Modern, scientific, paranormal investigation techniques often require tools and equipment which can cost a lot of money.  You may have seen some of these in use on your favorite television programs.  Even without the high end scientific recording devices, we still go through gobs and gobs of batteries and spend much of our own money on cameras and digital audio recorders, not to mention the time we spend reviewing the evidence we gather nor the transportation costs involved in getting to and from the locations we investigate.

What we need:

• Digital Video Recorder – This is a device usually used in security services to monitor several cameras at once.  It is a box where cameras plug in and which records the video digitally, on a hard drive for later analysis.  We need one of these with a monitor.  Estimated cost: $700 plus shipping for an 8-camera system with night vision and 60 foot cables.  We would prefer longer extension cables ($41+S&H for 4 60ft cables) to add to this system.  It does not include a monitor.
• Van or box truck to serve as mobile communications hub. (Must include a quiet AC power generator or AC power inverter.)
• Head-mounted IR cameras for each investigator with portable recorders. (We prefer 5 investigators per case.)
• Portable backup hard drives to store case evidence.
• Laptop computers for evidence review.
• Professional, Three-Axis EMF meters
• Data logging environmental sensors
• Flashlights
• Handheld 2-way Radios
• Batteries for all portable equipment.

Of course, some of these items are not feasible without help.

We are therefore, considering corporate sponsorship.  This would require that we give something back to our sponsors.  Here is what we are willing to offor our potential corporate sponsors:

• Banner Advertising on The Arcanorum website. (We have several options here. )
• Product Reviews (We will only give our professional opinion, so be careful if this is what you want.)
• Ad Placement on our van (when we get one – see above)
• Embedded ads in our videos (referring to branded products by name, wearing corporate logo shirts & hats, product logos visible in video, etc.)
• Direct voice-over ads in videos (“This video/investigation is sponsored by…”)
• Official product endorsements (We can supply video footage of our people making endorsements.)

In order to keep our investigative results from bias, we will not:

• Endorse or use any product we cannot actually recommend, no matter how much you pay us.
• Accept advertisements which might reflect negatively on our professionalism.
• Accept payment to skew or change the results of any investigation, report, or experiment.

We will consider all other requests, including syndication for books, movies, television, periodicals, etc.

If you would like to sponsor us, please use the contact form here and let us know what you would like and what you are offering.  We would be happy to accept product samples (even on loan in the case of expensive things like thermal imaging systems).  Cash is always an option.

Edit: We also welcome private and anonymous sponsorships.

Entity Sensor is a basic 3-axis Electromagnetic Field meter for the Android phones.  What makes it unique in Android EMF apps is the ability to “Zero” the scale so you can see any changes more easily.  It’s pretty nifty, but for what it is, I can’t see paying the $4.99 price.  I did like the concept though, so I emailed the developer basically saying that if he made it significantly more useful than the other apps out there, I’d be happy to pay more for it.  I suggested adding a data logging function and he agreed, saying that such a bonus was in the works for a Pro version.  We emailed back and forth a couple times and he has taken my suggestions to heart and implemented them into this first version of Entity Sensor Pro.

For the Pro version, the data logger makes all the difference.  When you begin to record data, the app saves a CVS file to the SD card for later analysis.  What’s more, is that there is a voice note function where you can notate your readings… or for ghost investigations, you can conduct an EVP session.  The CSV file notes the beginning and end of each sound file it records, thus giving you the ability to correlate the EMF readings with any audio evidence.

This is brilliant.  No more trying to position a camera to watch the EMF meter.  Even better, you get BOTH the visual indicator of the light bar AND the solid recording of the exact miligauss or mictoTesla readings in 3-axis format.  The CSV file records the readings and the start and stop times of your audio recordings.

I’ve only had a few minutes so far to test it but it works quite well so far.  The EMF meter is VERY sensitive to any changes.  Really.  On an investigation, put your phone on a flat surface and zero it out before recording anything.  You probably don’t want to be moving it around while recording either.  It’s THAT sensitive.

I’ll be testing it out more soon and posting the results and a more thorough set of usage instructions soon.  Bookmark http://www.arcanorum.org and stay tuned for more info!

But times have changed and there’s a new toy in town!

Enter: The Smart Phone.

If you already have an iPhone3G or an Android based phone, you already have an EMF meter.

If you’re using an Apple iPhone, check out the Paranormal State branded EMF meter from Moderati. (Warning though – many are saying it’s fake.) There is another one for $0.99 and another one that is free.

If you have an Android, you can download the Free EMF Meter or Krugism’s $4.99 Entity Sensor/EMF Detector.  (Scott at Krugism.com is well known for his excellent support and customer relations.) The Android platform has built-in 3-axis EMF sensors.  There are numerous (free and paid) apps you can use to see the result, including a nifty Tricorder app for you Star Trek fans.There are even some that graph all three axes and save all your sensor data to a spreadsheet on your microSD card.

So there you have it, folks.  Cheap EMF.  Even available in Walmart’s cell phone department included free with your Android or Apple smart phone.

Personally, I own an Android and currently use the Free EMF Meter.  I’m keeping a close eye on Krugism’s Entity Sensor though, as I’ve put in some feature requests and as soon as his app has enough to make it significantly better than the free one, I’ll be throwing some cash his way.

As always, The Arcanorum is happy to test and review any gadgets and gizmos you want to send us.  We will give an honest and informative review.  If possible, all we ask for is to keep the gadget if we like it and/or at least get a link back to the Arcanorum.org site.  Each review is negotiated seperately, so it never hurts to contact us.

Not only do we have new forums in place, but you can now request articles for us to write.  All you have to do is register for an account here and then submit your request on the “Ask Us!” page.

That’s it.

Now YOU can tell us what you want to hear about!

What are you waiting for? Get asking and we’ll get to researching for you!

But you may not have noticed some other news that you may like:

• New Forums! That’s right.  The Arcanorum web site is going interactive!  After over a decade online, we’re finally opening up to try and form more of a community with you, our visitors.  So please, feel free to sign up, log in, and jump into the fray!
• New Investigation Team! As of Tuesday evening, October 27, 2010, The Arcanorum finally began work to put together a formal investigation team.  With experienced people around the neighborhood of Nashua, NH, we finally got off our collective duffs and did something.  Expect more people from the team posting here and a lively discussion over in the Forums.I have tried to put the team together out of a broad mix of people.  We have our skeptics, religious experts (multiple religions), sensitives, scientists, and more! In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be introducing some of them… or some of them may be introducing themselves.
• New Case Database! For the use of our team, I have installed a reporting database.  Now we will be able to track cases from start to finish and publish some really snazzy reports both for the public as well as for our clients.
• New Procedures! At our meeting we discussed some new investigation procedures.  One of these will be something COMPLETELY NEW to the Paranormal Community.  Stay tuned and find out!
• Funding! We’re going to put the “fun” back into funding by offering you special incentives to help us do what we do.  Investigations and gear can get quite costly, and we’d like to be able to afford the good equipment.  At the same time, we do not want to charge money for people genuinely looking for help understanding weird things around them.  So… We’ve decided to try out a few incentives to get those of you who enjoy reading about this sort of thing in on the action.  More details as we have them.

So sign up, log in, and join in the fun!

Can we PLEASE put this topic to rest now?

After talking to some fellow paranormal researchers, I’m wondering if it might be time to form a more organized group and start advertising.  There is no shortage of investigators locally, but there is a definite shortage of active, experienced groups who are not involved in the entertainment industry.

Just a thought…

So with that and the severe inactivity of the group I usually work with, I figured I’d mention that I am available to work as a guest investigator for any group in the southern NH area.  If you’d be interested in having me along, I can offer a “true skeptic” viewpoint as well as several methods of gathering data and analyzing it.  I’ve got two wireless security cameras (one remotely adjustable and another IR illuminated) which can capture video and detect motion.  I’m not famous and adding my name to your roster won’t get you screaming fans, but it will get you someone with serious experience and a level head.

If you might be interested, please email me at brian at arcanorum dot org and let me know what you’re looking for, when, and where.

Sure, buddy.  And your camera and lights operate on what?  Ether waves and pixie dust??

I have finished watching the first episode.  It was horrible.  The Scooby-doo antics, jumping at everything, misuse of equipment, unprofessional attitude, and yes, even incorrect occult references, were enough for me to decide this show jumped the shark in the first 10 minutes.  I forced myself to watch it through to the end and it was every bit as bad as the review in the previous post made it out to be and more.

They talked about “the four names of god” – huh?  I’ve heard of the 72 names but four?  The “Tree of Death” rune is a fabrication.  While there is a rune so shaped, which has been translated as “grave”, in 25+ years of occult study, I know of no relation to any “Tree of Death”.

What’s up with the thermal cam footage of the flames?  Of course it’s going to show up on thermal… DUH!  If you’re holding a conversation while listening to a parabolic mic, you’re either deaf or you’re doing something wrong.  I suspect the latter.  Even if it’s the kind that blocks loud sounds while amplifying fainter ones, you’d still be using it wrong.

These guys are lame, pathetic, and dangerous.  Their destruction of property in the prison alone should be a sign they don’t know what they’re doing.

They remind me of a bunch of prepubescent kids who have seen one too many movies and were handed a bunch of high tech equipment to play with.  Shame on A&E for even considering this as a show.  It is a disgrace to the paranormal community.

When I first heard of this show, I really wanted it to be good, but I knew it wouldn’t be.  I was amazed, though at just how bad it turned out.

For a full (and somewhat lengthy) explanation, please go read this.

I’ll have a review if I feel one is needed after I see more of the show myself.