Equipment

 

 

This is some of the basic equipment used in ghost research. Some groups go beyond this with very costly detectors and cameras but on our budget, this list of equipment works just fine.

 

Thermal Scanner:

 

This is used to take temperature readings. It shoots out an infrared beam and takes an accurate reading up to twenty feet away. The best way to use it is when indoors, take readings of the floor, walls, ceiling and at different areas in a room. This gives you an idea of the range of temperatures as a guide to work from. Then while you sweep back and forth scanning a room and you get an abnormal reading, that's when you will want to take some pictures.

When outdoors like in a cemetery, take readings of the grass, grave markers, trees and anything else that will come across the path of the beam. That will be your guide to work from. If you point the beam up in the air at nothing, you will get sudden drops in temperature and they can go below zero. This is due to the beam not being in contact with a surface and it wont give a proper reading.

Once you have established a basic temperature of your surroundings, any changes in temperature either up or down could be paranormal activity.

 

Tape Recorder:

 

I use mini cassette recorders. They are compact and easy to carry in your pocket. I recommend using an external mic so you don't record the internal sounds of the motor in the recorder. I also take two recorders so if one malfunctions, you still have a back up. Also its good to have more than one so you can see if your EVP recordings show up the same on both tapes. This rules out the possibility of defects in the tape being mistaken for ghost voices.

 

Camcorder with Nightvision:

 

I use a Sony Nightshot that has built in infrared night vision. With the built in illuminator, you can see in total darkness for up to fifteen feet. If you buy the external illuminator, this increases the field of vision up to one hundred feet in total darkness. These cameras seem to show the orbs flying through the air. I plug it into a small monitor so everyone can see what I see through the viewer.

 

Cameras:

I use both a digital camera and a regular 35mm point and shoot. I have found that both types of cameras capture paranormal images but its sure a lot cheaper to download pictures from the digital camera than to pay to have all the rolls of film developed. There is a lot of controversy regarding digital cameras and ghost orbs but if you use common ghost photography protocol, you wont have any problems determining the orbs as real or mistakes.

 

Two Way Radios:

These come in handy when you are investigating a large location and you need to communicate with each other from different areas. I also use head sets so I don't have to keep switching hands and equipment to talk. Its also a good feeling to be able to check on your friends and know they are all right when you can't see them.

Motion Detectors:

These work well to monitor movement an a room or a hallway where ghostly activity is reported. They are inexpensive and easy to operate. Set them up and if they go off, start snapping pictures. Yes, even ghosts set these off.

 

Electromagnetic Field Detector:

Another valuable tool for ghost hunting. It is thought that ghosts live in the electromagnetic spectrum of our world. They use energy to grow and transform themselves. These devices monitor the energy in the general atmosphere of the location. They will let you know of any change in the magnetic field which suggests that there may be a ghost present.

 

You will use a lot of other necessities like flashlights, note pads etc. People spend thousands of dollars on equipment and others just a hundred or less. All have the same results in ghost hunting. Orbs, mists and voices captured on tape or film.

You don't need to be a pro to ghost hunt. You just need a sense of adventure.