Digital CameraTHEORY: In theory you will take a random photo, prompted by possible EMF anomalies or temperature changes and you discover something in the image that wasn't at the location at the time.
HOW TO USE: A digital camera can have many different aspects to it. Depending on the camera you buy you can adjust a multitude of settings, from simple focus all the way to image stabilization which will remove image blur caused by motion and is very useful in a paranormal investigation. You will want to take photos at random intervals or when your equipment is showing something may be present in your location. Another good time to take photos is during EVP sessions as it may be able to catch a ghost while its trying to communicate with you.
RANGE: The range of your camera depends on the amount of optical zoom your camera has. Most have 3x-4x optical zoom but we suggest a camera with at least 8x-10x or even 12x optical zoom for best results.
READINGS: When reviewing your photos you should be looking for anything out of the ordinary. You should be careful when reviewing, because many ordinary things can be mistaken for the paranormal. Such as bugs or dust in the air being mistaken for orbs. You should also remain aware of reflective surfaces, such as mirrors or gravestones, when using a flash, they can be mistaken for paranormal evidence.
35mm CameraTHEORY: In theory you will take a random photo, prompted by possible EMF anomalies or temperature changes and you discover something in the image that wasn't at the location at the time.
HOW TO USE: Your camera should be filled with a fresh roll of 400 speed film. 400 speed film has reasonable picture quality while imprinting the image onto the film quick enough to be used effectively at night. You will want to take photos at random intervals or when your equipment is showing something may be present in your location. Another good time to take photos is during EVP sessions as it may be able to catch a ghost while its trying to communicate with you.
RANGE: The range of a 35mm camera depends on the lens you have for it. If you have a telephoto lens you can get multiple times zoom effects. Some cameras come equipped with a telephoto lens but most will need you to add one on.
READINGS: When analyzing photos you have taken with a 35mm camera you have an advantage over a digital camera. The negatives used by a 35mm camera are nearly impossible to fake or change without it being recognized. So if you capture evidence you are much more likely to be believed with the negatives.
THEORY: The audio cassette recorder can be used for picking up and recording Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). EVP's are voices and sounds picked up by a recording device that you didn't hear at the time of making the recording. They are picked up by the recorders microphone and it can be useful to have an external microphone to remove any sounds the device may emit.
HOW TO USE: First make sure you have a brand new tape in the recorder. Then be sure that the recorder is set to record at regular speed. When your ready to start an EVP session, turn on the recorder and wait ten seconds, than stat your name, the time, the date, and your location to "tag" the tape. You should place the recorder down on a sturdy surface to remove any breathing noises and such it may pick up from you. When asking questions you should leave a 20-30 second gap between each question for a possible response. For a list of questions please refer to our EVP page. During the session, if you make any sounds that would come up on the recorder, such as a cough or sneeze, make sure to "tag" it on the tape so during the review its not mistaken for paranormal activity. Once you've finished your EVP session "tag" the ending with the time and that the investigation is complete.
RANGE: You should stay approximately 2-3 feet away from the device during EVP sessions as to not contaminate the evidence.
READINGS: During the analysis of a tape, you are looking for any sounds that were not present during the investigation. This is where effective tagging comes into play. You should try to tag all obvious sounds during a recording as to not mistake them for paranormal activity during the review. If you heard a dripping noise all night coming from the roof you should make a note of it on the tape so its not thought to be paranormal later on.
THEORY: A barometer measures barometric pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure. Its thought that a spirit trying to manifest itself may interfere with this pressure.
HOW TO USE: You want to start by using the barometer to find the base reading of your area. Than during the investigation write down any increases\decreases the meter registers.
RANGE: The range of readings on this meter is from 580mb to 1050mb.
READINGS: Barometers use a unit of measure known as millibars. If the barometric pressure changes 20 or more millibars, it maybe paranormal activity. If the meter reads lower than 980mb it could mean a severe storm is coming towards your location, and if it reads higher than 1005mb it could mean a low pressure system is moving away from you.
THEORY: A thermometer is a very useful tool when hunting ghosts. Its ability to detect thermal fluctuation in an environment allows you the ability to detect one of the most common aspects of a haunting, possible manifestation. It is believed that when a spirit is trying to manifest itself it will absorb ambient energy from the environment making a cold spot that your thermometer can detect. A digital thermometer is not the best to detect this but it will do in a pinch.
HOW TO USE: First thing you want to do is make sure you thermometer is working properly. So take your own temperature and make sure its correct. Once verified, unravel the probe and cord to make sure you get the most accurate readings possible. Than use the probe to get a base reading of the area. During the investigation move the probe slowly around the room making notes of any temperature changes of more than 10 degrees.
RANGE: The range of the cord with the probe is 10 feet. The range from the probe to the active field is 0 to 1 foot.
READINGS: A non-paranormal fluctuation in a given environment is approximately 5-10 degrees. If you get a sudden drop in excess of 10 degrees be sure to make a note of it and you may also want to start taking photographs of the area or start an EVP session, as a drop of that degree can mean a spirit is trying to manifest.
THEORY: A compass uses magnets to detect the electromagnetic field given off by the earth. If another strong magnetic presence, like one from a possible ghost, comes close to the magnet it can make the compass point away from north or begin spinning wildly.
RANGE: The range of the compass is from your location to the magnetic north pole. Any magnetic fields surrounding the location could alter the direction the needle points in.
HOW TO USE: First you must find normal magnetic north, the direction the compass should point naturally. If during your investigation the compass moves away from north, at all, make sure to note this and possibly take pictures of the area.
READINGS: A normal reading is always North. Possible paranormal activity is when the compass is reading the wrong direction or if it begins to spin or show erratic movement.
THEORY: In theory, ghosts give off an electromagnetic field which can be picked up by an EMF meter.
HOW TO USE: The first thing you need to do is get a base reading of your environment. You should walk around slowly scanning the area with your EMF detector trying to gather as much data as possible. Once you've gathered an average reading for the area, you should start checking for any anomalous readings. If the meter jumps unexpectedly try to figure out what could possibly be causing it. If you can't find anything you may want to start taking pictures of the area and\or start an EVP session
RANGE: The unit of measurement for most EMF meters is milligauss or mg. The range on the meter is 0mg to 199.9mg. The range from the meter to the active field is 0 to 8 feet, depending on how strong the electromagnetic field is.
READINGS: A base reading for most locations is between 0.0 mg and 1.5mg. Most paranormal activity is usually found between 1.5mg-8mg, any higher and it usually means there is some kind of outside interference. Paranormal activity is possible with a reading under 1.5mg is the base of your locations is near 0mg. If your base reading is 0mg to .5mg than a spike of 1.4mg comes up you may have paranormal activity.
THEORY: In theory a ghost may give off an electro magnetic field that can be picked up by an EMF meter (electro magnetic field detector).
HOW TO USE:The first thing you need to do is get a base reading of your environment. You should walk around slowly scanning the area with your EMF detector trying to gather as much data as possible. Once you've gathered an average reading for the area, you should start checking for any anomalous readings. If the meter jumps unexpectedly try to figure out what could possibly be causing it. If you can't find anything you may want to start taking pictures of the area and\or start an EVP session.
RANGE: The unit of measurement for most EMF meters is milligauss or mg. The range on the meter is 0mg to 5mg. The range from the meter to the active field is 0 to 6 feet, depending on how strong the electromagnetic field is.
READINGS: A base reading for most locations is between 0.0 mg and 1.5mg. Most paranormal activity is usually found between 1.5mg-8mg, any higher and it usually means there is some kind of outside interference. Paranormal activity is possible with a reading under 1.5mg is the base of your locations is near 0mg. If your base reading is 0mg to .5mg than a spike of 1.4mg comes up you may have paranormal activity. This type of EMF detector only reaches 5mg but it will begin flashing a red light when it enters a field greater than 1.5mg and it is also far less expensive then the other types of EMF detectors.
THEORY: Digital Audio Recorders can be used to pick up EVP's. EVP's are voices and sounds that are picked up by a recording devices that weren't heard at the time of the recording. You can also use an external mic to give your digital audio recording device a better range.
HOW TO USE: It's much more convient to use a digital recorder over an analog recording device. Digital recorders have many more features and have the ability to store much more data than an analog recording devices tape. Its also much easier to review the data on a digital recorder due to the fact you can just download the information directly to your computer and listen to it from there. Also, you can start recording as soon as you start the recorder and record constantly for much longer periods of time using a digital recorder. You should start any recording by "tagging" the tape with your name, the date, the time, and your location. During the investigation make sure to have the recorder on constantly so as not to miss any possible evidence. Once you've finished recording, make sure to tag the ending with the time and that the investigation is over.
RANGE: You should stay approximately 2-3 feet away from the device during EVP sessions as to not contaminate the evidence.
READINGS: Analyzing a digital recorder is much simpler than analyzing an analog tape. You can download the material straight to your computer and use sound analysis software to make the task go a lot quicker. Making sure to effectively tag is also a major priority whether using a digital recorder or analog recording device.
THEORY: In theory this EMF detector allows you to capture EMF readings, but unlike other EMF detectors it may be possible for the K2 meter to allow you to communicate with the dead, by allowing them to light up the LED lights on the top of the device.
HOW TO USE: You must hold down the button on the front of the device for it to work. However, over a long period of time your finger may become tired and this can cause false readings, so you may wish to put a coin in it to keep the button down. Once active you should sweep the area for any anomalous readings. If you find anything out of the ordinary, retrace your path and try to figure out what could be affecting the device. If you don't find a source for the disturbance you can try putting the meter down and allow the possible spirit to try to communicate with you by manipulating the LED lights.
RANGE: The range on this EMF meter is 1mg to 20+mg. The range from the meter to the active field is 0 to 6 feet.
READINGS: As with all EMF detectors, the K2 meter uses the milligauss scale. The K2 meter scales from 0mg up to 20+mg. A normal reading is somewhere between 0mg and 2mg. Anything from about 2mg to 10mg could be a sign of paranormal activity. In the past few years the K2 meter has been added to the paranormal tool box because of its alleged ability to allow you to communicate with an entity. When purchasing a K2 meter you should look to buy a modified K2 meter. This version has been changed from the original version for paranormal research. The reason for the modification is, a regular K2 has the ability to pick up radio and cell phone signals and show them as an anomaly reading, thus making an unmodified version's readings almost impossible to prove as paranormal.
THEORY: A thermometer is a very useful tool when hunting ghosts. Its ability to detect thermal fluctuation in an environment allows you the ability to detect one of the most common aspects of a haunting, possible manifestation. It is believed that when a spirit is trying to manifest itself it will absorb ambient energy from the environment making a cold spot that your thermometer can detect, and an IR thermometer has a much easier time detecting anomaly in a wide area due to its laser detection system.
HOW TO USE: The first thing you need to do is get a base reading of the area. Hold down the trigger and slowly scan the area. Once you have your base, move around your location slowly making sure to take note of any anomalous reading. Its far easier to use an IR thermometer than a probe thermometer in this situation. The IR thermometer uses an infrared beam to detect temperature changes at a distance, making it much more convient and it is less likely to be obstructed by body heat or other local sources than a probe thermometer your holding.
RANGE: Normal range of an IR thermometer is about 100ft. Although the beam can reach greater distances than this, it tends to get a little unreliable past that range.
READINGS: A normal reading is within 5-10 degrees of your base reading. If a fluctuation occurs over 10 degrees it may be possible paranormal activity. At this point you will want to check your EMF detectors for any disturbances or start taking photographs of the area.
Video cameras have proven themselves to be invaluable during paranormal investigations. They have the ability to allow the investigator to review their evidence in real time. As technology has progressed the video camera has been upgraded with many unique recording options. One of the most convient options for ghost hunting included in most cameras today, is night vision. Night vision allows the camera to see in very low light situations where our eyes cannot. Having an IR (infra red) light attached to your camera can increase the effect of night vision without contaminating the investigation. A lot of video cameras also no longer use tapes, thus the evidence is all digital and can be sent directly to your computers hard drive for analysis and storage during the investigation.
Depending on your budget, there are a wide array of 2-way communication devices you can choose from. Ranging from simple hand-held, 1 mile radius walkie-talkies, all the way up to headset models that allow much greater range and ease of use while investigating. Make sure to shop around when purchasing these devises, and get the best option for your group. There are 2 basic bands used by walkie talkies, FRS and GMRS. FRS stands for family radio service, has a range of 1-4miles and can be used without any extra permissions. GMRS stands for general mobil radio service. These have a range of 5miles and up and require permission granted by the FCC to be used. Depending on the band you use, some 2-way communication devises can be used to do something's you may not expect. Because they use radio frequencies to communicate with each other, its possible for these frequencies to manipulate other devises on the same frequency, such as turning a TV on or off, or opening a garage door.
A flashlight is the most important piece of equipment to bring to an investigation. Trying to conduct an investigation in the dark without flashlights is impossible. Every member of your team should always be carrying one for safety reasons as well as making it easier to get readings from your equipment. You can also buy lens for your flashlights that will change the color they emit. Red is the easiest color for the human eye to adjust to in the dark and it is our suggestion.
A DVR system is the backbone to any paranormal investigation. Its ability to allow multiple cameras to run simultaneously while recording everything they capture is undoubtedly the greatest asset a ghost hunting group can have. Most DVR systems comes with 4 IR (infra red) cameras and a large hard drive to hold hours of video you'll gather during an investigation. There are 2 main types of cameras used with a system like this. Wired cameras which you have to run wires too and wireless cameras which can be set up without extensive wiring. The wired cameras have a range only limited to the amount of wire you have and they tend to not lose signal, where as the wireless cameras are far easier to set up but occasionally will lose signal and may not have the range necessary for all investigations. The main objective of a DVR system, as with all your equipment, is to help catch proof of paranormal activity, and with its multiple cameras and storage capabilities it gives any investigator the flexibility to document the paranormal.
A thermal imaging camera is the most advanced piece of ghost hunting equipment available. It is also the most expensive and for that reason most ghost hunting organizations do not use it. Its camera allows you to see an area through heat sources. Since most paranormal activity has some kind of temperature anomaly coinciding with it, this camera will allow you to actually see the temperature change. The base colors of a room (the colors that represent ambient temperature) are orange and yellow, so if any hot (red\white) or cold (blue\purple) spots appear on the camera you know there's a possibility there's paranormal activity taking place in that area.
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