Tools of a Ghost Hunter

Ghost hunting has far advanced from the old days of teenagers clambering through the rotted remnants of a decrepit, abandoned homestead in search of the scary. Ghost hunting has instead evolved to become a viable trade and even a newly recognized science. Even though the following list is not a comprehensive one, it does encompass some of the most commonly used equipment today's ghost hunters use.


GHOST METER / EMF METER, $25 -
EMF Detectors pick up electronic fields at a variety of frequencies. Typically where there are ghosts, there are disruptions in the electronic magnetic field, alerting hunters to the possible presence of a spirit.


MOTION DETECTOR, ($18.00 - $150.00+)
The discrepancy in price depends on the possible add-ons. A passive motion detector is cheapest and designed for a vacant room setting only. More expensive models can include a combination of digital camera, infrared (IR) lighting and pyroelectric ("passive") infrared (PIR) sensor. The latter takes infrared digital photos of anything that trips the motion sensor. Motion sensors can also catch moving objects pushed by an unseen force.


AIR ION COUNTER, Approximately $369
These useful instruments measure the natural balance of positive and negative ions in the air. A ghostly presence creates higher amounts of positive ions as spirits give off higher amounts of electromagnetic discharges.


INFRARED THERMAL SCANNER: $2000+
Scanners allow us to see changes in temperature even across a room or outside area. Although expensive, these thermal scanners are the most sought after pieces of ghost hunting equipment. They add great credibility to any investigation and allow ghost hunters to actually "see" heat images.


WIND CHIMES: $5:00 - 10.00
Wind chimes are an inexpensive and thrilling way to experience paranormal phenomena as many spirits will tinkle the chimes when present. It's advisable to go light-weight and paint the chimes with glow-in-the-dark paint for added thrill.


DOWSING RODS, Around $10.00
Dowsing rods work for most people and can be used to indicate the presence and directional force of paranormal energy as well as communicating (i.e., "dialoging") with spirits.





BAROMETERS, $15.00 and up
Ghosts may cause a localized drop in atmospheric pressure.


THERMOMETERS, $18.00 - 80.00
A good, digital thermometer detects changes in air temperature -- a good tool as cooler temperatures (i.e., cold spots) develop when a ghostly spectre is present.


NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, $31.00 - 200.00
Night vision scopes can be attached to cameras and video recorders so individuals can see and shoot photographs in near total darkness.


DIGITAL CAMERA
It’s all about the megapixles! The higher the resolution, the better zoom capability on your photos.


DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER, $35 - 55.
Quality is important to obtain excellent sound quality. A static-free, external shotgun microphone allows a good DVR to also function as a digital audio recorder. An external mic is highly recommended as mics built into many handheld units are unable to capture the wider range of frequencies. The DVR USB port allows audio files to be downloaded directly to a computer for analysis.





DIGITAL IMAGE EDITING PROGRAM:
Programs such as Photoshop can adjust contrast, shadows, highlights or colors to find elements in a photograph previously unseen or noticed.


Ghost Hunters of Asheville is the only city's paranormal tour company that uses equipment (currently EMF meters and dowsing rods).


Resources:
Shadowlands Ghost Hunter Store
The Ghost Stop
www.ghost-hunter-equipment.com