Ghost Hunting: 12 Devices to Avoid

What It Is: Ghost Boxes.

Also known as a spirit box, this device rapidly sweeps AM radio channels.It sweeps AM radio channels.Some paranormal investigators believe ghosts communicate via the white noise. The ghost boxes allegedly give investigators immediate answers to interpret the white noise.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work: Ghost boxes promote belief in spirits instead of offering solid evidence. Many want to believe the device's words are answers from another world. However, the dialogue snippets usually come from static-filled radio stations.

Ghost boxes promote belief in spirits instead of providing solid evidence. Many want to believe the device's words are answers from another world. The snippets of dialogue usually come from static-filled radio stations.

What It Is: FLIR Thermal Imaging.

FLIR (or forward looking infrared) imaging systems and infrared thermometers are devices designed to pick up temperature variations.These devices pick up variations in temperature.FLIR devices create heat distribution maps; humans appear pink-orange. The cameras and infrared thermometers also detect cold spots, which people claim mark the presence of spirits.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work: To get clear results, FLIR cameras typically need to operate at night. Skeptics argue FLIR images look scientific, but results can be easily misread. New users may find false positives easily.

FLIR cameras need to operate at night for clear results. FLIR images look scientific and trustworthy. Skeptics argue results can be easily misread. Novice users may find false positives easily.

What It Is: Motion Sensors And Laser Grids.

Ghost hunters often recommend motion sensing devices and projected laser grids when people claim to see shadows move in haunted buildings. The laser grid uses a clear visual. The tool mounts to a wall, projecting green dots. If something crosses the grid, the lights block.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work: Motion sensors have flaws. People or animals can cross the light grid without warning, causing false positives. Some enthusiasts think different ghosts have different densities; not every paranormal being uses a motion sensor or light grid.

Motion sensors have flaws. People or animals can cross the light grid, producing false positives. Some enthusiasts believe different ghosts have different densities; not every paranormal being uses a motion sensor or light grid.

What It Is: BooBuddy.

This tool acts like a nanny cam for ghost hunting. It looks like a teddy bear, but the device has an EMF reader, motion and vibration sensors, and a temperature reader. The BooBuddy reacts to room changes. For example, when it gets colder, owners hear, "Brr. It's cold in here."This tool is a nanny cam for ghost hunting. It looks like a teddy bear, but the device has an EMF reader, motion and vibration sensors, and a temperature reader. The BooBuddy reacts to room changes. For example, when it gets colder, owners hear, "Brr. It's cold in here."The BooBuddy acts like a nanny cam for ghost hunting. It looks like a teddy bear, but the device has an EMF reader, motion and vibration sensors, and a temperature reader. The BooBuddy reacts to room changes. For example, when it gets colder, owners hear, "Brr. It's cold in here."

Why It Probably Doesn't Work: The BooBuddy will sometimes ask questions like, "Do you want to be my friend?" in an empty room. It is advertised as a trigger object, but there is no guarantee spirits will react to a child's toy. The GhostStop item does not include a recording device. Ghost hunters need a separate camera or voice recorder to leave the room.

The BooBuddy sporadically asks questions like, "Do you want to be my friend?" in an empty room. It is advertised as a trigger object, but there is no guarantee spirits will react to a child's toy. The GhostStop item lacks a recording device. Ghost hunters need a separate camera or voice recorder to leave the room.

What It Is: Electromagnetic Field Readers.

An Electromagnetic Field (EMF) reader detects many power waves.Electromagnetic Field (EMF) readerThe small device, also called a K-II meter, has green and red LED lights showing magnetic field strength. People usually use them to monitor dangerous EMF radiation from power lines or appliances, but paranormal hobbyists use these tools. Many EMF readers are marketed as ghost hunting tools.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

Many EMF readers lack shielding.They can be activated by household objects.Cell phones and two-way radios activate the devices. Computer mouses and battery packs also trigger them. EMF readers sometimes act strangely and are easily manipulated.

What It Is: Electronic Voice Phenomenon Recorders

Electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) recording exists.This method is fairly popular since the 1950s.since the 1950's. Ghost hunters use a recording device, either an EVP recorder or a simple voice memo recorder, to capture sounds from paranormal beings.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

Some...Ghost hunters pretend to hear things never spoken. They might claim to hear clear words or garbled verbalizations. Paranormal experts find translating and separating EVPs means "torturing that noise into some meaning.".

What It Is: Footstep Sensors

Footstep sensors.Some footstep sensors target ghost hunting. They detect slight or heavy movements, recording vibrations. These devices measure movement, whether by a person or something, across any space, large, small, or ghostly.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

This device gives false results easily. A person passing through a building during an investigation can trigger the sensor. Even an animal or a creaking house can activate a sensitive motion reader.

What It Is: Still Cameras

Digital cameras are often used for ghost hunting. Enthusiasts usually buy basic models from electronics stores, but modified cameras exist claiming to work in the dark.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

Standard digital cameras have issues. Flash and brightness settings cause false positives like orbs, haziness, and light bars. Many people use regular digital cameras and see flaws; they see ghosts in the imperfections. Sometimes, the flaws are just dust, reflections, or flash problems.

What It Is: Flashlights

A common household flashlightwith a slightly unscrewed endis often used during ghost hunts. Paranormal professionals think loosening the battery connection lets ghosts play with it. They turn the flashlight on and off to communicate. Some think the ghost makes an electromagnetic field to cross the power gap.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

Making a loose electrical connection does not create proof of spirits. TV shows show flashlights turning on and off separately, but this may just mean people interpret signs based on feeling, not electrical proof.

What It Is: Video Cameras

Ghosthunters recordusing old video cameras and new smartphones. Their footage impresses audiences and paranormal groups use video cams for YouTube to go viral.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

Much like still photography, video recordings of ghosts can be flawed, and the vast majority of ghost video footage is shot with older, lower-quality equipment.

What It Is:

Known as a Rover, this remote-controlled mini tank is sold by GhostStop. It can shoot video in the dark and transmit directly to a smart phone, allowing ghost hunters to access previously inaccessible locations.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

The camera tank falls into the realm of somewhat unnecessary devices. It is much more of a novelty than a necessity. Additionally, the images from a moving camera are more likely to be blurry and unclear than those from a more stationary camera.

What It Is:

Graham Lewis was fed up with basic ghost hunting equipment, so he decided to engineer his own. Using Xbox technology, he created a camera he believes can capture images of ghosts. Lewis noted:

Xbox gaming users were reporting curious incidents in which the sensor camera, which tracks human movement for interactive games, was often detecting second players in the game when there was no one else in the room.

He attached the Xbox camera to a portable screen and used it in the field. He claimed to have amazing results.

Why It Probably Doesn't Work:

While Lewis's findings are intriguing, others suggest his results are unverifiable. And as pointed out by Tegan Jones, an editor at Gizmodo, the ghosts Lewis saw were more than likely just the result of imperfect algorithms.