- Unqualified superlatives. "Most powerful" and "highest output" are only meaningful against a stated measurement method and a comparable machine.
Rank the specifications in the order that follows use: coils and coverage first, then frequency range and timer, then channel count, then case weight, and then the output figures. Gauss is a tiebreaker between two otherwise similar machines, not the headline.
Honkay manufactures PEMF therapy equipment in China, including a portable range built for home users, therapists, clinics and distributors. Units are available in 110V and 220V variants, and OEM, ODM and private-label options are supported across the range.
Working through a specification sheet? Send us the areas you intend to treat and the market the machine will ship to, and we will match the right case class, coil set, frequency range and voltage. Distributors and brand owners: ask about OEM and private-label configuration.
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 824-3777
Email: honkaytherapymachine@gmail.com
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher Gauss rating mean a better PEMF machine?
Not on its own. Gauss measures magnetic flux density at a stated point, usually the coil surface or a fixed distance from it, so a figure quoted without a reference distance cannot be compared between brands. Field strength also falls off with distance from the conductor, which means coil contact and coil geometry affect what reaches the tissue more than the headline number does.
What frequency should I set on a portable PEMF machine?
Use the programme table in the manual for your model rather than a number copied from a product page. On this platform the compact single-control class offers fixed settings at 2 Hz, 4 Hz, 6 Hz and 8 Hz plus an MF option, while the wheeled dual-control class adjusts across 1 to 10 Hz with a programme table reaching into the tens of hertz.
What is the difference between single channel and dual channel on a PEMF machine?
Single channel drives one applicator at a time, so two areas are treated in two passes. Dual channel drives two applicators independently, so two areas of one person can be treated at the same time, or two people from one machine. Channel count changes throughput and session planning rather than the type of area that can be treated.
Does coil size really matter on a PEMF machine?
It is the specification that limits coverage most directly. The coil is what produces the field, so a large loop at 30 cm spreads it across the back, waist and hips, while a 15 cm butterfly loop concentrates it around a shoulder, knee or ankle. A larger coil used on a small joint spreads most of its field into the surrounding space.
Why do portable PEMF machines differ so much in weight?
Weight tracks class, output and case format. A compact carry-case unit around 34 × 27 × 16 cm is carried by hand, while a dual-control unit in a rolling suitcase around 35 × 27 × 65 cm weighs roughly 20 kg and is pulled on a lever and wheels. Weight is what decides whether the machine actually travels, so it belongs in the comparison rather than the small print.
Do I need a 110V or a 220V PEMF machine?
Whichever matches the market where the machine will be used — the variants are not interchangeable. Confirm the voltage and plug type before the order ships, and settle it first if you are buying for more than one market or reselling into several.
What does "duty cycle" or cooling actually affect?
How long the machine can run continuously. Pulsing current through a coil heats the driver electronics, so a unit with active air cooling can hold longer sessions than one without. Read the cooling design alongside the timer: a machine with an adjustable 1 to 20 minute session and active cooling suits back-to-back clinic appointments.
Which specification should I check first when buying a portable PEMF machine?
The coil set, because it decides what you can treat, followed by the frequency range and timer, then channel count, then case weight, and finally the output figures. Gauss is a useful tiebreaker between two otherwise similar machines rather than the headline specification.
