The Thrifty Ghost Hunter

Thought I'd start a thread about how to do field work on the cheap.

I've recently been considering getting together so decent detection equipment considering that I completely lack any sort of "sensitivity" to supernatural activity.
As I mentioned in my wishlist post, I'm thinking about an EMF meter, and infrared directional thermometer and some sound equipment for EMF. While thinking about how the hell I was going to actually acquire any of these things with no money, I had an amusing realization: using a compass for EMF detection. Given, it's not as accurate or easy to read as a standard EMF meter, but considering that meters cost at $35 for a crappy one and I've already got a compass, I think I'll get along.

So anyway, as usual, I'll encourage anyone with any similar ideas for the Poor Man's Guide to Ghost-Hunting to contribute.

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You stormed off to scar the armada,
Like Jesus played letter,
I'll drill through your hands.

And if you can't afford even that, use the needle in a cork trick. I've never actually tried the needle in the cork, but everyone says it works.

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A forum I mod at

	Rogutaan wrote:
	And if you can't afford even that, use the needle in a cork trick. I've never actually tried the needle in the cork, but everyone says it works.

I think I've heard of that, but I'm not really familiar with it.

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You stormed off to scar the armada,
Like Jesus played letter,
I'll drill through your hands.

EVP can be recorded on anything that records. I'm sure there's some way you can rig up some sort of cell phone voicemail EVP device thing.

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skype: Evan Richard

	BBB wrote:
	EVP can be recorded on anything that records. I'm sure there's some way you can rig up some sort of cell phone voicemail EVP device thing.

It can be, just the lower the quality of the recording the harder it is to make out any sort of message.

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You stormed off to scar the armada,
Like Jesus played letter,
I'll drill through your hands.

ProphetX wrote:

	BBB wrote:
	EVP can be recorded on anything that records. I'm sure there's some way you can rig up some sort of cell phone voicemail EVP device thing.

It can be, just the lower the quality of the recording the harder it is to make out any sort of message.

VERY YES.

While you can, as you say, record on anything that'll take sound, it really is worth it to spend the extra dollars on something that will give you a QUALITY recording. Otherwise you may be hearing something where there's nothing at all.

Fortunately my computer has a decent recording software. Decent, but not the best. Also, portable electronic communications devices tend to fuck up in the field of paranormality, so laptops might not be the best thing...

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A forum I mod at

A laptop is way too ungainly for field work unless its an eee pc... even then its pretty godamned big. Also the typical laptop battery life is minimal at best when compared to other electronics; its also much MUCH simpler to replace batteries on a hand-held recorder should they go dead/run out. If you're looking into doing serious field work, pick up the best hand-held recorder you can for your dollar, IMO.

Personally I'd prefer digital simply for the ease of transfer, and also for the purpose of having less moving parts that can possibly be effected by whatever's about (including being dropped).