WELL EQUIPPED...

Today’s ghost hunters tend to be loaded up with tech, but what does it all do?

K-II meter

Designed to detect electromagnetic fields, spook hunters say that any nearby spirits will be picked up by the machine, though critics point out that they can be triggered by mobile phones or other nearby electronic devices. ‘We always do a sweep first, going right around the room to make sure there are no spikes detected anywhere, and everyone’s phones are switched off,’ says paranormal investigator Elaine Kelly. ‘Spirits can use the different coloured lights to communicate. I’ve had our K-II meter spike in derelict buildings, where there’s no electricity supply.’

Spirit box

These work by randomly scanning through FM and AM frequencies, hoping to pick up spirits’ words in the white noise.

‘People say Spirit boxes are just picking up radio frequencies,’ acknowledges Elaine. ‘But the amount of times I’ve been sworn at on ours... that can’t be radio. Well, not any radio station I listen to anyway!

‘We also once had a seemingly random word come through and a lady on the investigation gasped – it was her late father’s nickname.’

REM-PODS

The REM-POD has an antenna with its own mild electromagnetic field and is designed to react to energy or temperature changes in its proximity.

‘I don’t use this often – I tend to place it somewhere we aren’t as it’s very loud.’ says Elaine.

Voice recorder

Investigators leave these running while asking questions, hoping to capture electronic voice phenomena, or EVP. Critics point out that the ‘voices’ heard when the tapes are played back are rarely clear and often require some interpretation, leading to accusations that people may be interpreting what isn’t there.

‘If you can, buy a microphone that attaches to your voice recorder,’ suggests Elaine. ‘Even if a spirit isn’t keen on talking to you, they’ll often tap the microphone. I’ve investigated a lot of places haunted by monks and they don’t talk most of the time. I just say, if you can’t talk, tap. And sure enough when we play it back... tap!’

EMF Bear

‘This works in the same way as the K-II meter but the bear’s paws light up – one’s green and one’s red,’ says Elaine. ‘Spirit children go towards it and as they do, the colour changes.’

Kinetic SLS camera

Also known as a ‘stickman’ camera, these were originally gaming gadgets designed to spot and track living humans, until gamers found their cameras were picking up other figures in their rooms – even when they were apparently alone.

Critics point out that the software can mistake non-human shaped objects for people and was never designed to capture spooks. ‘Take a look on our YouTube channel at the videos we’ve captured and see what you think,’ says Elaine.