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Vibration Pod

July 23rd, 2020

Vibration Pod

This is used to detect small vibrations on 3 axis and the led lights show where this vibration has been detected from the lights on the top of the unit. At first this is quite difficult to read and understand but after a few goes at testing this in a known environment (we used a busy road with lots of lorries going past) then it is really easy to understand and it is remarkably interesting how vibration and noise can affect these devices.

This is similar to a Geophone, but where a geophone only turns noise into a light form so that you can see the noise, this turn vibrations into lights so if something is vibrating predominantly on the right then more lights will be light on the right on the pod.

The stronger the vibration the more lights light up to show the strength of the vibration and the direction using a simple and familiar blue, green and red.

Like many tools for the paranormal industry this is a purpose-built device, but other factors may influence the usage and any movement however small is likely to disrupt this device.

The size of this unit is perfect to include with our vast amounts of kit as it compliments many other sensory tools which we use to rule out or account for environmental factors in our investigations.

The full size Vibe Pod pre-2014 has been discontinued but you can purchase a smaller new version from Pro-Measure and these are built to order for $150
You may also find the original versions for sale on Amazon or eBay

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Hearing Enhancer

July 21st, 2020

Hearing Enhancer

These are commonly used for those who have hearing problems to listen to television at home or for hunters to hear animals. When these devices were first developed no-one had envisaged that they could be useful in the paranormal sector. In fact, few people knew that spirits and ghostly phenomena is generally a few decibels lower that human speech. Often EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) must be enhanced so that we can hear the response.

Using these listening devices enables the wearer to hear conversations several meters away, whispers and other quiet noises that would be missed without their use.

A disadvantage is that someone who is not aware that people are wearing these can make loud noises which can be deafening! The other disadvantage is that these are directional, which means you must point the device in the direction you want to hear or enhance otherwise you will not hear anything at all. Another problem is that because whispers can be heard as loudly as someone standing next to the wearer voices and other noises can be easily misinterpreted.

We have used these in all manner of places and sometimes have heard things which we would not have if we were not using these enhancers. In some large venues or those that are very quiet these devices have been very useful as two people standing tens of meters away from each other can have a conversation without the need for two way radios and conduct individual EVP experiments without disturbing the other person.

Whilst these items were once popular with ghost hunters, they aren’t anymore, this is due to their limited use, the size of the device and now it is possible to get better audio recording devices and microphones which can record at very low decibels. These can still be found occasionally on Amazon or eBay for about £30

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Full Spectrum Camera

July 21st, 2020

Full Spectrum Camera


A Full Spectrum Camera takes photos using Infrared lights as well as Ultraviolet lights and visible light. Therefore, this covers the full spectrum of light. Admittedly we cannot see the full wavelengths of Infrared and Ultraviolet although a camera can capture objects that we cannot see.

The science behind it is that if a room is lit with infrared and ultraviolet lights, we may be able to record spirit energies. However, the power needed for all these lights limits the range of the camera, as portable infrared light shines about 3m (9 feet) with clarity, ultraviolet light shines a little less. That said, you never know when or what you may capture as we have found out on numerous occasions.

The biggest limitation is obviously the lights and the power to them, rechargeable batteries is a must, but they never last as long as needed!

Over the years we have photographed some amazing anomalies which defy science and the limitations of the cameras. These cameras are modified versions of normal cameras. It is worth the extra money to get a professional to convert the sensor as any wrong move could damage the sensor irreparably.

It is possible now to get 4K video full spectrum cameras as well as still cameras and most cameras don’t cost that much, a basic one would cost about £100, see Infraready as they have the biggest selection of cameras available in the UK. There are also many cameras available on Amazon and eBay.

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REM Pod

July 16th, 2020

REM POD

A REM Pod uses a mini telescopic antenna to radiate its own independent magnetic field around the instrument. This EM field can be easily influenced by materials and objects that conduct electricity. Based on source proximity, strength and EM field distortion four colourful LED lights can be activated in any order or combination. The Pod also emits audible tones correlating to the disturbance.

A REM Pod can also be used as a proximity device as the closer the disturbance to the pod the more lights are lit.
As with other devices that measure or detect EMF (Electromagnetic fields) the pod can pick up mains electricity sources, mobile phone signals, hearing aid loops and wifi signals.

REM pods are very useful on investigations as they provide a simple and easy method to determine if there is a spirit interacting with the device. Simple questions can be asked, and answers can be interpreted by using these devices. Many American TV shows use these, the first being Ghost Adventures.

The new versions of the REM POD has temperature detection built in.
As with most of the paranormal equipment we use it has been purchased from the USA, Ghost Stop has these, priced at $190 but you may find the odd ones for sale on Amazon or eBay.

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EDI Meter

July 16th, 2020

EDI Meter

An EDI Meter combines several meters into one device. It has a thermometer, an EMF meter and a Geophone. There is nothing remarkable about this device, but it does cut down on the amount of kit (and batteries!) that need to be brought on an investigation. It saves have three separate devices to measure the three elements. An EDI is quite a large device, certainly not designed to be in the pocket but this is not the purpose of the device. It should be placed on a table or in a part of the room or space being investigated so that it can be seen periodically. It can be useful to know if the temperature has increased or decreased as well as a spike in EMF energy at the moment that someone in the room heard/saw/felt something or if other meters detect a change.

Like all EMF meters, they are prone to other devices like mobile phones, hearing aid loops and electricity and will pick up these signals with ease. The built in Geophone is very useful as this converts noise into a visual display, so if this lights up when placed in a quiet area or in a locked off room then this would be an excellent device to see the noise if it was inaudible at the time.

We like the EDI because of the compact nature of the device, the build quality is excellent as well as the rugged look and it combines several meters in one device. The new model has a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor and a data logger which for paranormal investigations make this useful to download the data.

This is a purpose-built device for the paranormal and is only available from the US, Ghost Stop is an authorised seller and the cost is $200

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CCTV System

July 14th, 2020

CCTV System


There are three main types of CCTV systems; wired and main powered, wireless and mains powered and battery operated and wireless. We have two of these; wired and wireless but main powered. The wired system is powered from a central hub and all the cameras are connected to this hub, cables can be connected together for a maximum distance of 250m without any loss of quality. The wireless system, the cameras are connected to mains electricity but wirelessly connected to the hub. At the hub (no matter which system is used) the screen of all cameras can be projected or shown on multiple displays.

The biggest problem is the time taken to set up these cameras, wired systems are better and have a better quality but it takes a couple of hours to get everything connected and making sure the cabling is safe. Wireless systems are quicker, but the signal can be interrupted by wifi and other radio-based systems.

However once set up, any cctv system is especially useful for guests to watch what is happening in areas that are either inaccessible or where people do not want to go (e.g. cellars/basements)

Some of the venues that we investigate we have used CCTV systems for many years and know exactly where to put the cameras to get the best quality, the whole setup for a 4 camera wireless system can be achieved in less than 30 minutes. A wired system for the same venue can still take 1.5hrs.

One of the other problems with a CCTV system is the amount of video that is recorded. If we have a 4-camera set up, and we have an event for 6 hours, that is a total of 24 hours of video. If there is no moment that we must watch, someone must watch all the video in real time to see if anything interesting has been recorded. This is a very time-consuming job.

We like these systems though as they add an extra dimension to the event. In the breaks people can watch what is happening in rooms and spaces where no-one is, or where someone has just left the room. Later in the evening guests particularly like to watch other people experiencing the different rooms and the activity that they encounter which can be entertaining!

You can buy a wireless 4 camera cctv system for about £150 – £180 or a wired system of 8 cameras from £300 on Amazon or eBay. However you may get a better deal from a cctv specialist like Spy Camera CCTV

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Voice Recorder

July 14th, 2020

Voice Recorder

These simple voice recorders are used to record questions asked by us to spirit in the hope that we record an answer. This would be known as an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena). Since spirit voices can be quiet it is imperative when asking the questions to be as quiet as possible. When we analyse the audio recording, we can hear if there is a spirit response (although we may not clearly understand the words at first).
Often the spirit voice is quiet or at least lower than our own voices and we must listen for the tell-tale signs. On a computer using certain software it is possible to see the waveform of a spirit voice. Oddly or helpfully every spirit voice starts the same way when looking at the waveform, no matter what the response to the question is.

Since most spirit voices can be quiet (some are loud) we must remind people to be quiet, no talking or whispering as this could be mistaken for a spirit voice. No movement as clothing makes a noise, especially winter jackets. Plus, all mobile phones to be switched off as our audio equipment will pick up the carrier signals for incoming sms text or phone calls.

It is also important after asking a question to leave a silence period, so that spirit have the time to answer. We usually tell people to be silent for 5-10 seconds after asking a question.
It can be fulfilling to have an answer to a question you asked to spirit. It does not happen all the time, but with practise it is possible to have quality answers. Obviously, the questions need to be specific to the venue or location or the spirit. We often tell people to ask the sort of question you would answer if someone asked you that question. E.g. What’s your name? Did/do you work/live here?

If you have a rapport with a spirit (and have listened back to some recordings and know that you have some responses, even though you may not know what is said until after the investigation), you can ask more detailed questions or more personal questions. The idea through EVP is to be able to gather tangible evidence that could potentially be looked up or is known. One of our favourite questions is to ask spirit; how many people are in this room? Or how many can you see? Quite often we have had the right answer spoken back to us.

The simple Olympus ones that we use VN2100PC and VN3100PC are readily available on Amazon & eBay and can be picked up for about £15 each. You can get more expensive recorders including Tascam recorders, but the results are much the same.

You could probably use an old tape-based system, but in the digital age it is a lot easier to transfer a digital recording on a PC.

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Thermal Imaging Camera

July 9th, 2020

Thermal Imaging Camera


A Thermal imaging camera is used by engineers (of many industries) to detect hot or cold spots usually within a building trade environment or rescue services (fire) to find heat sources and crime prevention. In an unusual way you could say that this detects the past (If you place your hand on a table and leave it there for about 30 seconds, then remove it. Point the thermal camera where you had your hand and you will see a clear thermal image of your hand). In the paranormal field we hope to record a thermal image of a spirit or a static object that has a heat source acting upon it.


Obviously, there are many reasons why something would be hot or cold and where the ambient temperature is either hot or cold will determine the usefulness of this device. There are also many occasions in the past where we have wished that we had a thermal camera, but the cost of these cameras is a limitation in itself. The user must be careful as many heat sources that have been spotted are the heat signatures of people who had been sitting in a seat or touching a door prior to the thermal camera being in the room. It is extremely easy to assume that something is strange when in fact there is a logical explanation.

We like it because it offers another dimension to our events, we have cameras that the viewer can see in complete darkness (IR cameras) and with this camera they can now possibly see other elements that our eyes cannot. This camera is also portable and easy to use.

Prices range from a few hundred pounds (in this instance about £400) up to £60000 for the state-of-the-art video thermal cameras. The best place to buy them is a specialist seller like ISSWWW although you can also purchase these at Amazon or eBay but they often are more expensive than going direct to the authorised reseller.

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Traditional

July 9th, 2020

Pendulum, Dowsing Rod & Writing planchette


These are considered the traditional tools of the trade because they have been used for many years to contact and communicate with spirits. They all have other uses too, from finding water and oil (dowsing rod) to healing people (pendulum) to tricking people (writing planchette). The purpose of these tools is to communicate with the spirits using guidelines practised over many years.

Both pendulums and dowsing rods are used for binary questions (i.e. yes/no, left/right, male/female, good/bad) whereas a writing planchette can be used in a similar way to automatic writing; asking the spirit to draw/write something. There are no limitations on what the spirit can do, only their own ability.

On events it is very easy to get “addicted” to the modern devices (KII, Ghost Pro, Ovilus) to get your evidence but there is a better likelihood to get a better answer or a clearer answer using these tools as there is little scope to misinterpret the answer. As with all tools or devices it depends on the questions or how you ask the questions as to the clarity of the answer. We like using these because of that reason. The answers can be personal to the user and the user can feel the answer and know what is right or wrong from how the pendulum or dowsing rod feels. The writing planchette is a little different because its ideal when several people use it at the same time (about 4) with the questioner (the person asking the questions) not touching it.

You can purchase these items from many places including pagan style shops, Rune or Tarot card shops and online at Amazon or eBay. Prices range from £3 – £20 depending on the style and quality of the materials.

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Ouija board

July 7th, 2020

Ouija Board


This is the marmite of the industry. So many people will instantly say “No, not doing one of those” or “My Grandma/Mum told me never to use one” or “I’ll watch”
Most of the time there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. TV and Hollywood have made these boards out to be a dangerous device. Many people ask, “Are they dangerous?” Our answer is “Is a gun dangerous?” and the answer to that question is “Depends who’s holding it”. Like any tool for any job an untrained person using the tool could possibly hurt themselves and others unknowingly or by accident.

No matter what tool is being used to contact the spirit world, there are dangers and politeness and respect go along way. Using a Ouija board is no different than using a KII meter. It is just another tool we use to contact the spirit world. So long as a Ouija board is used in the proper way and the questions asked are sensible then there is every likelihood the answers will be useful and to the point. We have had some amazing evidence given from a Ouija board, information that we could verify and lookup. This is the point of using a Ouija board, because you have the ability given patience to get a full answer from the spirits. There is no need to guess the answer, you just have to wait for the spirit to answer the question.

Due to the nature of the device and using either a glass or a planchette to get the answer (letter or number) there is always the possibility to misinterpret the answer because either the glass is over two letters or number of the planchette is not pointing directly at the letter/number. However with practise these imperfections can be overcome and the answer to the question can “feel” right or wrong.

Sometimes we have connections to spirits that are very well educated and you know that they will be able to impart their knowledge by using a Ouija board as this gives the best form of quality of evidence. The answer to questions is immediate and with our technology (mobile phones) it is possible to look up information and verify claims quickly. This is quite rare but it does happen from time to time and we have had answers to what seemed to be impossible questions answered via a Ouija board.

Ouija boards come in all sizes and shapes and we have a number of different boards and a Ouija table. There is no best or perfect board, however we do like the board designed by Lisa Parker Nemesis Now. These have a grippy surface to the board and the planchette so that it makes it difficult for someone to push the planchette. They are reasonably priced at about £15-20 including postage and are 38cm square in design. There are several places that you can buy Ouija boards including from Amazon or eBay.

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