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The P.K.E. Meter functioned just like in the movie, and was used all the time to track down ghosts, demons, and supernatural events. One bad side effect to it was it could explode if exposed to a very big supernatural event. In "Ghosts R Us" the P.K.E. Meter can tell how intelligent a ghost is. A specialty calibrated meter is kept on hand to keep a census on the ghosts in the Containment Unit.

History

The Real Ghostbusters

Over the years, the P.K.E. Meter was adjusted to do more than detect the paranormal. While on the hunt for the Boogieman, Ray suggested they adjust the P.K.E. Meter to detect potential vibrations given off by the entity's portals. [1] When they were in Hollywood, the Ghostbusters lost their Proton Packs. Egon Spengler adjusted the P.K.E. Meter and a spare to pick up the particle beam energy of the Proton Packs. [2]

Forced to venture into the New Jersey Parallelogram, the Meter's polarity was reversed so it could be set to detect reality and find the MS Applegon crew. [3] The polarity could also be reversed in order to send out a distress signal only ghosts could hear. [4] While searching for Janine Melnitz, who was kidnapped by henchmen of the Crimelord, Egon adjusted the Meter to pick up Janine's specific bio-rhythm. [5] In two instances, the P.K.E. Meter could adjusted while the Ghostbusters were in the Netherworld. Egon set it to high gain in order to detect the Shears of Fate. [6] In the second, Ray adjusted his P.K.E. Meter to focus on Egon's ethereal vibrations after he was shifted to the Netherworld. [7] In a similar fashion, the Meters were set to infinity to detect Marduk without getting false positives from psychic background noise and local specters. [8] While the meter could pick up ghosts, demons, and gods in its standard calibration, it would have to be adjusted to detect undead such as Vampires. [9] It could detect a corporeal being like the Boogieman, who registered negative readings with a valence of minus nine. [10] [11] The Gingerbread House, also a solid manifestation, also gave off negative readings. [12] [13]

In addition to detection, the P.K.E. Meter was also used as a deterrent. Egon adjusted the sound on the Meter to a frequency painful to human ears within a close proximity. [14] In a race against time, Egon adjusted four P.K.E. Meters to only pick up the energy field of the Makoveris Lotsabucks in order to locate her before Janine was changed for good. [15]

Extreme Ghostbusters

The Extreme Ghostbusters used the original P.K.E. Meters in their investigation of the ancient tunnel at the site of the Crosstown Subway. Due to the ghosts in New York getting stronger, the P.K.E. Meters had to be redesigned to be stronger like the rest of the equipment. The design was somewhat altered for the newer version. Rather than having an antenna on top that put two side wings, the top has two smaller antennas that had a focused electric wave flowing between them. During the Lotan case, Egon attempted to study Maiikrob's vitals with a stethoscope-like extension hidden in the rear of his P.K.E. Meter. Maiikrob swatted the Meter away before it could be used.

Development

Like most equipment shown in the pilot, the P.K.E. Meter was altered later. Interestingly enough, even in the storyboards to "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood" the design was used.[16] The design was more of a box without a handle to hold it. There is one large dial on the front.[17]

Toys

Trivia

  • The P.K.E. Meter can register only ghosts up to a Class 10. If it detects a force beyond that, the Meter explodes. [18]
  • The P.K.E. Meters used by the Extreme Ghostbusters can't function properly in a lead-lined tunnel. [19]
  • In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions), The Real Ghostbusters' version of the P.K.E. Meter can be found on a desk in the Firehouse basement near the door to the sub-basement, next to several Stasis Mines modeled after the Extreme Ghostbusters traps.
  • On the subscription cover of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #16, the P.K.E. Meter makes a non-canon cameo with Egon.


References

  1. Ray Stantz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters-"The Boogieman Cometh" (1986) (DVD). (DVD ts. 10:12-10:15). Time Life Entertainment.
  2. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters-"Take Two" (1986) (DVD). (DVD ts. 13:00). Time Life Entertainment.
  3. "Venkman's Ghost Repellers"
  4. Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Lights! Camera! Haunting!" (1987) (DVD ts. 18:40-18:44). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "If I can just reverse the polarity, it'll send signals to ghosts instead of receiving them."
  5. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Ghost Busted" (1986) (DVD ts. 13:27-13:29). Time Life Entertainment.
  6. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Hanging By a Thread" (1986) (DVD ts. 15:07-15:09). Time Life Entertainment.
  7. Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Egon's Ghost" (1987) (DVD ts. 12:42-12:45). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "Don't worry. The meter is tuned to his ethereal vibrations."
  8. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "I Am the City" (1986) (DVD ts. 13:13-13:18). Time Life Entertainment.
  9. Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Transylvanian Homesick Blues" (1987) (DVD ts. 08:20-08:22). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "My P.K.E. Meter is not calibrated for the undead."
  10. Jason (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "The Bogeyman Is Back" (1987) (DVD ts. 11:07-11:10). Time Life Entertainment. Jason says: "Egon, I'm getting negative readings on this P.K.E. Meter with a valence of negative nine."
  11. Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "The Bogeyman Is Back" (1987) (DVD ts. 11:13-11:15). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "Negative nine?! That's the reading for the Boogieman!"
  12. Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Once Upon a Slime" (1987) (DVD ts. 05:39-05:40). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "Readings are negative."
  13. Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Once Upon a Slime" (1987) (DVD ts. 08:46-08:47). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "It's solid matter!"
  14. Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Transylvanian Homesick Blues" (1987) (DVD ts. 15:47-15:50). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "I can adjust the sound on this meter to a frequency painful to human hearing."
  15. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Janine, You've Changed" (1990) (DVD ts. 15:46-15:48). Time Life Entertainment.
  16. Storyboards from "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood"
  17. Screen caps and Storyboards from "The Real Ghostbusters Pilot"
  18. Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Slimer Streak" (1989) (DVD ts. 16:55-16:59). Time Life Entertainment.
  19. Egon Spengler (1997). Extreme Ghostbusters- Heart of Darkness (1997) (DVD ts. 12:50-12:57). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Egon says: "These are lead-lined tunnels designed to be impervious to nuclear fallout. In much the same way, they're blocking our P.K.E. readings."


Gallery

The Real Ghostbusters Pilot Design

The Real Ghostbusters Design

The Real Ghostbusters Secondary Canon

Extreme Ghostbusters Design

Extreme Ghostbusters Secondary Canon

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