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| “THE TECHNICAL CORNER” KII or Ghost Meter This months TC article is on the ever popular, but highly controversial “Ghost Meter,” or more formally known to paranormal investigators as the KII meter. Once a mere EMF meter, the little KII Meter has found a brand new identity, hiding in the tool boxes of Ghost Hunters and Paranormal Researchers from one corner of the world to the other. THE TECHNICAL: EMF fields are generated by virtually all electric and electronic devices, including wiring. As with all other EMF meters, the KII (up until recently) was primarily used to monitor and measure these fields. EMF stands for electromagnetic field. While EMF fields are everywhere in the modern world, they can be hazardous to health if too strong and too constant, if in the vicinity of people and animals. Current theory among paranormal investigators is that anomalous EMF readings (those for which no obvious natural source can be detected) may point to the presence of paranormal activity. This might be because EMF fields are good representations of the invisible energy in the environment, and it is thought that paranormal occurrences and anomalous EMF fields are linked. Many researchers are of the opinion that disembodied spirits use or disrupt natural EMF fields as they attempt to manifest, making use of whatever energy they can find. THE NOT SO TECHNICAL: Why is the KII so popular you ask? Ask a great many paranormal investigators and they'll tell you that the KII Meter exhibits properties and boasts features that make it the easiest, handiest and most reliable EMF meter for paranormal use. The string of LEDs across the top of the meter measure the relative strength of whatever EMF (electromagnetic field) happens to exist in the locality of the instrument, and it demonstrates the relative strength of said field in a most visual way. The colored LEDs flicker from light green (for very weak fields) to bright red, and when the field is stable the lights are also stable. Researchers are finding this meter to be the perfect size, wonderfully durable (with no moving parts inside) and practically foolproof. Unless you live in a cave without cable or satellite TV, you have almost certainly seen the KII Meter on TV, prominently displayed by paranormal investigators in many popular paranormal TV shows. For people like me with the older model KII, merely shoving a penny in the top to keep the meter on was somewhat of a pain but a simple fix none the less. If you’re somewhat tech savvy, you could do what I did which is go down to your local electronics store (like Radio Shack) and pick yourself up a small on/off switch and solder it in to eliminate the penny process. The newer meters now have a “press to operate” function or even an on/off dial which makes operating this meter that much better. There is no question that it has become an accepted tool in the business, used now by groups from every corner of the globe. The best part is the KII is an inexpensive way to get started if you are just getting interested in paranormal investigations. And if you are already involved, you are well acquainted with this meter. There are some out there that are highly against this meter and claim that it’s just not that accurate. I can completely agree with these people. I DO NOT use this meter while running baselines throughout a location due to this very reason. The KII would be ok for giving one a “rough” idea as to whether or not there is a high presence of EMF in a location. For this I use a more accurate meter like a Sperry or Tri-field. But these meters are very expensive for a good one, and if dropped can immediately either break or throw off the calibration. I use the KII meter as more of a novelty item on investigations and find it very interesting during EVP sessions when placed in the middle of a floor or room. I will admit that I have had some interesting results using this meter in that way. A quick example: I will place the meter in the center of the room and explain that the device can be used to communicate with us by merely getting close to, or waving a hand over the meter, thus causing all the lights to light up. They can light the meter up for YES, and not at all for NO. To then start asking questions and see the meter repeatedly react to your questions (I have to admit) is VERY cool! If you have any questions or comments regarding this or any other technical matter, or have a technical question or would like to see an article written about a certain technical subject, please feel free to contact myself or the EVPS team at: kale.kelly@gmail.com or EVPS1@aol.com Thanks! And Happy Hauntings! |
| By: Kale Kelly “Technical Manager for The East Valley Paranormal Society” |
This months TC article is on the ever popular, but highly controversial “Ghost Box,” or more formally known to paranormal investigators as “The Radio Shack Hack.” Is this indeed a device that allows 2-way communication to take place with the other side? Have we finished the work that some claim Thomas Edison started all those years ago? We’ll answer these and many more as we explore the mystery surrounding “The Ghost Box.” THE BOX: Let’s start with a bit of a history lesson on something I have done a bit of research on. There seems to be a new legend circulating around the paranormal community that Thomas Edison planned on creating a device that could communicate with the dead. When I initially heard this I was intrigued. I went online and decided that I would read up on the subject as it sounded VERY interesting. Though I DID find a lot of write ups on the subject, I did not find anything that firmly said that Edison was indeed in the process of making any such device. I also found some interesting information written by people that have studied Edison and his works who all firmly stand by their statements as saying that Edison working on any such device was merely a myth. So given this misleading information about Edison, I believe it would be a good idea that we stick to the facts regarding the “Ghost Box” we have here and not the myths and legends of a masterful and skilled inventor. Most of you are familiar with E.V.P (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). When conducting an E.V.P. session, most investigators will bring a recording device such as a digital or analog voice recorder. They’ll walk around a “presumed” haunted location and ask questions such as “Can you please tell us your name?” Or, “Is there anything that we can do for you.” Now, unless you’re like me and listen live (to be covered in a different article), after an investigation an investigator will then go home and listen to all the audio they recorded during their time spent at the location. They won’t always hear any voices while ON the investigation; rather hear the voices or sounds later upon review. This really kills any chance of 2-way communication with the other side. This is where the “Ghost Box” comes in…. The “Ghost Box” or “Radio Shack Hack” sounds like the end all be all of methods used to communicate with the other side right? The way the box works is it tunes the AM/FM channels on the radio back and fourth without stopping. A gentleman by the name of Frank Sumption was the original creator of the Ghost Box. He called it simply… “Frank’s Box.” Frank has made several of these over the years and swears by the holy mother herself that he has had full-on 2-way communication with the other side. Frank has never charged anyone for the boxes, rather has given them to (whom he felt) credible people in the field for use on investigations. These people would include Rosemary Ellen Guiley (as seen in a photo below with Frank Sumption), and Christopher Moon, publisher of the well know “Haunted Times magazine.” . Now on a personal note, I’ve personally spoken with Rosemary regarding the box and she truly believes without a doubt that she too has 2-way communication with the other side. She’s a very nice lady and is usually happy to field any questions thrown her way. Christopher Moon has appeared on several different paranormal shows, is president of his own magazine and even charges individuals for a private session with the box over the phone….? Umm. Yeah. Me personally, I keep it real and to the point. The original schematics to Frank’s Box are posted on the internet for the whole world to see. Simply search Google for “How to build a ghost box.” So me being me, I decided to do just that. THE TECHNICAL: I built one using the Radio Shack, hand held AM/FM radio, model No. 12-469 (see picture at the top of the article). This radio can be purchased at any local Radio Shack, or online for about $25-30.00. Once you get this amazing 2-way communication device for the dead home, tear it out of the package and flip it onto its face. Remove the screws in the back of the radio and gently pull the back plate of the radio off (be sure not to lose the screws like me). Next, take the screws out that connect the 2 circuit boards and again, gently pry them apart. Now that the circuit board is apart, on the bottom of the top circuit board you will see a strip with 13 pins in it. Find the pin that reads “MUTE” (which I believe is the 5th pin in). With a small pair of wire cutters, either clip it or bend it down. What this does is eliminate the pause when changing through the different stations. This now gives you the “sweep effect” where it doesn’t stop when scanning for stations. Now carefully reassemble the radio, insert your batteries and WHALA! Now you can do a few different things to jazz this entire operation if you wish. But the simple method is to merely plug a small speaker or PC speakers into the headphone jack, turn the radio on and start asking questions. You can place a digital audio recorder near the speaker to record your sessions. OR, if you’re semi tech savvy, run the radio through your laptop and record it directly to your hard drive. A detailed picture of how this is down is available upon request. Now, does it work? Of course it works… That is if you mean “does it scan through the stations and not stop.” Folks, here’s the facts. I have used this device several different times and several different ways and have YET to get any type of response whatsoever. No success of communication in any way. I HAVE even used an actual “Frank’s Box” while investigating the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone AZ that was on loan to a fellow investigator on my team… STILL nothing. My biggest issue with the whole box idea is that it’s sweeping through radio stations. It’s picking up single words here and there. I believe that people are just SO desperate to communicate that their judgment is being clouded and they are “matrixing” words. I could ask a simple question such as “Is there anyone here that would like to speak with us?” I might even suddenly here a quick “yes.” Come through the box. WOO HOO!! 2-way spiritual communication right? Well, not exactly. See, a good paranormal investigator will go based on facts and solid evidence. What you thought you heard as “yes” could have simply been a radio commercial saying “Come on in on Saturday for the best deal in the entire state! And “yes” we have financing available.” See… With the ghost box scanning on frequencies that radio programs are broadcasted on, there are just too many things to factor in before one could successfully claim that they have indeed made communication with the other side. I am definitely very much open to continuing my experimentation with this device and would appreciate it if you could let me know of you’re success or stories (if any) that you may have had using this or other such devices. Detailed videos on how to do this modification to this radio are also on YouTube. Simply search “Ghost Box.” If you have any questions or comments regarding this or any other technical matter, or have a technical question or would like to see an article written about a certain technical subject, please feel free to contact myself or the EVPS team at: kale.kelly@gmail.com or EVPS1@aol.com Thanks! And Happy Hauntings! |
| This months TC article is on the popular, MEL-8704R The Mel Meter Model 8704R was specifically designed for Paranormal Investigators. Many important features have been incorporated into this durable, precision hand held instrument. THE TECHNICAL: EMF fields are generated by virtually all electric and electronic devices, including wiring. EMF stands for electromagnetic field. While EMF fields are everywhere in the modern world, they can be hazardous to health if too strong and too constant in the vicinity of people and animals. The Mel 8704 is the only device I know of that is specifically designed for Paranormal Investigators. Many important features have been incorporated into this durable, precision hand held instrument. The backlit display has a dual purpose, it can be turned On or OFF manually for display viewing in dark areas, and is also bright enough so that it can be used in total darkness to navigate stairwells, corridors and door ways (though I would still recommend a good flashlight). Illumination of objects up to 8' away is possible with this special display once your eyes become adjusted to the light. The very large, clear display shows EMF and Ambient Temperature simultaneously to provide instant feedback and correlation of readings when there is an EMF and/ or Temperature change in the surrounding area. This display can be viewed up to 15' away when positioned using the table top tilt stand or tripod mount features. Current theory among paranormal investigators is that anomalous EMF readings (those for which no obvious natural source can be detected) may point to the presence of paranormal activity. This might be because EMF fields are good representations of the invisible energy in the environment, and it is thought that paranormal occurrences and anomalous EMF fields are linked. Many researchers are of the opinion that disembodied spirits use or disrupt natural EMF fields as they attempt to manifest, making use of whatever energy they can find. MY FINDINGS: THE PROS: Lightweight sturdy rugged case for resisting drops and bumps during normal use. 9v DC adapter fitting for steady mounted use eliminating the inevitable battery drain. Table stand and tripod mount fitting good for those long EVP sessions while stationary and a remote stationary recording for hot spot investigation.Six button user interface for ease of use. Two simultaneous measurements (EMF and Fahrenheit/ Celsius) giving you a free hand to hold a recorder or camera. Variable range from 20, 200, 2000 micro Tesla to 200, 2000, 20000 mili-Gauss for broader range readings. The MEL 8704 features a data hold/ data record function useful when you need to log suspicious readings and for correlation with other recorded evidence. THE CONS: 9v DC adapter is sold separately. Navigation of menus can be confusing. When measuring both EMF and Temperature at the same time the processing speed of the CPU divides between the two causing approximately a 1 second lag in readings. While you can read just EMF alone there is no setting for just Temperature alone. Changing temperature settings requires navigation of the devices menus unlike the EMF settings controlled by a button press. THE NOT SO TECHNICAL: Not bad…. I found the MEL 8704R to be an excellent device “for the more seasoned and experienced investigator.” The Mel 8704 offers a wide range of functionality and features for any enthusiast to call this a must have in their arsenal of equipment. Its price though a little steep is not beyond affordability for any devoted paranormal investigation group. Even with its small delay in reading times using both its EMF and temperature settings it is virtually unnoticeable as the investigation proceeds. Remember, there are several different MEL meter on the market. Some can get a bit expensive. I believe the “new fad” in paranormal investigation meters is to mix as many meters as possible into 1 “do everything you need” meter. Is this good or bad you may ask? Well, the more stuff taking place, the more the battery drain for 1. There’s a ProNAV model, a Vibe model and with the upper models, a built in KII meter complete with lights. Bring your wallet for the upper models as they’ll hit you for roughly $200. So, if it’ s all the visual stuff that interests you, then by all means shoot for the KII model. I can see the benefit if one is placing it in a room in front of a camera etc. But my advice, if you’re merely carrying this meter around in your hand, the MEL-8704R ProNav is the ideal meter and will set you back about $100. The different MEL models are below. If you have any questions or comments regarding this or any other technical matter, or have a technical question or would like to see an article written about a certain technical subject, please feel free to contact myself or the EVPS team at: kale.kelly@gmail.com or EVPS1@aol.com Thanks! And Happy Hauntings! |
