| Equipment |
PERMISSION
First off Permission to go wherever it is you want to go. I myself haven’
t had very uncomfortable run-ins with owners of property yet, but believe
me - they consider it less than valid that you are trespassing to "look
for ghosts". No one wants to end up in jail, ripped to shreds by a guard
dog, or shot, for Goodness sake...
ID
An ID is always a nice idea, in case you happen to become acquainted with
a police officer at some point...
PARTNER
A companion. In case you need help, of course. And who going to believe
some ya-hoo who says he/she saw a ghost in the cemetery at 2 AM, by
themselves.
FLASHLIGHT
A flashlight with spare batteries. You need to see. Ghosthunters say that
their batteries always go dead on expeditions. Bring some for any
equipment you have, as well batteries that is, not flash lights for your
equipment Go ahead. Laugh all you want. You wont after you need one and
don't have one. You never know how many people are going with you and who
will be afraid of the dark. LED flashlights are the best. They last a
long time under battery power and the light is much cleaner and brighter
in a general area. Better than one bright center and darker outer edges..
CANDLE
Some people bring a candle, in case all of their batteries fail and they
want to test out any possible drafts in an area. Plus it lends that
spooky Vincent Price touch to an evening. But don't burn anything down.
BASE AREA
Establish a base area nearby to put all of your excess junk. The less
noise you make in your travels, the better. It's best to examine the
places you will go during the day first if you are planning a night visit.
LOGBOOK
It is wise to keep a log book of what you hear, see, smell, whatever. So
should your companion.
ZIPLOCK BAGS
Zip lock bags are handy to store any evidence you find, like little witch
dolls made from a former friend's shirt, teeth and hair etc, just kidding
had to be funny.
CHALK
Chalk can be used to draw circles around any objects that you are
monitoring for movement also items you can‘t focus a video recorder
around. For instance, if you are investigating a possessed superman doll,
draw a circle around it to see if it moved while you weren't looking...
Also use it to mark your way back if you're in a large building with no
lights.
DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT
Don't drink booze or imbibe in any chemical revelry during or before your
ghost hunting trip if you want to be considered serious in your pursuits.
You shouldn't develop your own film, as people will think you are full of
crap if anything does show up. Take it to Target, like everyone else.
Compass
A primitive way to detect fluctuations in EMF, as well as a very handy
tool to keep you from getting caught in a "Blair Witch Project" situation.
Digital Video Camera
Video cameras can be a useful investigation tool. Unlike still cameras, a
video camera will document any activity in its entirety including the
length of time the phenomena occurs, the surrounding conditions, as well
as the phenomena itself. A tripod to rest the video camera on is also
helpful, especially if it is going to be left in a stationary position to
record the activity in a specific location.
Camera and Film and Memory Cards
Paranormal investigators recommend a very cheap 35 mm camera using 400
speed film, because it gives the most "raw" exposure... Apparently
cameras that utilize newer technology don't work as well. A disposable
camera is one of the cheapest and best alternatives. Polaroid instant
cameras are said to take interesting images as well, and give immediate
results. I myself believe the Digital Era is my accurate and prefer to
use one over a 35mm but bringing one just in case and snapping off some
shots to see what you get is still a good idea We use mainly digital
cameras and we have memory cards out the kazooo for insurance not to run
out of memory while on a shoot. After taking well over 100 pics minimun
We then later go through and check for phenomenon (Do Do Da Do do Do Do
Da do) <--inside joke sorry. It has a viewer on the back to check for
anomalies. If there is something noticeable, we break out the 35 MM and
shoot from the same direction or the night vision digicam.
Tape/Digital Recorder
Many paranormal investigators feel this is an essential for any trip.they
are used to capture anomalous audio, including voices and sounds that may
be interpreted as EVP, which some theorize are attempts at communication
by paranormal entities. Digital Recorders are great in my opinion but if
you decide to use a regular tape recorder you should use a brand new tape
with each excursion. Listen closely afterward for any bizarre noises or
sounds you might have picked up. There are many websites that feature
noises that sound like voices that were recorded in empty, silent rooms
during paranormal investigations.
EMF Meters
Many paranormal investigators feel that fluctuations in magnetic fields
occur when a ghost or supernatural being is near. The EMF meter gauges
these fluctuations. It can read through physical barriers, like walls. Be
aware, however, that these same fields are given off by many electronic
devices, including: electrical wiring, fuse boxes, power lines (buried or
elevated), fluorescent lights, (to a lesser extent incandescent lights),
cell phones, and any electrical appliance or device while it is running
(including TV's, refrigerators, fans, clocks, and anything else that
needs plugged in). Ground that has a high iron content can cause false
readings. Also, the meter has to be held in a steady position to read
properly. If moved around too much, it can give false readings.
Jumps in the readings of EMF are said to be a positive indicator on a
ghost investigation. Ideally, any of the poor conditions stated above
will be eliminated in an investigation. If that is impossible (i.e., you
are investigating near a power line), baseline readings must be taken to
account for already elevated EMF fields.
Some investigators say that you can actually track movement of an
elevated EMF field through an area where strange activity has been
reported - through houses from one floor to the next, and so on.
Motion Detector (working on getting some)
For obvious reasons: to detect motion. If you want to go the really cheap
route, Baby powder or flour can be sprinkled down to pick up move along
with the chalk circle again.
Night Vision Apparatus
So you don't fall into an open grave at midnight in North Carolina or
anywhere else... and to see more than 10 feet ahead of you.
Infrared Thermometer
Quicker than mercury, more reliable than an electronic thermometer. Use
this to read temperature fluctuations, as "cold spots" are a common
finding during an investigation..
2 way radios
2 way radios are a good thing to have. They have ranges up to 2 miles and
are good to keep in touch with in case you are working in different
locations at a site. It's also a good thing to have to tell your partners
that we have come across something and we should investigate at the same
location for a comparison of photos and evidence. It's just plain safe to
have these around.
First Aid Kit
A First Aid kit is a must have. We never know what we will walk into,
brush up against, get cut on.....etc. Some investigations take place at
night and we really cannot see very well. It's a good idea to be safe
than sorry.
Batteries
Have a few back ups in the vehicle or at base DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU!
Spirits or ghosts love to drain batteries. Keep them in a safe zone away
from the investigation. If need to, go back and change batteries rather
than running to Target to get fresh ones. Nothing can be more annoying
only to find things have stopped happening while at Target even though
it's a great store.
CORDS
Power supply cords are never around when you need them. Buy a few cheap
extras and keep them hidden. Never know just when they'll come in handy.
LAPTOP
laptop we take with on investigations. We use it for many reasons. To
document forms instead of writing everything out., We also use it to
download evp recordings and photos from the equipment to free up memory
in the other devices.
EXTERNAL CDRW
external CDRW allows us to take the laptop into the field and unload our
photo and video memory cards into the computer to be burned to disk for
storage and review at a later time. It also allows us to carry the data
to other computers. We can record up to 70 minutes of digital quality
audio in one recording of EVP's with no interuptions, case popping or
tape hiss during investigations.
OSCILLOSCOPE
Oscilloscope gives us the ability to measure electromagnetic wavelengths
in various experiments and on investigations where our tools don't seem
to work. There are many attachments that allow us to measure frequencies,
in the air and in humans. We are working on fixing it to its full
operating capacity. We look forward to recording audio and video
frequencies with this unit, as well as other things.
CARRYING CASE
Need to keep all this equipment you have safe, nough said.
Geiger counter (In process of getting a new one)
used to measure fluctuations in radiation which some believe will point
to a disturbance in spirit energy
THERMAL IMAGER (Looking into getting one, maybe)
Thermal imaging cameras, developed for the medical and manufacturing
fields, record and display images of objects based on their heat output,
as opposed to their ability to reflect light. Using a false-color imaging
template, colder areas show up as darker colors and warm areas as lighter
colors, registering temperature variations as small as one degree
Fahrenheit.
Investigators first used thermal cameras in haunted houses to record the
anomalous cold spots that they often encountered. An unexpected
development has been the detection and filming of unexplained hot spots,
both stationary (on a structural surface) and freefloating. As with EMF
and ionizing radiation fields, these hot spots often correspond with the
exact location a psychic will see or sense an apparition.
It's a nice gesture to tell your ghosts a fond "Thank You" when you're
done.
First off Permission to go wherever it is you want to go. I myself haven’
t had very uncomfortable run-ins with owners of property yet, but believe
me - they consider it less than valid that you are trespassing to "look
for ghosts". No one wants to end up in jail, ripped to shreds by a guard
dog, or shot, for Goodness sake...
ID
An ID is always a nice idea, in case you happen to become acquainted with
a police officer at some point...
PARTNER
A companion. In case you need help, of course. And who going to believe
some ya-hoo who says he/she saw a ghost in the cemetery at 2 AM, by
themselves.
FLASHLIGHT
A flashlight with spare batteries. You need to see. Ghosthunters say that
their batteries always go dead on expeditions. Bring some for any
equipment you have, as well batteries that is, not flash lights for your
equipment Go ahead. Laugh all you want. You wont after you need one and
don't have one. You never know how many people are going with you and who
will be afraid of the dark. LED flashlights are the best. They last a
long time under battery power and the light is much cleaner and brighter
in a general area. Better than one bright center and darker outer edges..
CANDLE
Some people bring a candle, in case all of their batteries fail and they
want to test out any possible drafts in an area. Plus it lends that
spooky Vincent Price touch to an evening. But don't burn anything down.
BASE AREA
Establish a base area nearby to put all of your excess junk. The less
noise you make in your travels, the better. It's best to examine the
places you will go during the day first if you are planning a night visit.
LOGBOOK
It is wise to keep a log book of what you hear, see, smell, whatever. So
should your companion.
ZIPLOCK BAGS
Zip lock bags are handy to store any evidence you find, like little witch
dolls made from a former friend's shirt, teeth and hair etc, just kidding
had to be funny.
CHALK
Chalk can be used to draw circles around any objects that you are
monitoring for movement also items you can‘t focus a video recorder
around. For instance, if you are investigating a possessed superman doll,
draw a circle around it to see if it moved while you weren't looking...
Also use it to mark your way back if you're in a large building with no
lights.
DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT
Don't drink booze or imbibe in any chemical revelry during or before your
ghost hunting trip if you want to be considered serious in your pursuits.
You shouldn't develop your own film, as people will think you are full of
crap if anything does show up. Take it to Target, like everyone else.
Compass
A primitive way to detect fluctuations in EMF, as well as a very handy
tool to keep you from getting caught in a "Blair Witch Project" situation.
Digital Video Camera
Video cameras can be a useful investigation tool. Unlike still cameras, a
video camera will document any activity in its entirety including the
length of time the phenomena occurs, the surrounding conditions, as well
as the phenomena itself. A tripod to rest the video camera on is also
helpful, especially if it is going to be left in a stationary position to
record the activity in a specific location.
Camera and Film and Memory Cards
Paranormal investigators recommend a very cheap 35 mm camera using 400
speed film, because it gives the most "raw" exposure... Apparently
cameras that utilize newer technology don't work as well. A disposable
camera is one of the cheapest and best alternatives. Polaroid instant
cameras are said to take interesting images as well, and give immediate
results. I myself believe the Digital Era is my accurate and prefer to
use one over a 35mm but bringing one just in case and snapping off some
shots to see what you get is still a good idea We use mainly digital
cameras and we have memory cards out the kazooo for insurance not to run
out of memory while on a shoot. After taking well over 100 pics minimun
We then later go through and check for phenomenon (Do Do Da Do do Do Do
Da do) <--inside joke sorry. It has a viewer on the back to check for
anomalies. If there is something noticeable, we break out the 35 MM and
shoot from the same direction or the night vision digicam.
Tape/Digital Recorder
Many paranormal investigators feel this is an essential for any trip.they
are used to capture anomalous audio, including voices and sounds that may
be interpreted as EVP, which some theorize are attempts at communication
by paranormal entities. Digital Recorders are great in my opinion but if
you decide to use a regular tape recorder you should use a brand new tape
with each excursion. Listen closely afterward for any bizarre noises or
sounds you might have picked up. There are many websites that feature
noises that sound like voices that were recorded in empty, silent rooms
during paranormal investigations.
EMF Meters
Many paranormal investigators feel that fluctuations in magnetic fields
occur when a ghost or supernatural being is near. The EMF meter gauges
these fluctuations. It can read through physical barriers, like walls. Be
aware, however, that these same fields are given off by many electronic
devices, including: electrical wiring, fuse boxes, power lines (buried or
elevated), fluorescent lights, (to a lesser extent incandescent lights),
cell phones, and any electrical appliance or device while it is running
(including TV's, refrigerators, fans, clocks, and anything else that
needs plugged in). Ground that has a high iron content can cause false
readings. Also, the meter has to be held in a steady position to read
properly. If moved around too much, it can give false readings.
Jumps in the readings of EMF are said to be a positive indicator on a
ghost investigation. Ideally, any of the poor conditions stated above
will be eliminated in an investigation. If that is impossible (i.e., you
are investigating near a power line), baseline readings must be taken to
account for already elevated EMF fields.
Some investigators say that you can actually track movement of an
elevated EMF field through an area where strange activity has been
reported - through houses from one floor to the next, and so on.
Motion Detector (working on getting some)
For obvious reasons: to detect motion. If you want to go the really cheap
route, Baby powder or flour can be sprinkled down to pick up move along
with the chalk circle again.
Night Vision Apparatus
So you don't fall into an open grave at midnight in North Carolina or
anywhere else... and to see more than 10 feet ahead of you.
Infrared Thermometer
Quicker than mercury, more reliable than an electronic thermometer. Use
this to read temperature fluctuations, as "cold spots" are a common
finding during an investigation..
2 way radios
2 way radios are a good thing to have. They have ranges up to 2 miles and
are good to keep in touch with in case you are working in different
locations at a site. It's also a good thing to have to tell your partners
that we have come across something and we should investigate at the same
location for a comparison of photos and evidence. It's just plain safe to
have these around.
First Aid Kit
A First Aid kit is a must have. We never know what we will walk into,
brush up against, get cut on.....etc. Some investigations take place at
night and we really cannot see very well. It's a good idea to be safe
than sorry.
Batteries
Have a few back ups in the vehicle or at base DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU!
Spirits or ghosts love to drain batteries. Keep them in a safe zone away
from the investigation. If need to, go back and change batteries rather
than running to Target to get fresh ones. Nothing can be more annoying
only to find things have stopped happening while at Target even though
it's a great store.
CORDS
Power supply cords are never around when you need them. Buy a few cheap
extras and keep them hidden. Never know just when they'll come in handy.
LAPTOP
laptop we take with on investigations. We use it for many reasons. To
document forms instead of writing everything out., We also use it to
download evp recordings and photos from the equipment to free up memory
in the other devices.
EXTERNAL CDRW
external CDRW allows us to take the laptop into the field and unload our
photo and video memory cards into the computer to be burned to disk for
storage and review at a later time. It also allows us to carry the data
to other computers. We can record up to 70 minutes of digital quality
audio in one recording of EVP's with no interuptions, case popping or
tape hiss during investigations.
OSCILLOSCOPE
Oscilloscope gives us the ability to measure electromagnetic wavelengths
in various experiments and on investigations where our tools don't seem
to work. There are many attachments that allow us to measure frequencies,
in the air and in humans. We are working on fixing it to its full
operating capacity. We look forward to recording audio and video
frequencies with this unit, as well as other things.
CARRYING CASE
Need to keep all this equipment you have safe, nough said.
Geiger counter (In process of getting a new one)
used to measure fluctuations in radiation which some believe will point
to a disturbance in spirit energy
THERMAL IMAGER (Looking into getting one, maybe)
Thermal imaging cameras, developed for the medical and manufacturing
fields, record and display images of objects based on their heat output,
as opposed to their ability to reflect light. Using a false-color imaging
template, colder areas show up as darker colors and warm areas as lighter
colors, registering temperature variations as small as one degree
Fahrenheit.
Investigators first used thermal cameras in haunted houses to record the
anomalous cold spots that they often encountered. An unexpected
development has been the detection and filming of unexplained hot spots,
both stationary (on a structural surface) and freefloating. As with EMF
and ionizing radiation fields, these hot spots often correspond with the
exact location a psychic will see or sense an apparition.
It's a nice gesture to tell your ghosts a fond "Thank You" when you're
done.
Whatever you use or whatever you decide, below is just a list of suggestions and some of what we
use, and no we don't have all the fun stuff listed below.... but if you wanna donate something to else
we're all open arms... Items in RED our items we currently have or things we do. This list will be
updated weekly as i'm sure i have forgotten somethings....and if you know of something i've left out
drop me an email and let me know...
use, and no we don't have all the fun stuff listed below.... but if you wanna donate something to else
we're all open arms... Items in RED our items we currently have or things we do. This list will be
updated weekly as i'm sure i have forgotten somethings....and if you know of something i've left out
drop me an email and let me know...
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