Debunking Ghost Equipment
^{Written By Wendy Cywinski
The Ghosts of Ohio Research and Investigation}

My group bought a K2 meter in January or February of this year, and have used it diligently on our investigations. Finally by the last investigation I took part of in October, we were getting frustrated. Why weren’t we able to get ‘yes/no’ sessions going with our unseen friends, like some other groups?? It looked, so easy….they just sat down, asked questions, and got yes/no responses.

So the engineers in our group spent some time debunking (i.e.goofing around with) our K2, with very interesting results. We found we were able to manipulate the K2 meter with other equipment that runs on the same frequency. In our case, it was a walkie-talkie. So at a recent investigation, it was put to the test.

Two investigators began an EVP session using the K2 by telling the ‘spirits’ that they could answer Yes and No by moving past the K2. Unbeknownst to the casual viewer, we had another investigator off camera….about 15 feet away, holding a walkie, and keying it in response to each question. The lights on the K2 would respond to that keying of the walkie, making it look like the K2 was getting ‘spirit responses’ to the questions it was being asked.

It is just something we need to be aware of while out in the field. Not only do hauntings need to be minutely examined to find natural and human explanations, but our equipment must be studied and tested in as many ways as we can think. No honest group wants to be accused of manipulating their results, so debunking your own equipment and documenting that process should be at the top of your list.

In the case of meters, whether it be the K2, the Vernier LabPro, or a handheld EMF, you will want to test their responses to the simultaneous use of other handheld electronics, such as Walkies, cell phones/blackberrys, and anything magnetic an investigator may be carrying on them. The metal in some belts or keychains can be magnetized, so you need to be aware of this, and test it out. Keep that information alongside your photo samples so that you have actual documentation that can help you eliminate false positives in your investigations. And once you actually find things that cause ‘false’ responses in other equipment, you can take steps to make sure those are not in use at the same time.

Debunking Ghost Equipment
^{Written By Wendy Cywinski
The Ghosts of Ohio Research and Investigation}

My group bought a K2 meter in January or February of this year, and have used it diligently on our investigations. Finally by the last investigation I took part of in October, we were getting frustrated. Why weren’t we able to get ‘yes/no’ sessions going with our unseen friends, like some other groups?? It looked, so easy….they just sat down, asked questions, and got yes/no responses.

So the engineers in our group spent some time debunking (i.e.goofing around with) our K2, with very interesting results. We found we were able to manipulate the K2 meter with other equipment that runs on the same frequency. In our case, it was a walkie-talkie. So at a recent investigation, it was put to the test.

Two investigators began an EVP session using the K2 by telling the ‘spirits’ that they could answer Yes and No by moving past the K2. Unbeknownst to the casual viewer, we had another investigator off camera….about 15 feet away, holding a walkie, and keying it in response to each question. The lights on the K2 would respond to that keying of the walkie, making it look like the K2 was getting ‘spirit responses’ to the questions it was being asked.

It is just something we need to be aware of while out in the field. Not only do hauntings need to be minutely examined to find natural and human explanations, but our equipment must be studied and tested in as many ways as we can think. No honest group wants to be accused of manipulating their results, so debunking your own equipment and documenting that process should be at the top of your list.

In the case of meters, whether it be the K2, the Vernier LabPro, or a handheld EMF, you will want to test their responses to the simultaneous use of other handheld electronics, such as Walkies, cell phones/blackberrys, and anything magnetic an investigator may be carrying on them. The metal in some belts or keychains can be magnetized, so you need to be aware of this, and test it out. Keep that information alongside your photo samples so that you have actual documentation that can help you eliminate false positives in your investigations. And once you actually find things that cause ‘false’ responses in other equipment, you can take steps to make sure those are not in use at the same time.