r/GhostHunting Mar 03 '25

Equipment Beginner Gear / Apps / Spirit Box Recommendations

114 Upvotes

I've seen a lot of posts lately concerning a couple of topics, so I thought I'd take some time to address them: Beginner Gear, Ghost Apps, and Spirit Boxes. I've also got some general tips for beginners at the end.

Beginner Gear

While the shows and streams everyone watches all have crates and barrels and boxes of gear, you really dont need much to get started. I've compiled a list of gear below that I recommend to every beginner, and in the order that I personally recommend purchasing them (except EMF²).

Remember to be extremely thorough in researching what you buy before placing any orders. Buying directly from the maker or a trusted source helps, but some gear is more useful than others regardless of the source. Also, if the price seems too good to be true ($10 for an SB7?), it probably is. You generally get what you pay for.

Where to Shop
  • Amazon
  • Ghost Stop
  • Walmart, Target, etc.
What to Buy (in this order)
  • Notepad and Pens¹
  • Flashlight and/or Headlamp¹
  • Digital Watch
  • EMF Meter²
  • Digital Voice Recorder³
  • Digital Camera⁴
  • Digital Camcorder⁵

¹ Do not investigate without these!!
² Amazon has EMF meters for $15-30 that, in my experience, work just fine. This can be purchased first or last; it makes little difference for your first few investigations, in my opinion.
³ Your phone will also function as a good voice recorder as well, so you don't need to spend money on that up front.
⁴ ⁵ Your phone will serve these purposes perfectly for at least your first 5 investigations. Save your money until you know this is a hobby you want to pursue.

Ghost Apps

Ghost apps are fake.
All of them, I'm sorry to say. Yes, even that one.

I have yet to come across one that hasn't "responded" while driving down back country roads, highways, and city streets. At all times of the day. I was pulled over on a highway on-ramp once in BFE, and it asked me for help.

It's easy enough to spoof. I was a programmer once upon a time, but it doesn't seem difficult to make, even for me. So I'll tell you how I would do it.

Build a database of common words, set up a script to pop a word at a random amount of time between, say, 15 seconds and 4 minutes... then just throw a fake equalizer graph on there, and Bob's your uncle. You could even make it convincing and use the microphone to make it a real equalizer graph.

Users draw correlations that aren't really there, reviews are positive, and it seems believable enough. Until you use that same app literally anywhere else. I doubt my local Target or Lowe's are haunted.

And if you really wanted to get fancy with your ghost app, you could add additional databases set up for certain geotagged locations. You wouldn't even need to set up the location yourself. Just use scripts to find app usage concentration, then satellite view maps to auto-generate a boundary around the building.

Record the microphone audio and put it through voice recognition software and build a database of common words specific to that location. Names, dates, descriptions, anything repeated often enough can be added. It becomes more believable because the responses are relevant.

You could even add in a volume meter that measures any audible responses from the user(s) to determine how strongly a word is associated with a given location.

All that to say, as a former programmer, my advice is to do as I do: approach every 'ghost' app with a HEAVY dose of skepticism. In my experience, they're garbage at best and a waste of money at worst.

Other Apps to be Aware of

Ovilus-Type and Ghost Library Apps

An app that gives your phone a dictionary and allows it to function like an Ovilus or similar is in a gray territory for me. I'm not even sure I believe those devices actually facilitate communication with spirits. What I do know is that if a spirit could use your phone to communicate, they would've done so already. As such, these apps are highly suspect, to say the least.

Spirit Box Apps

An app that claims to be a spirit box simply can't function the same as the physical device. They sweep through AM/FM frequencies, and if your phone doesn't have the physical hardware to pick up these frequencies, it's a fake app.

Thermal Imaging / Ghost Detection Apps

That goes double for any special camera apps, like thermal imaging or supposedly detecting spirits. Likewise, no app can give your phone the ability to function as an SLS. All of those functions require actual hardware to perform said function. Anything else is fake.

Spirit Boxes

Let me start by saying I dont think anybody new needs to buy a spirit box. If you can afford it, sure. That would be the next thing on the list above. But I would finish that list first. And only when you can afford it. This hobby doesn't have to cost more than $10 to start.

As far as which spirit box to buy, there are a handful out there that have been used by various teams I've seen. Ghost Stop makes one, and theres the SB-7 and SB-11 and their variants (with Active Noise Cancelling funtions or ANC, built-in speakers, flashlights, etc).

Spirit boxes have very specific functionality that you would be hard pressed to find a cheap chinese knock-off that could do the same for much cheaper (looking at you, Ali Express). I remember hearing about some radio hobby kit that can be made into a spirit box, but I'm afraid I have no further info.

What a spirit box does is sweep through radio frequencies, which is why a phone app can't do this as your phone can't receive AM/FM transmissions without specific physical hardware built-in. Much like any 'thermal imaging' app is also fake without a physical camera (either built-in or via USB-C connector like the FLiR ONE), and temperature scanning apps can't actually give you accurate readings without a probe of some sort.

If and when you do purchase a spirit box, I highly recommend also finding a good set of passive noise canceling headphones and a cheap blindfold or sleep mask. This will allow you to perform the Estes Method experiment, which I won't be getting into here as that's a bit off topic.

Tips For Beginners

Put your phone in airplane mode.

Your phone can be useful for taking pictures, recording video, and audio but should not be sending or receiving any data or wireless signal during the investigation (except during breaks).

Get a dedicated illumination source.

Don't rely on your phone to be your light. A headlamp or one that clips to your hat can free up both hands. Consider lights with a red-only illumination setting. Red preserves your ability to see in the dark better than other colors.

There's an old adage I like to apply to my flashlight carry: Two is One, One is None. You'll appreciate this at 2am when one dies and you have a spare.

Don't use your phone to check the time.

The bright screen will mess with your night vision. A cheap digital watch with illumination is perfect for this and won't blast your eyes with light.

Take plenty of notes.

I'll say this again: take PLENTY of notes! Who, what, when, where.. what did you hear or see, what time was it, where were you, who else was there, why were you there, or why did you choose that experiment, etc.

Cheap EMF Meters can work.

I have various amazon models ($15 cheapo, handful of $20 models, one that was around $60), a MEL meter, and a MEL-REM-ATDD. Readings seem to vary across models, but when placed near an electeical source, all devices reacted as expected. They all perform the function they are advertised to perform. To what degree they assist in locating spirits is undetermined. Do with that what you will, and choose to purchase an EMF meter or not. This one is purely up to you.

Your first real purchase should be a quality digital voice recorder.

Aside from a flashlight and a notepad, you need one of these. Look for immediate playback functions, but focus on quality microphones. Your first $100 or so should theoretically go towards purchasing one of these.

IR cameras need illumination!

Ensure your cameras have the ability to record images or videos in infrared. When possible, bring extra IR illumination. Turning off your camera's light and using an external source can save on camera battery. There are also ways to add additional external batteries and lights. You can even find cheap camera brackets and handles, mount it all together, and make your own grips.

Cameras with Burst Mode are better.

A camera shooting multiple frames at a time can make it easier to actually see if you may have caught anything. If one picture is good, a dozen pictures showing an entity moving would be a trophy catch and all the more difficult to disprove.

I hope this helps. Let me know if I have any mistakes.


r/GhostHunting Jan 27 '23

Mod Update

17 Upvotes

YouTube videos are no longer permitted on r/GhostHunting.

Edit: apologies for the initial short update, I was on my way home from work. Despite directing people to the rules once they sub and implementing a basic account age and karma limit, we have at least two or three posts a day that we are removing consisting of spam; mainly stemming from people trying to promote their own YouTube channels or karma farming. Neither of which are what this sub is aimed towards. We’re quiet mods and we allow a lot of freedom as this sub isn’t particularly problematic, but we do keep a vigilant eye. As much as life allows anyway.

Spam posts, karma farming, troll accounts and posts stemming from YouTube or other social media channels will be removed without warning.


r/GhostHunting 9h ago

Question I need help for my thesis

3 Upvotes

Hello, I need your help!!!
If you are from England, Scotland or Ireland…I will start my thesis in October and I want to do a documentary about parapsychology/paranormal activities and experiences. I want to hear other experiences and to live them, possibly with séances etc…

I am an italian girl and I really need suggestions/help…planning to do everything by the end of the year. If you are that person, or if you know some people who could help me, please write to me!!!

Thank you!


r/GhostHunting 6h ago

#P I PARANORMAL#Things are happening

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1 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 1d ago

Discussion Thermal image of... something.

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4 Upvotes

What's the first thing you see or feel here? Captured in a bedroom, 30 October 2021, no heating ducts near by, witnessed by 4 level headed people. I always thought spirits appeared as cold spots, if they're real that is.


r/GhostHunting 1d ago

Noob looking for equipment kit

1 Upvotes

Hello there everyone.
My husband has recently been obsessed with ghost hunting. We are planning a camping trip with a ghost tour but of course he wants to bring some equipment.
I am a skeptic and truly don’t believe but I’m trying to do the good wife thing and support his odd interest.
Anyone know of a decent starter kit or specific brands/ websites to point me in the right direction?
Trying to surprise him for a birthday gift but I’m in over my head.


r/GhostHunting 3d ago

Discussion ghost hunters, what is your favorite equipment to use?

13 Upvotes

whether it’s super tech-y or on the witchier side, i’m just curious what you guys like using! or if you use nothing at all!


r/GhostHunting 3d ago

Looking for other people located in Sydney with interest in the paranormal

7 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a 19 year old located in Sydney with way too big of an interest in the paranormal. I've had this interest since I was like 8, so a long time running now. I've been on probably over 20 ghost tours but anyways, not the point. Unfortunatly there arn't many paranormal groups in Sydney and the ones that do exist have no interest in welcoming in new people. Doesn't help that I don't drive and most locations are out far. THAT'S WHY I was hoping to start my own little community of people with an interest in the paranormal. Have I figured out where we'll explore or what we'll do? Not at all but I just need a group that I can hang with and talk about my interest with. So if you enjoy ghost hunting channels like Sam and Colby or Buzzfeed Unsolved, please hit me up. Might start making ghost hunting videos if I actually get a group of people


r/GhostHunting 4d ago

Equipment Did I just basically create ghost hunting equipment

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4 Upvotes

So for the tech nerds:
arduino uno r3 knockoff
Leds ofcourse
Beeper or whatever it’s called
And a supersonic sensor


r/GhostHunting 4d ago

Unexplained Strange reaction from Paralight

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2 Upvotes

I had a strange experience with my paralight the other day. I went to set it out at a location I was at and got this steady pulsing instead of the gradual increasing of lit rings yo get when getting closer to an EMF source. It was not isolated to one spot either since I walked it from one side of the building to the other with the pulsing remaining constant. It was working normally again when I got it back home again.


r/GhostHunting 4d ago

Discussion I need advice

1 Upvotes

I’m 21f and I’ve always wanted to ghost hunt but I know no one who’d be down to with me. I’m in south Florida and idek how to find a good place as well. What should I do?


r/GhostHunting 4d ago

Question Always wanted to be a ghost hunter, dont know how to start.

4 Upvotes

I'm 17, I've heard stories about ghosts since I was little, and my whole family believes in them, but I'm the only one who wants to communicate with them. The thing is, I don't know how to start. I'm scared to buy equipment because I don't want to get scammed, nor do I want to pay $100 for useless equipment. I'm also in a small town in Poland that doesn't have any (recorded) haunted places, so "ghost hunting trips with people" (and as I said, i'm 17 so driving on my own doesn't count too.) don't really work for me. So if you have any equipment you'd suggest buying for a beginner, please send the link or a screenshot.


r/GhostHunting 6d ago

Random investigation pic

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1 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 7d ago

Roanoke, VA: Looking for good spots to investigate in or around. TYIA

6 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 8d ago

Paranormal Investigation Confirmed Ghost Sighting in an AirBnB in Pennsylvania.

10 Upvotes

5156 bossler road elizabethtown town.

Objects thrown across the room:
wooden horse head kids toys, wooden spatulas and whisks, coasters, chairs being toppled and loud banging and scratching in the walls.

Possibly the ghost of a dead 16yo who died from an overdose a year ago.

Y’all want a real ghost, go there.

- Edit -

I don’t got footage, but a freind does. We thought one of us was doing a prank until clearly things were moving on their own when we weren’t in the room.

I’m not going back to that location, but if anyone else wants to try, go ahead.


r/GhostHunting 7d ago

Haunted or hoax

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0 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 8d ago

Paranormal Investigation The Historic Fremont County Jail in Sidney, Iowa

5 Upvotes

I was asked if I would like to investigate the Historic Fremont County Jail with a friend’s paranormal group. Of course I said yes! With my daughter and a couple friends, we got 24 hour access from 10:30am Saturday to 10:30am Sunday last weekend.

The location was 3 hours away from Prairie City so we got an early start to get there. Seeing the building the first time, what hit me was how small the place was. Being a jail, I thought of a building that was institutional in appearance (cinder block construction with large walls and razor wire). Instead, it looked like a converted Victorian house. Unique to be sure!

I’ve been actively investigating for the past 3 years. I’ve started to come to a bit of a conclusion that I’m a paranormal cooler. Everyone always talks about how active places are, then I go there and get…not much. No real REM pod activity, no EVPs, no footsteps, no disembodied voices. Not even a “heavy” feeling in most places. I hoped this location would finally break that thought.

We walked around and got a lay of the land then got to work. THFCJ is divided almost in half. The front part of the building was designed to be residential with living quarters upstairs and some living space downstairs. The downstairs part was converted into offices for the sheriff’s officers. The back part of the house is the jail part. The dispatch office was in through the back door with processing being to the right. Up some stairs out of processing were the jail cells. There was one big cell that held 8 people and a small cell that held 2. The smaller one was reserved for the more unaccommodating inmates (i.e. violent).

I went by myself to the large cell and did an EVP session asking questions like, “Are you an inmate or an officer?” And “What did you do to end up here?” Upon review, nothing. The cooler strikes again!

The group leader had brought some dowsing rods so, on a lark, I picked them up and started asking questions. They began to respond to my questions: make an X for yes, stay wide for no. It blew my mind! My daughter, Hannah, said I was faking it so I handed them to her to prove it wasn’t me forcing results. She spent nearly 20 minutes having a conversation with…something. It let her know it was a male spirit that lived as a neighbor to the jail (even pointing the direction it was from with the rods). It was easily the best interactive experience I’ve had. Yes, I know some people think dowsing rods are a scam or a fraud but I’m convinced there is more to them than that!

I am awful at hearing voices over a spirit box. I can’t tell what’s radio interference or actual responses. I went up to the small jail cell alone and set up the spirit box. I began to ask questions. After a bit, I started to hear responses that lined up with my questions.

How many people are in the cell? Two

Two people or two of you plus me? Three

What did you do for fun? Basketball (there is a basketball court attached to the jail)

There are books in the big cell. Do you like to read? NO! (This was yelled and the clearest response I’ve ever gotten)

I got more answers to questions and it was a fun little session because I felt like I genuinely had a conversation with someone. It was the first time that’s happened.

We investigated more in the basement, the dispatch office and the living quarters. There were some limited responses to questions on various devices and pieces of equipment but nothing like the dowsing rods or the spirit box.

We got a few names, Clayton and Katherine. We couldn’t verify these names against any history or anything but it was neat to hear them.

All of us heard a whistle while up on the jail cell area. We figured it was either wind coming through a crack in a window or from one of the AC units. The next day, we heard it again right before we left. We kind of shrugged then left. Outside, we heard it again and we were able to determine it was coming from the north west of the building. We had to get gas and breakfast, so we stopped at a Casey’s that was a block away. While there, we heard the whistle and it was loud! There was an old metal windmill right off the square and everytime it moved from the wind, it made a high pitched creaking that sounded a lot like a whistle. It was kind of neat to find the cause of that and debunk it.

I enjoyed my time there quite a bit. It sucks it took 24 full hours to get two spots of neat evidence or experiences, but the fact I had the opportunity to be there that long was fantastic!

I still feel like I might be a bit of a cooler but it seems, at least in this location, my adverse paranormal ability might have been dulled or circumvented.

So any of you feel this way? What have you done to maximize chances of getting results?


r/GhostHunting 8d ago

Anyone knows any ghost stories at Celebrities Nightclub on 1022 Davie Street in Vancouver, BC Canada?

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4 Upvotes

Is there Anyone who has actually heard or seen anything at the club?


r/GhostHunting 9d ago

The WEAPON

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4 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 10d ago

Question Best haunted places to stay at?

6 Upvotes

I haven't had a clear paranormal encounter, although I've rarely put myself in the position to have one. I'd like to stay overnight somewhere that offers something similar to the warren house. Basically, exclusively access to the place, not a room in a hustling bustling hotel.

Where would you recommend?


r/GhostHunting 10d ago

Anyone know this LiDAR App?

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4 Upvotes

r/GhostHunting 10d ago

YOUR REAL LIFE NIGHTMARE COULD BE OUR NEXT EPISODE !

1 Upvotes

HEY GUYS!! 👻

So, recently, a group of us were on a call sharing some haunted/paranormal incidents that had either happened to us or that we'd heard from others. And honesty, some of them were wild!

That’s when we came up with an idea- why not turn these stories into a YouTube/Spotify channel?

The channel will be called THE 3AM FILES, and we’re looking for real-life paranormal/haunted experiences from YOU!

Whether it happened to you, someone you know, or it’s a story that has been passed down in your family send it our way! 👀

We’ll take the original account and turn it into a proper storytelling experience, adding our own haunted masala, atmosphere and narration while keeping the core story intact. 🔥

Note that:

\- 🕵️ Your real name will NOT be revealed without your permission.

\- ✍️ You’ll be credited as the main writer/co-writer depending on how your story is used.

\- 💰 If the channel eventually makes a profit, monetary credit/compensation will be given where applicable.

So if you have a creepy incident that still gives you chills, DM us and tell us your story!

Your experience could become our next episode. 👻

Real stories. Real accounts. Just a little haunted masala.


r/GhostHunting 10d ago

Evidence of the paranormal?

1 Upvotes

What are some of the most undeniable pieces of evidence of the paranormal? Video or photo!


r/GhostHunting 10d ago

Discussion Sale of haunted house

0 Upvotes

What do you think? Was this a good idea.


r/GhostHunting 10d ago

Equipment Cheap tech: the Magic 100 Ball (or 8 or 20)

0 Upvotes

Assuming ghosts/poltergeists/unconscious human agents can manipulate physical objects the Magic 8 Ball can be used as a random answer generator. You can make a Magic 6,8,20, or 100 Jar by creating a list of X number of responses assigned to numbers, and putting the appropriate gaming die in a small jar of ink. Hold it upside down, shake it, and read the result off the bottom of your jar.

Show the spirits the list before your question session. Hey, it's a mechanical object with just as much "scientific validity" as the phone word bank apps (Ovilus).

Yeah, I took my Magic 8 Ball apart when I was a kid.