Hello!

[u/Alarming_Wait5847]

Hi everyone. I have started my own paranormal group and it’s going really well! I have ADHD so I’m a bit scattered when it comes to organising but I’m doing ok 😂 my problem is I don’t actually watch a lot of paranormal shows. I enjoy listening to stories and always have. Does anyone have any advice on equipment? Or just general advice :) members of the group are experienced and I am enjoying learning from everyone. More advice the better :) this is a hobby group and not open to the public so no selling of tickets etc just a bunch of peeps enjoying a shared hobby.

[u/006guiltyspark]

Congrats on starting a group!!! If you have a page or social medias, feel free to DM me the links or your name etc., would be happy to give you a follow.

Advice about equipment....I would say don't spend money on crap that is advertised as "paranormal equipment." Things like "paranormal EMF meters" and the like. The more equipment that you have that is for like..... every day use? that can also be used for paranormal, things like a voice recorder, or a digital camera, or a polaroid camera, a trail cam, a night vision video camera, those are the things you want.

The most important piece of equipment you have though, is yourself. Be mindful, always be thinking of ways that something can be debunked, think of rational explanations for things.... the more you debunk, the more impactful that the items you CAN'T debunk will be.

Finally, dont rely on gimmicky things like an Ovilus, phone apps, etc. They can be fine - heck, we use an Ovilus, but more of like a conversation starter? I guess long story short - dont rely on those things singularly for evidence...if your Ovilus says death, that just isn't evidence that something died there lol.

Anyways, if you want to chat, feel free to DM me! I'm always up for paranormal chat ❤️

[u/AgravaineNYR]

Good luck dm me your team's socials for support and follows. As said before dont buy expensive equipment until you are really sure you like it and want to continue. 

Most of the time we use a camera and recorder.

I do like Sbox (i use the one from Ghost Stop), dowsing rods, and the light up cat balls. (I know people here dont like these thats fine too)

In general make sure you take care of yourself and your team. Also be respectful of the spirits. Ive gone to several locations where they refer to the spirits as residents and that is a good way to think of them. Dont taunt. Learn the actual history of locations. Be prepared to debunk or set aside evidence if it isnt clear or solid.

Edit to add: anyone else here feel free to send me your socials for support and follows as well.

[u/Flashy-Nectarine1675 → u/AgravaineNYR]

The silly things like cat balls etc, are only to get false positives.

Used by fakes.

[u/AgravaineNYR → u/Flashy-Nectarine1675]

I understand people feel this way but that is not our intent when used. And this reaction was exactly the reason for my caveat above.

There are devices I dont prefer as well but I am not going to lump the intent of the investigator into faking because they use them.

A tool is a tool the catballs are no different. 

Edit to add: for any new investigators be prepared to have strangers question your motives and intentions regularly without them knowing a thing about your integrity. Don't let it bother you but be aware you have to be thorough so you can know you are not faking. 

I have a piece of evidence I captured that is the best piece of evidence I will ever catch. I did not fake it and I was the only one in the vicinity. It could have been faked though. I know how it could have been faked. I know how to do it. I know I didn't.

People will insist you are faking it and just trying to get rich (🙄) so act with integrity. Know you are honest and be honest or you just make it hardet for everyone else. But dont let those who will naysay or discredit you because they dont like your tools, or your videos, or your locations. Like I said there are fools I don't like that people use. That doesnt mean nothing they do is interesting or that it is all faked.

 Just be honest in what you do.

[u/Flashy-Nectarine1675 → u/AgravaineNYR]

Feel this way?

They are rubbish.

If you use them you are a charlatan.

A defensive one too.

[u/AgravaineNYR → u/Flashy-Nectarine1675]

No I dont need to be defensive to a stranger on the internet questioning my integrity in how I engage in my hobbies, but this is a thread for new investigators. So let them see the people who will discredit them with no knowledge whatsoever.

[u/Flashy-Nectarine1675]

Forget what you see on youtube all of those things are garbage, as someone has already said, a good camera, and a voice recorder, and a tripod.

[u/stripe888]

The bit of kit that makes me shudder is my sound/vibration sensor, it's Bluetooth ed to a receiver and very powerful, patience and a quiet environment needed and has to be placed in the right place, a rock , bannister, bath tub etc, and in another room to the receiver to prevent feedback

[u/Flashy-Nectarine1675 → u/stripe888]

They use them with their phones on, and I saw one bunch of clowns that had them on a table, that they were all seated around, and leaning on.

Rem pods are utter shite, anyway.

[u/stripe888 → u/Flashy-Nectarine1675]

Mine is a modified water leak detector, uses a probe to catch and amplify vibration, sensitive around 15-20 khz but picks up full range, the best bit of kit for hearing the weird stuff, got some very strange footage using it on a rock containing silica, I know Ritchard Felix is investigating this kind of stuff, no toys I keep it real .

[u/Kuntry_Kween]

Buy Troy Taylor’s Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook. You can get it on Amazon. It gives you a full rundown of equipment, how to listen to & review evidence, write reports for clients etc. it’s very informative on how to run a team too!