EMF Meter.

Name: EMF Meter
About: An EMF meter will feature in 'The Lost Crown'.
The EMF (Electromagnetic Fluctuations) Meter has become the 'number one' tool for paranormal investigations. We are surrounded by electromagnetic energy, as well as emitting our own unique signature. While wandering a haunted location (with a meter) you will often encounter unexplainable changes in the magnetic forces around you, and even experience 'moving' entities. Once obvious sources are ruled out (cell phones, power lines, beepers) you are left with possible proof that something otherworldly has crossed your path. We encountered this phenomena at 'The Bodmin Jail' in 2005.



A Planchette.

Name: Planchette
About: A stark contrast to the cost and hi-tech quality of the EMF, the 'Planchette' is a old Victorian favourite, which is undergoing a bit of a revival. The method is simple; place a pen in the middle of the mobile dais, and place your hands on the edges. A sheet of paper placed underneath will record any movements. Often only abstract doodles are created, but occasionally we have seen letters, faces and characters sketched out by no obvious force. Unconscious movement is a possibile explanation, but there is the possibility that someone on the 'otherside' is attempting to communicate through writing, or drawing. It's very exciting when it happens.



Nightvison camera.

Name: Camcorder with "nitevision" or "Night Shot".
About: Camcorders have been used to record paranormal activity for years, but with the affordable models now sporting the 'niteshot' facility investigations
have become better, and far more eerie. There's something unique about the green glow of the footage, which is very appealing.

In terms of evidence, many instances of 'orbs' and mists are caught on camera. While both these phenomena are controversial (is it breath, insects or dust, or something paranormal?) it is always unnerving to capture something not visible to the naked eye.

Many of the locations featured in 'The Lost Crown' are pitch dark, meaning your nightvision camera is essential. Passing through haunted locations with only the lcd screen to indicate whether you are alone, or not.

For an example of 'nightvision' at work, see our 'Lammana Chapel' investigation.



The humble candle.

Name: Candles
About: A simple, and often overlooked, tool. Light up some candles and position them around the location thought to be haunted. Avoid draughts, windows and doors. You'll be surprised how often the flames gets distorted, or blown, when no air current is present. Candles can also be combined with an infrared temperature gun (see below), for definitive proof of unnatural air movements, and changes to the atmosphere of a room. Occasionally, candles also get blown out completely, leaving the investigator in the dark. Pray that never happens. See our 'Smugglers Cave' investigation from 2005.



Laser Trip Wire

Name: Laser trip wire
About: This is a favourite of mine. The laser trip wire is less exotic than it sounds, and is commonly used in security (see any modern heist movie). Place the units opposite each other, and they form an invisible trap for those who may wish to tamper with your experiments. Alternatively, film the 'trap' with a locked off camera, and you may find the beam, broken by nothing visible. That's rare, but very exciting. Nigel Danvers will be using similar means in 'The Lost Crown', to locate supernature, and rule out human interference.



MP3 Dictaphone with sound activation.

Name: MP3 Dictaphone with sound activation.
About: EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) is a newer trend among ghosthunters. White noise, when amplified, has been discovered to contain the voices of the dead. Sounds exciting, doesn't it. More often than not, several hours of recording can produce no effects at all. It will be up to you to get good results, during 'The Lost Crown', by placing the dictaphone in 'active' areas. These areas can be located using other tools from your gadget bag, such as the EMF meter. An example of sounds caught on a dictaphone is 'Kilminorth Woods', an investigation held in 2005.



Ouijaboard.

Name: The Ouijaboard
About: Laughably old fashioned, the Ouija has had a rebirth just recently. It may seem rather camp, but this tried and tested practice can still get amazing results. With the lights off, and the group hushed, it can be a frightening experience when the 'putt' moves by itself. Caution is always advised, when choosing your Ouija buddies, as no-one appreciates a joker. More often than not, movement can be explained by unconscious movements, but on rare occasions full names and places can be spelt out, with no rational explanation. You will be using a Ouijaboard during 'The Lost Crown'. Be warned, it's not for the nervous.



IR Thermometers

Name: IR Thermometers
About: A semi-expensive piece of kit, the 'non contact' thermometer is as close (or how far!) your going to get to a heat sensitive camera (thermal imaging). The latter costs thousands, so we'll have to make do. Point the ergonomic 'gun' at a surface, or atmosphere, and get an instant reading on the display. Hugely varying temperatures have been observed using this very device, with no rational explanation. During investigations, many report feeling 'cold spots', point the IR Thermometer in that direction (avoiding the eyes) to see if there is any noticeable change. The results can be startling. Good models can store the fluctuations in memory.



Trigger Object.

Name: Trigger Objects
About: Free, easy and very effective. Trigger Objects are another favourite. Place an object (anything with a little weight to it) on a piece of paper, and draw a crisp line around it. Leave the set-up alone, and return at the end of your investigation. Often the objects have moved, by as much as an inch or two. If you have a spare camcorder, leave it recording the objects, to check for tampering, or actual movement. Speeding the footage up by 200% often results in amazing footage. We encountered such an event at 'Causeland Station', in 2005. Nigel is virtually penniless, so you too will be setting "trigger objects".



The Seance.

Name: The seance, or table tipping.
About: The Victorians loved a good seance. Creepy, twee and often 'rigged', they have become a little jaded in recent decades. If you know your fellow investigators you are more likely to get good results. Like the Ouijaboard it is all too easy to play around, so some control must be employed. A variation on the "is anybody there" technique is to request that spooks move the table, or tap on its surface. Many have reported feeling slight taps on the underside of the table, or even the floorboards beneath their feet. As a simple, and free, exercise, the seance will be one of the gamers first paranormal experiments.



Compass

Name: Compass
About: Cheaper than an EMF meter, but able to indicate the same electromagnetic fluctuations. Stroll around a haunted location, and you may observe the needle swing alarmingly, or even rotate! Given the small size, and affordability, no ghosthunter should be without one.

We encountered fluctuations during a small experiment at Talland Bay in Cornwall. The area is rich in ghostly legends, and seemed perfect for the trial. Read about what happened, and see the photos, of 'Talland Bay' on the 'This Haunted Land' website.



The Seance.

Name: Scrying
About: Sounds nasty, doesn't it. Just say it again, "scrying", and you'll instantly appreciate just how strange this ghosthunting technique is. The idea is to stare into a pool of water, or pour water down a mirror, and stare at your own reflection. The face has been reported to change, distort and even take on the appearance of beasts! This is one to try at home, but make sure you're ready. It can be an unnerving experience.

Too afraid to try it yourself? No worries, Nigel will 'scrying' during 'The Lost Crown', so you'll only have his sanity to worry about.


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