P.K.E. Meter/Animated

P.K.E. Meter
Use:	Reading Spiritual Activity
Appeared In:	The Real Ghostbusters Slimer! Extreme Ghostbusters Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters Ghostbusters Vol. 2 Issue #2 Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #1 Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #2 Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3 Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #4 Ghostbusters International #5 Ghostbusters International #8 Ghostbusters International #9 Ghostbusters Annual 2017 Ghostbusters 101 #2 Ghostbusters Annual 2018 Crossing Over Issue #4 Crossing Over Issue #5 Crossing Over Issue #6 Crossing Over Issue #7 Crossing Over Issue #8 35th Anniversary: RGB 35th Anniversary: EGB

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. 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.

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. The polarity could also be reversed in order to send out a distress signal only ghosts could hear. 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. 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. In the second, Ray adjusted his P.K.E. Meter to focus on Egon's ethereal vibrations after he was shifted to the Netherworld. In a similar fashion, the Meters were set to infinity to detect Marduk without getting false positives from psychic background noise and local specters. 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. It could detect a corporeal being like the Boogieman, who registered negative readings with a valence of minus nine. The Gingerbread House, also a solid manifestation, also gave off negative readings.

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. 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. As of the Tokyo case in the early 1990s, the P.K.E. Meter was able to detect psychomagnotheric residue.

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. A Tilt Table P.K.E. Scanner also utilized a P.K.E. Meter for its full body scans but was a silver color like the device itself.

Secondary History

IDW Comics

With the Giga meter broken during the Unknown Soldier Ghosts' escape from a police station in Paris, Ray Stantz retrieved a P.K.E. Meter, left behind by a version of the guys from a parallel dimension, from the Ghostbusters' hotel. The meter immediately detected the stolen Poveglian Artifact after they entered the Louvre Museum. Cait Banner used the meter to scan Jenny Moran during a lecture. Egon from Dimension 68-R and Roland from Dimension 68-E used both their P.K.E. Meters to help confirm Liberty Island was cleared of Connla's Army. After taking readings inside the Wander Hills Orphanage, Egon 68-R came to the conclusion that it and Ellen Gold, the ghost that conjured it, shared her P.K.E. signature and thus, had a weakness. He told the others to blast at the building with their Particle Throwers adjusted to the right frequency and proper power setting to disorient Ellen.

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. The design was more of a box without a handle to hold it. There is one large dial on the front.

Toys

• P.K.E. Meter came with the Proton Pack in Weapon Action Figure Toys 2

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.
• The P.K.E. Meter couldn't function properly during an intense thunder storm when the Ghostbusters faced the Indian Earth Spirit for the first time.
• The P.K.E. Meters used by the Extreme Ghostbusters can't function properly in a lead-lined tunnel.
• 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.
• In Ghostbusters International #4, Ray said he would have to switch to using a pocket sized P.K.E. Meter. Dan Schoening wanted to draw a P.K.E. Meter from The Real Ghostbusters instead. Erik Burnham didn't get the dialogue in Issue #4 changed in time.
• On page 21 of Ghostbusters Annual 2018, Egon has the P.K.E. Meter from The Real Ghostbusters.
• On page 25 of Annual 2018, on a table, is a drawing of two The Real Ghostbusters P.K.E. Meters.
• Egon from The Real Ghostbusters has his P.K.E. Meter on Cover A of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2.
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4, in panel 1, on the monitor screens are:
  • Far top left: P.K.E. Meter screen during the Spectral Well discovery in The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Magnificent Five"
  • Far bottom left: P.K.E. Meter screen during The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghost Fight at the O.K. Corral"
  • Middle top: P.K.E. Meter screen when Egon checks P.K.E. levels in Extreme Ghostbusters episode "Darkness at Noon, Part 1"
  • Far top right: The close up of the P.K.E. Meter in the Extreme Ghostbusters Intro.
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4, in panel 3, above Cait's head is the P.K.E. Meter screen when Winston's detects Wyatt Earp in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghost Fight at the O.K. Corral".
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4, in panel 4, on the screen is the display of Zonk on the P.K.E. Meter from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghosts R Us".
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4, in panel 5, on the far right is the P.K.E. Meter screen when it overloaded at Lewiston Girls Academy in The Real Ghostbusters episode "If I Were a Witch Man".
• Egon has the P.K.E. Meter of 68-R in the lower right side of Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #6.
• A P.K.E. Meter appears on all 3 covers of 35th Anniversary: The Real Ghostbusters.

Appearances

Secondary Canon

IDW Comics

• Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters
  • The Real Ghostbusters version
• Ghostbusters Get Real
  • Issue #1
    • The Real Ghostbusters version
  • Issue #2
    • Extreme Ghostbusters version
  • Issue #3
    • The Real Ghostbusters version
  • Issue #4
    • The Real Ghostbusters version
• Ongoing Series
  • Volume 3
    • Ghostbusters International #4
      • Alluded to by Ray on page 18
    • Ghostbusters International #5
      • The Real Ghostbusters version
    • Ghostbusters International #8
      • The Real Ghostbusters version
    • Ghostbusters International #9
      • The Real Ghostbusters version
• Ghostbusters Annual 2017
  • Ghostbusters 101 Prelude
    • The Real Ghostbusters version
  • Answering The Call
    • The Real Ghostbusters version
• Ghostbusters 101
  • Issue #2
• Ghostbusters Annual 2018
  • Both versions
• Ghostbusters Crossing Over
  • Issue #4
    • Both versions
  • Issue #5
    • Both versions
  • Issue #6
    • 68-R only
  • Issue #7
    • Both versions
  • Issue #8
    • 68-R only.
• Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary: The Real Ghostbusters
  • 68-R only.
• Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary: Extreme Ghostbusters
  • 68-E only.

Gallery

The Real Ghostbusters Pilot Design

A collage of images of the Pilot Version PKE Meter.

The Real Ghostbusters Design

Specifications seen in "Robo-Buster"

Retracted

The P.K.E. Meter in the episode Ghosts R Us

Reading of Slug, Snarg, and Zonk

Reading of Slug, Snarg, and Zonk

Reading of Zonk

The P.K.E. Meter breaks while reading the Toy Ghost

Egon studies live readings from biproducts of dreams and nightmares in "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream"

Briefly detects Sleeping ghost in "Take Two"

Adjusting dial

"We have activity" seen in "Killerwatt"

Overloaded by ecto surge in "You Can't Take it With You".

The P.K.E. Meter being hung by the Key Fob.

Side view of P.K.E. Meter.

Topside view of P.K.E. Meter.

Detecting Hob Anagarak in block of black ice in "Cold Cash and Hot Water" .

After detecting Hob Anagarak in block of black ice in "Cold Cash and Hot Water".

As seen in "Ghost Fight at the O.K. Corral"

Winston's detects an Earp in "Ghost Fight at the O.K. Corral"

As seen in "Buster the Ghost".

The P.K.E. Meter before use. As seen in "Camping it Up".

The P.K.E. Meter connected to a cord that goes to a grey box. As seen in "Camping it Up".

The P.K.E. Meter connected to a cord that goes to a grey box. As seen in "Camping it Up".

The P.K.E. Meter connected to a cord that goes to a grey box. As seen in "Camping it Up".

Adjusting P.K.E. Meter in "Transylvanian Homesick Blues"

As seen in "Transylvanian Homesick Blues"

As seen in "Transylvanian Homesick Blues"

As seen in "Transylvanian Homesick Blues"

As seen in "Robo-Buster"

Overloaded at ruins near Lewiston Girls Academy

As seen in "The Halloween Door"

Simulation of melded human dying seen in "Spacebusters"

As seen in "The Treasure of Sierra Tamale"

As seen in Slimer! episode "Don't Tease the Sleaze"

P.K.E. Meter's pick up paranormal activity on Extreme Ghostbusters in "Darkness at Noon, Part 1"

Back of Meter seen in "Darkness at Noon, Part 1"

Egon uses Meter in "Darkness at Noon, Part 2"

Egon instructs Extreme Ghostbusters in "Darkness at Noon, Part 2"

Kylie uses P.K.E. Meter for first time in "Darkness at Noon, Part 2"

The Real Ghostbusters Secondary Canon

Non-Canon Cameo in Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Non-Canon Cameo in Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Model of The Real Ghostbusters design seen on table in Firehouse basement in Ghostbusters: The Video Game

As seen in Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters

As seen in Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters

As seen in Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters

As seen in Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2

Non-Canon Cameo on Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #16 Sub Cover

As seen in Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #1

As seen in Get Real Issue #1

As seen in Get Real Issue #1

As seen on Get Real Issue #3 Regular Cover

As seen in Ghostbusters International #5

As seen in Ghostbusters International #5

As seen in Ghostbusters Annual 2017 "Ghostbusters 101 Prelude"

As seen in Ghostbusters Annual 2018

Non-canon reference seen in Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4

Non-canon reference seen in Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4

Non-canon reference seen in Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4

Non-canon reference seen in Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #4

The Real Ghostbusters Non Canon

As seen in storyboard page 23 of "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood"

Extreme Ghostbusters Design

The P.K.E. Meter as seen on Extreme Ghostbusters in "Be Careful What You Wish For"

No activity seen in "Be Careful What You Wish For"

P.K.E. reading taken in "Fear Itself

In Extreme Ghostbusters Intro

In Extreme Ghostbusters Intro, of body

In Extreme Ghostbusters Intro, of antennae

Backside of P.K.E. Meter in "Deadliners"

As seen in "The Infernal Machine"

Worn on Belt in "The Infernal Machine"

Inside back panel in "The Ghostmakers"

Extended cord to check vitals seen in "Moby Ghost"

As seen in "Moby Ghost"

Picking up readings of Radioactive Ghost in "Fallout"

Picking up readings off the scale in "Dog Days"

Extreme Ghostbusters Design Collages

As seen in Intro

Extreme Ghostbusters Secondary Canon

As seen in Ghostbusters Volume 1, Issue #11

As seen on Ghostbusters Volume 2, Issue #1 Cover C

As seen in Ghostbusters Volume 2, Issue #3

As seen in Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #16

As seen in Ghostbusters Get Real Issue #2

As seen in Get Real Issue #2

As seen in Ghostbusters Annual 2018

As seen in Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary: Extreme Ghostbusters