Ghost Hunting Equipment

How Much Should I Budget for Ghost Hunting Equipment?

Here’s something most TV shows won’t tell you:

You don’t need ANY ghost hunting equipment.

First, make sure this will be a long-term interest, hobby, or profession.

With experience…

You’ll know what kind of ghost hunting you enjoy.
You’ll know how much you’re willing to budget for equipment (if any).
You’ll have seen others’ equipment, and know what works best where you investigate.

But, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, never invest more money than you can afford to lose.

Expensive Mistakes with Ghost Hunting Equipment

trees and moonlight in haunted setting Expensive ghost hunting tools come with risks.

For example:

– People drop things when they’re startled. In the dark, you might not find what you dropped.

(The problem becomes worse if you drop what you’re carrying, and run away in terror.)

– If you drop a sensitive $5k camera or a $2k heat-sensing device, it can break the same as a $40 camera or a $15 digital thermometer.

If you didn’t buy a replacement warranty, or it doesn’t cover that kind of accident, you may have wasted thousands of dollars.

– Electronic equipment can fail in extremely haunted settings. In fact, unexplained equipment failure can indicate intense paranormal activity.

I think EMF spikes are to blame. Most electrical devices will glitch or fail when exposed to intense magnetic energy. That’s reasonable, unless it’s remarkably well shielded.

If your expensive camera or other device won’t work when you’re ghost hunting, you’ve wasted your money. Worse, it can be difficult to return that equipment if it shows any wear, or if you can’t demonstrate how it fails.

Here’s one of my videos about ghost hunting equipment failing at haunted sites.

Instead, focus on just one aspect of ghost hunting.

For example, if you like ghost photography, invest in photographic equipment.

As a New Ghost Hunter on a Budget…

If I were starting fresh, today, I’d probably spend $100 or less. Maybe far less.

– I’d use the camera in my phone. It’s good enough. I wouldn’t bother with a fancy ($$) after-market lens attachment, either.

For many investigations, that’s all you need.

– I’d use the voice recorder on my phone, or buy an inexpensive one at an office supply store or warehouse. (Make sure the microphone is omni-directional, so it picks up sounds all around you, not just in one direction.)

– I’d buy an inexpensive flashlight with a metal case. I’d make sure the light bulb housing unscrews easily. Then, for fun, I could test yes/no responses when the housing is loosened. (Do I take that seriously? Of course not. There are too many normal – and some odd – explanations, so even correct yes/no answers might not be ghostly.)

– I’d carry good surgical-type masks that protect me from toxins, bacteria, and viruses around me. (This was my recommendation long before Covid. Remember, some ghost hunters have died from exposure to toxic fumes, diseases in rat droppings, etc.)

Since Covid, you’ll find lots of good options. For ghost hunting, I like disposable masks, but be certain they’re actually good. (Many free masks at doctors’ offices are designed to contain germs inside the mask… not keep bad things out. Make sure your mask actually protects you.)

– I’d also add a small, inexpensive first aid kit.

– I’d put all of that in a backpack with several pockets or dividers (to find things in complete darkness).

My own backpack is the basic Amazon one. My cameras, Ovilus, etc., go in the big pocket. Maps, pen & a notebook, small first aid kit, etc., in the next largest. Spare batteries in the outside pocket. And so on.

Don’t spread yourself too thin, in terms of learning or financial investment. Set a firm spending limit and do not exceed that.

It’s easy to get carried away. Keep your ghost hunting expenses low.

Above all, don’t let ghost hunting jeopardize other aspects of your personal, professional, or family life.

When you’re a beginner, see how well you enjoy ghost hunting, before you spend much money.

You’re likely to decide that you don’t need the ghost hunting equipment you’ve seen on TV. In fact, the experience… the ambience, might be what you really seek.

Make Your Own Dowsing Rods

This is from my original Hallowfields’ course about homemade and low-tech ghost hunting equipment: Dowsing Rods for Ghost Hunters.

Here’s how to start working with homemade dowsing rods.

You’ll need two wire coat hangers. They should be thin wire, the inexpensive kind that dry cleaners and laundries use.

Trim each so you’re using a little more than half of the coat hanger. (You’ll discard the part with the hook.)

Here’s the one-minute video.

How to Make Dowsing Rods for Ghost Hunting
Easy directions for making ghost hunting dowsing rods. In this one-minute video, you’ll see how to make free or inexpensive dowsing rods that really work.Yo…

Dowsing Rod Directions

How to Make Dowsing Rods 1.) Use two thin wire coat hangers. (Some people use just one dowsing rod for their investigations. I’ve tried that, and prefer to use two. I think they provide more accuracy and clearer results.)

2.) Cut them so – at the bend – you have one short side (at least 5″ long) and then the long side (the lower part of the coat hanger).

3.) Bend each dowsing rod so each is at a right angle, about a 90-degree angle, not the sharper angle you started with.

4.) Use your pliers to curl each dowsing rod’s longer side, so the pointed/cut end isn’t a hazard. (During “lights out” investigations, it can be far too easy to unintentionally jab or injure a fellow team member.)

The next step is optional. If you want to be sure you’re not influencing your dowsing rods, you have two choices:

Use a hard plastic straw – not the flimsy kind that come with fast food. Grocery stores usually sell them in the soft drink aisle. Cut it into two sections, each about 4″ (9 – 10 cm) long.
Or, get a metal tube (brass or copper can be ideal) that has an opening wider than the coat hanger wire. The tube should be narrow enough to support the dowsing rods, but let them swing freely, as well. (A DIY store may cut the tube for you. 4″ is a good length, or longer if your hands are large. You may also ask them to burnish the cut edges, so you don’t risk cuts.)

Whatever material you use, be sure it’s firm and won’t yield to pressure from your hand. That way, you won’t inadvertently influence the dowsing rods with your hands.

5.) Whether or not you’re using those added handles, the final step is to curl the lower (handle) end of each dowsing rod, for safety.

Note: If you’re using the optional handle protections, be sure each curled handle end is at least 1/2″ below the end of the straw or tube. Otherwise, contact between them could prevent the dowsing rods from swinging freely.

That’s it. You’ve made your first set of dowsing rods.

Frank’s Box – Reviewed

Frank’s Box is a device optimized by Frank Sumption, sometimes described (but not by Mr. Sumption) as “the telephone to the dead.”

Franks Box reviewed - ghost hunting Frank Sumption wasn’t the first to work with this concept, but his results are among the most impressive so far.

Others have tried variations of this concept — a radio receiver that scans a wide range of stations, “grabbing” snippets of sounds and words, to form messages — with some success.

(The popular “Shack Hack” was one attempt, but – as some designed it – it lacked the clarity or durability of its higher-quality counterparts.)

Frank Sumption – now deceased – seemed to make “Frank’s Boxes,” one at a time, and no two looked the same or produce identical results. (The photo with this article is symbolic. As far as I know, no Frank’s Box looks like an actual telephone.)

I read the EVP-ITC list online for several months, and I exchanged correspondence with Mr. Sumption, but — even — I’m uncertain of what was (and still is) going on.

I tend to take things at face value and… this seems to be a fairly complex subject with conflicting opinions.

(There’s been a lot of static on the EVP-ITC list, due to very vocal skeptics. That said, I have heard recordings on that list that claim to be genuine and — if the recordings truly represent what a Frank’s Box can do — they’re groundbreaking.)

I haven’t worked with a Frank’s Box myself. If and when I do, I’ll happily provide a review.

(Authentic Frank’s Boxes are very difficult to find in the wild, and I’m not sure how or why Mr. Sumption decided to offer them to people. I know both genuine researchers and questionable personalities who own them.)

For now, I try to keep my critical thinking skills engaged, and remember that absolutely anyone can fake “results” to support or dispute what others are saying. Particularly if money is exchanging hands… well, as the TV show used to say, “Be careful out there.”

However, it would be impossible to mention what’s popularly called “the Frank’s Box” without talking about Christopher Moon’s work.

CHRISTOPHER MOON and Frank’s Boxes

Chris Moon is a paranormal researcher. He was the founder of the controversial magazine, Haunted Times, now out-of-print.

Chris’s successes with the Frank’s Box brought the device to the attention of serious investigators.

From my personal experiences on investigations with Chris, I’m certain he can achieve remarkable and authentic results with the Frank’s Boxes that he owns.

Here’s a video that speaks for itself. Listen to the voices. Watch the video screen on the box. Also note the composition of his audience. Weigh all of those points, carefully.

That video is at https://youtu.be/zu9RxgyOZz0 (Apparently, there's a longer version, but this gets the idea across.

Maybe Chris’ success is due to his own gifts as a medium, as opposed to the device he’s using. That may be the best explanation.

Other than that…? Well, at the time I met him, and shortly afterwards, I saw some big red flags related to his business practices. Though I believed what I heard in two sessions with Chris (and a Frank’s Box), he then made a statement that made me uneasy.

I later learned that he’d made the same statement (not sexual, btw) to another woman in my age range. Comparing notes, we each raised an eyebrow.

I want to like Chris… but – as of December 2018 (eight years after writing the original version of this article) – I still don’t feel confident about trusting him.

That said, I am convinced of the authenticity of what I heard when he was using an actual Frank’s Box. (Emphasis: What I heard, not necessarily what he interpreted the box saying.)

CLAIMS AND RISKS

The credibility of Frank’s Boxes open doors even wider to problems we already have in this field: Charlatans and con artists.

People can be very vulnerable when they’ve lost someone dear to them, or have fears related to death.

After all, if you could pay a certain fee or fulfill a request, and you could talk directly with someone on the other side — via a “telephone to the dead” — well, I think most people would.

Would a Frank’s Box work in the hands of an unscrupulous medium? I’m not sure. I haven’t seen anyone except Chris Moon use one.

OPPOSING OPINIONS

Another high-profile researcher says she owns several actual Frank’s Boxes (acquired directly from Frank Sumption). I’m not sure if that’s true.

When I spoke with her, she insisted that Frank’s Boxes aren’t reliable for ghost research. She said that a Mini-Box is a better choice.

Maybe she’s right.

The problem is: when a researcher tells me one lie, I’m uneasy trusting other things they say. And, during the same lunch conversation where she & I discussed Frank’s Boxes, she told me something that – later – turned out to be untrue.

So, I’m not sure a Frank’s Box would speak to her, or that alternatives are much better. (When I mentioned her name to Frank – while he was still alive – he was very bitter about his experiences with her.)

Frank passed away some time ago, before he had a chance to give me one of his Frank’s Boxes. I regret missing that opportunity.

Now, I’m still looking for reliable opinions and first-person experiences with a Frank’s Box.

TRY IT AND SEE?

Until I’m more confident about these kinds of devices, I recommend experimenting, yourself.

Try every real-time communication device that you can. (Borrow them, or spend time with someone who owns one. Do not spend money you can’t afford to lose, on devices that may not work.)

Compare your results at home (or at any single, stable location) against results at “haunted” sites. Frank Sumption seemed pretty adamant that the box works anywhere you have it. He’s said there’s no point in taking it to a “haunted” site.

From what I’ve seen, a Frank’s Box can be remarkable.

Is it always…? I have no idea.

I am 100% convinced that it can work in the hands of Chris Moon.

If you’ve had experiences with a Frank’s Box, especially if you’ve used one yourself, I hope you’ll leave a comment below.

Resources

The ITC list of hackable radio devices
How to hack the 12-469 Radio Shack radio
Lots of Frank’s Box, etc., information at Steve Hultay’s KeyportParanormal.com

Here’s one video showing how to create a “Shack Hack.”

That video is at https://youtu.be/V1JOzalRojs?t=36  <- Directions start around :36 in the YouTube video.

Here’s one about working with a Thompson RT222

YouTube link for that video: https://youtu.be/8hL0T17qr20

Ghost Orb Sightings – An Overview

Orb sightings occur every day.

Most “ghost orbs” appear in photographs or videos in haunted places. So few people see them floating in mid-air, some researcher speculate that they can only be seen by gifted, psychic people.

What are orbs?

“Orbs” usually refer to the round, usually translucent, round or ball-shaped images that we sometimes see in photographs.

They’re usually white, but sometimes appear in pastel colors. Rarely, they manifest as deep, rich and intense colors.

If you look at them closely, a few orbs seem to have faces in them. Some orbs seem to be made up of tiny facets. Most orbs appear as milky circles or spheres.

People often call them “ghost orbs,” since they seem to indicate paranormal energy.

However, many orbs in photos can be explained naturally. You can see the pollen in the middle, or the insect. The shape is usually irregular.

It may take you awhile to be able to tell the difference between an orb formed by moisture, a reflection, an insect, etc., but — once you can tell the difference — you’re not likely to confuse them again.

Don’t accept the easy dismissal of all orbs as dust, moisture, etc. See the photos in my 2013 article, What Is “Paranormal”?, if you think moisture or reflections always produce orbs.

I recommend trying to create fake orbs with your camera, before deciding what’s real and what isn’t. You may be surprised.

Unexplained orbs… they’re the orb sightings that really interest ghost hunters and paranormal researchers.

Orb sightings and the spirit world

Many people speculate about orb sightings. Some explanations include:

Ghosts.
Angels.
Demons.
An energy field indicating a portal opening or closing. (This is still my favorite explanation.)
A friendly spirit, manifesting to say hello.
A glimpse of “the light” that people describe in near-death experiences.

How to see orbs

The best way to see orbs is to take lots of photos in haunted locations, or places where people have seen (or photographed) orbs in the past.

These may include:

Cemeteries
Battlegrounds
Theatres (or buildings that used to have stage performances)
Older hotels
Living history museums
Historic homes (especially pre-1890 and open to the public)

Take dozens of photos, if you can. Study them closely for orbs. Adjust the contrast or lightness of the photo, so you don’t miss anything.

Tips for orb photography

Day or night, use your camera’s flash. It is possible to photograph ghost orbs during the daytime (see the orb on my book cover for The Ghosts of Austin, Texas) , but a flash seems to improve results.
Always take two or three photos in a row, as quickly as possible and without changing position. See if the same orb or orbs are in all photos; if so, there may be a normal explanation.
Save all of your photos until you exactly what to look for: Different colors, sizes, levels of contrast.

Tips for orb sightings

If you’re one of the fortunate few who see orbs floating in mid-air, here are tips to help you see more of them.

Practice your orb-spotting skills. With a friend or two, visit known haunted locations.
Most people spot orbs around dusk or immediately after it.
When you see an orb, have friends take photos of the orb. If possible, also get photos of you with the orb to see if the locations are similar in most photos.
Measure the temperature and EMF levels around the orb, if you have the tools to do so.

Orb sightings are a controversial topic in ghost hunting. However, if you’re fascinated by ghost orbs or find comfort in them, every orb sighting can be very important.

Ghost Hunting with Ghost Boxes – Where Do the Words Come From?

Those eerie, ghostly voices we’ve heard during ghost investigations, in real life or on TV… are those voices real? Who’s talking to us, and how…?

You’re probably familiar with the kinds of equipment we’re talking about. You’ve seen it on ghost hunting TV shows, and perhaps in real life.

Ghost boxes (and related ghost hunting equipment) include real-time EVP devices, Shack Hacks, and Frank’s Boxes. I’d also include Digital Dowsing equipment like the Puck and Ovilus.

How Do Ghost Boxes Work?

Different ghost communication devices work in different ways.

Some – like the Puck and Ovilus – have a built-in vocabulary. In theory, those are the only words those devices can say.

Well, maybe.

I’ve heard an Ovilus – in dictionary mode – say my name (Fiona Broome) when “broom” was in the vocabulary list, but “Fiona” definitely wasn’t. So I haven’t a clue how that happened.

I’ve witnessed other investigations where the words weren’t in the vocabulary. So, it wasn’t just that one time. (That first odd experience was at the Salem Inn, in Salem, MA, in one of their most haunted rooms.)

We hear words – aloud – when EMF spikes/surges occur. In theory, the words come from the built-in vocabulary, at random.

So, when words (or phrases) are relevant – or repeated too often – maybe intelligent (like a ghost) energy is involved.

Some ghost boxes – like Shack Hacks and Frank’s Boxes – use radio stations’ broadcasts.

Those boxes cycle through lots of radio stations in succession – maybe half a second, each – and grab words or parts of words, at random.

I’ve heard those devices speak clearly, in full sentences, even though the clips were brief and strung together in real time.

When My Late Mother Talked to Me

A Frank’s Box produced my late mother’s voice, complete with her regional accent, and “she” said something relevant to me.

There is no way anyone would have known exactly how she spoke, to fake the voice/message. It was her accent, he speech cadence, and the words she’d use.

That happened two days in a row in Ontario (Canada).

The first time was at a haunted site investigation. The second was the next day, at a not-haunted hotel site hosting a ghost hunters’ conference.

But, adding a little geek-skepticism here: Is it possible that people – consciously or inadvertently – can use some weird form of psychokinesis to control the words coming through those devices…?

(Psychokinesis is the supposed ability to move objects by mental effort alone. I’ve seen it happen in real life. So, I believe it’s real and may explain some poltergeist activity.)

It’s the only possibility I can think of.

I’m Still Skeptical… Are You?

I know, without a doubt, that I heard my mother’s voice.

I’m also certain that some people have an unexplained connection to ghost boxes.

Years ago, at the Edith Wharton mansion, at least 20 people gathered around a Shack Hack. They asked a few questions, but mostly waited patiently for a spirit to speak “through” the Shack Hack.

For a very long time, nothing happened.

Then, John Zaffis (of “The Haunted Collector”) entered the room, and the Shack Hack started talking like it was welcoming an old friend.

I’ve never seen anything like that, before or since.

It was enough to convince me that John has unusual connection with the spirit world, and the forces behind that Shack Hack recognized it.

But, are all messages through ghost boxes real, or could some be wishful thinking and audio pareidolia?

I’m not sure, yet.

After decades in this field, I still default to skeptic mode when I first witness phenomena. And, even with some compelling evidence – like my mother’s messages to me, via a Frank’s Box – I’m not ready to say that all ghost box messages are from ghosts.

You’ll need to decide for yourself.

Ghost Box Resources

Shack Hacks

How to make a Shack Hack, from an early (12-469) Radio Shack radio.
Updated Hackable Radio List – and the ITC Voices website, in general.

SHACK HACK, RADIO SHACK 12-589, GHOST BOX TUTORIAL

How to hack a radio shack model 12-589, plus possible response. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions in the comments below. Thanks for wat…

Frank’s Box

A description of Frank’s “Ghost” Box: http://www.ghost-tech.com/franks.php
Frank Sumption has passed on, but his original plans are still online: http://theradioboard.com/rb/download/Franks_box_6-19.pdf and at Scribd (not always free), https://www.scribd.com/document/64918316/Franks-Box-6-19
Many MP3 recordings were posted on the EVP and ITC Discussion Group at Yahoo Groups. I’m not sure if the public can access them now. (I was a member when Frank moderated that list.)

Here’s a demonstration of a Frank’s Box. (Note: I can vouch for Chris being gifted in terms of his use of a Frank’s Box. Other than that, I’m uneasy recommending Chris, based on a few red flags that bothered me. I tried to contact him, but never received a reply. I’d like to think he was just busy, but my questions remain unanswered.)

Ghost Box session live (shocking results)! (3-28-17)

I conduct a Facebook Live Ghost Box session from a private investigation in Littleton, CO. The voices that came through will shock you! Portions of this sess…

More Resources

Digital Dowsing – Some of this equipment works very well. I’ve used a couple of models of the Ovilus EMF device. Another research I respect has said that the Puck is even better. You may have seen some Digital Dowsing tools in use on ghost hunting TV shows. (NOTE: These are not actual dowsing devices, like dowsing rods or pendulums, which I now advise against using.)
Ghost Box Hacks – Open Source Paranormal’s plans and tips. The site hasn’t been updated in some time, but the information is still useful.
Halloween Ghost Box Tips (2016) :

How to do a ghost box session

How to do a ghost box session. Haunted Man, Marc Coppell, lists some helps when doing Ghost or Spirit Box sessions. Ready for some real ghost voices and why …

If you have questions or insights about these kinds of devices, I hope you’ll leave a comment at this site.

Use Dowsing Rods to Find Ghosts – How-to Tips

When you’re ghost hunting, dowsing rods can be very useful, especially at outdoor sites such as haunted cemeteries and battlefields. Many ghost hunters consider them essential ghost hunting equipment.

With simple, homemade dowsing rods, you can identify potentially “hot” (very active, haunted) areas.

You’re looking for the rods to swing to the right or left (pointing to a possibly haunted spot) or to cross (like an X) in front of you, suggesting you shouldn’t step forward.

Rods like these can also help you locate areas with false anomalies, by following energy lines the rods indicate. Those lines might be underground streams, water pipes, or buried electrical cables. (That’s especially true if the line is fairly straight and continues at least a dozen feet.)

If you don’t already own dowsing rods, you can find many different styles for around U.S. $20 at Amazon.com. I like the ones with rounded ends so, in the dark, you won’t accidentally jab someone. Here’s one reasonably priced set, similar to the ones I own: 99.9% Copper Dowsing Rods.

Or, you can make your dowsing rods at home. They’re fast and easy, and can even be free. All you’ll need are a couple of wire coat hangers and some tin snips (heavy wire cutters).

These rods can be a great addition to your ghost hunting gear. (I often bring a few extra sets to events, so other researchers can try using them… and keep them if they like.)

Or, you might consider using a homemade pendulum instead, or to confirm what the dowsing rods suggest.