Before we explain our Paranormal Investigative techniques and observation methods, can i make it very clear for the record that State of Panic Paranormal Investigations and anyone associated with State of Panic DO NOT use, practise or promote any use of the Ouija Board, Séances, Table Tipping and Automatic Writing. We deem such methods of communication as non productive and extremely dangerous, particularly the Ouija Board. You will not be contacting the 'ghost' but something else entirely different. But don't just take my word for it. As you might expect you can easily find a Christian warning on Ouija board dangers but eminent psychologists, doctors and even Spiritualists all agree that Ouija boards are dangerous to participants.
However, it seems to be a common misapprehension that you actually have to be using the Ouija board to be adversely affected by one. I can tell you, this is just not true.
With that said and done State of Panic our always looking for new and forgotten communication techniques, to assist us on our quest to seek the truth of any existence of the spirit world within ours.
Digital video recorders: a must have for all paranormal investigators, there are many variants of this equipment i.e. hand-held video cameras, CCTV infra-red night vision video cameras etc. Primarily used, to capture any video footage evidence of paranormal activity that might occur.
Digital Cameras: We use ordinary digital cameras as well as a full spectrum camera. The full spectrum camera will record video footage and still images at high definition quality in a spectrum colour range not visible to the human eye, i.e. Ultra violet and infra-red. Ordinary digital cameras are unable to take images to this high specification, making this device a bonus to our arsenal of ghost hunting equipment.
Electromagnetic Field Meter (EMF): This is a small and lightweight device. It uses a series of LEDs which lights up according to the strength of the EMF field being detected. It is designed for the detection of EMF levels being emitted around us. Common causes of EMF are electrical appliances, power lines and lights and the field is always strongest near the source and diminishes as you move away from the source. Elevated EMF levels can cause you to feel like you are being watched, give you headaches, nausea and many other issues. If your symptoms are always immediately upon entering a particular area of your home, you should consult a professional to assess the situation. Long term extensive exposure to high levels of EMF can pose more serious health issues. It is widely regarded that ghosts cause EMF fields and draws upon any energy it needs to manifest. Strong EMF's that move (through walls, through different stories of a building) are certainly not normal and unlikely to be caused by anything man-made.
Digital Thermometers: This is a small hand-held device, we use three different types. The digital laser thermometer is used for taking temperatures of any given surface with the aid of a red laser beam. The temperature wand probe is used for taking the temperature of a given area for instance if you feel a cold spot or draught. Then there is the Hygrometer which is used for recording the max and min temperature in a given area over a set time period. The hygrometer also records the humidity in a given area max and min over a set time period. We use these devices because people often report 'cold spots' in haunted locations. These are small areas (usually a lot smaller than a room) that feel significantly colder than the surrounding area. They are considered by some to be a sign of a ghost in the area. Some cold spots are always felt in the same place while others seem to appear and disappear at different locations.
Digital Voice Recorders: This small hand held device is extremely useful and probably one of our most important pieces of equipment. We use the device for recording electronic voice phenomena (EVP's) these are electronically generated noises that resemble speech, but are not the result of intentional voice recordings or renderings. Common sources of EVP include static, stray radio transmissions, and background noise. These recordings are generally only picked up when we listen to our recordings away from the location whilst going over the data we collected, they can be quite startling sometimes from clear recognisable words, groans and faint whispers. When we hear these EVP's we always keep in context of the questions being asked and more importantly the background noises such as investigator contamination, weather conditions, vehicles, the general public etc.
Franks Box: Also known as (Ghost Box) this device was created by Frank Sumption several years ago as a means to further his interest in EVP research. Frank began experimenting with EVP in the year 2000 which led to using a computer program called EVP maker invented by the German researcher Stefan Bion. The ghost box is a basic free scan AM/FM digital radio that has been modified using the schematics created by Sum Duc an electrical engineer who also dabbled in the paranormal (it is his work in part that motivated Frank Sumption to create his Frank's Box). This modification allows the ghost box to scan the frequency bands 530 kHz - 1710 kHz AM and 88MHz - 108MHz FM, and although it is capable of scanning the FM band it is most effective if it is kept in the AM frequency range. The premise of this device is that the noise generated as the ghost box scans, which will include a static type "White Noise" intermixed with actual random radio broadcasts. "Blips" create a "Chatter" of sorts that is then used by spirits to manipulate into audible words for communication. The words are formed by the spirits using the "Chatter" not speaking over it, so all of the noise is needed to communicate successfully in real time (you will hear the voices as they speak not later in a recording) and in their own voices (unlike the OVILUS where you hear an electronically generated robotic sounding voice).This technology is fairly new to the world of paranormal research and investigations when compared to other technology employed in the field and until recent years as not had much attention paid to it by the paranormal community. However, possibly due in part to the popularity of so many ghost hunting shows of late, there as been a renewed interest with this type of technology.
Dowsing Rods: Also called divining rods, have increasingly been used by paranormal investigators in recent years to detect the location of spirits. The practice of seeking out ghosts with dowsing rods, which is relatively new, derives from a much older practice that has gone on for thousands of years. Paranormal investigators employ the use of two L-shaped metal rods to locate energy sources and paranormal activity. Although there is no standard material, it is recommended that dowsing rods be made of brass or another lightweight metal.Dowsing, or divining, began as a way to find underground water and has been used to find water up until the present day. Over the past several centuries, dowsing rods have been used for various reasons that include determining the sex of unborn children, locating minerals, buried treasure and foretelling the future. We currently have two members who practice this method and have had some truly remarkable results with extreme accuracy.
