T M P R G

Over the past seven years of doing paranormal investigations I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked by clients and prospective investigators “So what do I need to buy for equipment?”  The answer is a pen, pencil and legal sized pad of paper.

If you’re just starting out, with a group or by yourself, that’s really all you need at first.  That and the ability to ‘feel’ your surroundings.  The first thing I tell all my new inexperienced investigators is to start listening to your (what I call) ‘Spidey Sense’ and to be very aware of your environment.  Listen, smell, feel and sometimes taste what’s going on.  Usually after their first or second investigation I give them a basic list of ‘Nice items to have’ that a beginning investigator may want or need. 

• Flashlight.
• Digital Voice Recorder with USB capability.
• Compass.
• Affordable EMF meter.
• First-Aid kit

That’s it.  These items are in addition to the pen, pencil and pad of paper.  Until you become more advanced in your investigative skills and technique the other items that you see on the popular TV shows are just distractions.  If your part of a group then the group you are with probably has a cache of neat things that you will be trained on and shown how to operate and use properly.  So for now hold off on putting together your ‘Buffy Bag’.

 Out of the above listed items I want to touch on the middle three beginning with the digital voice recorder.  There are many manufacturers, models and makes of digital recorders.  They’re all pretty much the same unless you’re looking at the top end products of each brand name.

 In my seven years of investigating I’ve used or tried I think all of them, top end to bottom line.  I always wind up back with one company; Olympus.  Digital Recorders can cost anywhere from $20.00 to over $500.00 or more.  The only must have feature you will really want is a USB port built in so you can connect to your computer and download any captured EVP or EAP.  Memory is another issue.  Just remember, the more memory, the more money.

 Next item on the list is a compass.  I have my old Boy Scout compass.  Everyone laughs at first when they see it and ask me “Why?”  The easiest and most frank answer is because I need to ‘orientate’ my investigation.  I need to know where I am on the investigation grid; Am I North, South, West or East of center or our established Safety Zone?  If I’m doing a large cemetery I can communicate to the other investigators where I am in relation to them.  The compass can also show magnetic anomalies.  Get near a magnetic hot spot and watch your compass spin!

 Finally we’re at EMF meters.  There are a wide variety of EMF meters on the market today.  I’m stressing inexpensive here.  You could easily spend $1000.00 or more on an EMF meter.  The meter I suggest is the Cell Sensor.  This meter has a detachable cabled probe and two settings ‘high’ and ‘low’.  It’s a great meter to start learning about all the environmental EMF’s out there and very inexpensive. You can buy a new one for roughly $40.00 to $50.00.  This meter is also very good for noting area readings so you can average out a background baseline reading which will let you detect any general fluctuations that may occur during your investigation.

The other two items, a flashlight and first-aid kit, are pretty much common sense items that you should always have with you on any investigation.  Always remember the “Rule of two.”  Always have a partner with you when you investigate and let loved ones know where you’re going and about when to expect you back.  If you experience or hear something, did your partner?  Having a partner allows you to validate your experience.  Not to mention the fact that if you get into a situation where you need help, get injured or the like; you have someone there to assist you.