Test Equipment



by Dale Kaczmarek

Air Ion Counter

AlphaLab, Inc.'s Air Ion Counter is a substantial improvement over previously available ion meters, and it can make ion measurement available to anyone. It costs less than one tenth of any other meter and is smaller and easier to use, requiring only two 9-V batteries. Despite this, it has the same sensitivity (down to 10 ions per cubic centimeter) of very expensive meters. Due to full electrostatic shielding and a fan throughput of 200 cubic centimeters/sec., it can make accurate readings even in adverse conditions such as gusty winds or strong electrostatic fields.

The Air Ion Counter can be used for the detection of natural and artificial ions. Natural ions include those generated from the decay of radioactive minerals and radon gas; ions generated by fires, lightning, and evaporating water; and ions associated with storm activity. Note that in fair weather at sea level, typical ion counts are about 400 negative and 500 positive ions per cubic centimeter. Before a storm, positive ions increase dramatically. During a storm, negative ions increase.

The Ion Counter can gauge the output and coverage of artificial sources such as ion generators, improperly grounded air conditioning vents, combustion vapor and electrically charged or heated surfaces, and plasma-discharge ions in air and other gases.

	Range: 10-1,999,999 ions/cubic cm.
	Settling time: 10 seconds
	Warranty: Two years
	Price: $580 US (discounts for GRS members)
	AlphaLab, Inc.
	1280 South 300 West
	Salt Lake City, UT. 84101
	800-769-3754
	trifield@aros.net

Cellsensor

Gaussmeter feature is calibrated around 50/60 Hz and also offers 2 scales: 0-5 and 0-50 mG plus audio sound which corresponds to field strength. Remote probe with 2 foot extension cord allows user great flexibility and reach. Includes complete documentation on how to conduct proper measurements, guide to emission standards and methods to reduce unnecessary exposure.

Practical Products, 26 Valley View Ln., Ghent, NY. 12075, $49.95, (888-537-7363)

Electromagnetic Field Gaussmeter

Dr. Gauss is an accurate, easy- to-use and affordable Gaussmeter developed to allow you to perform your own EMF survey. It detects and measures EMFs (electromagnetic fields) produced by electrical currents found in and around the home, at school, in the workplace and other electrical transmission areas. Uses a 9v battery. $39.95 (800-652-6733)or (888-537-7363)

     Mode 1: 1 mG to 10 mG
     Mode 2: 0.1 mG to 1 mG

Electromagnetic Field Tester

(A.W. Sperry Instruments, Inc., 245 Marcus Blvd., Hauppauge, NY. 11788, 800-645-5398, 516-231-7050.) $79.95 The Electromagnetic Field Tester, Model EMF-200A is designed to provide the user a quick, reliable and easy way to measure electromagnetic field radiation levels around power lines, home appliances and industrial devices.

	Range (in milligauss): 0.1 mG to 199.9 mG.
	Band Width:            30 Hz to 400 Hz
	Number of Axes:	  	Single axis
	Battery:		9v Transistor type battery

Due to the EM interference of the environment, the display heading may show small values before testing, for example less than 0.5 milligauss. This is not a malfunction. With the tester in hand, move slowly toward objects noting any change in EMF.

Field Strength Meter

(I.C. Engineering, 16350 Ventura Blvd., Suite 125, Encino, CA. 91436, 818-345-1692). Excellent aid for any type of antenna development, experiment or adjustment. Useful for making and observing radiation patterns of antennas. Measures TV coax distribution loss in a building. Detects electronic instrumentation cross talk due to RFI (EMI). Defines the difference between balanced and unbalanced transmission lines. Measures microwave-oven leakage, TV and computer terminal radiation. Helps define safety distance. Determines RF level in radio environment and concealed area. Sniffs 60 cycle noise from motors. Will measure RF level in your equipment resulting from different grounding methods. Demonstrates antenna polarization as an instructional instrument. RF safety monitor for individuals working in RF field. Can be used as a power meter for very low power. Transmission Locator (T-Hunt). $199.95 from The EMF Safety Site, 26 Valley View Ln., Ghent, NY. 12075, (888-537-7363)

     Frequency response: DC to 12 Ghz
     Relative sensitivity: 0.1% or .001 + 1 dgt.
     Gain: Antenna dependent
     Detectable Power Range (injected signal): 
          - at 100 Mhz: 57 dBm to 11 dBm, 2 nano watts to 60 microwatts
          - at 500 Mhz: 45.5 dBm to 8 dBm, 15 nano watts to 150 microwatts
     Display: Large 3.5 digit LCD with internal low battery voltage 
	indicator (7.2V or less)
     Power: Standard 9V transistor battery
     Power Dissipation: typically less than 20 mW
     Size: 3"W x 4.2"H x 1.5"D  Heavy duty plastic box
     Operating temperature: 0 to 50 C

Geiger Counter

(Popular Electronics, July 1992) Used to check the background radiation of a given location and the presence of Radon gas. This Geiger Counter, which is based on the gas-ionization method of detection, will give visual and audible indications of local radioactivity. It can be used to detect nuclear radiation or contamination in and around your home, to prospect for uranium and measure background radiation. In fact, it can even be used to detect solar flares. Approximately 11 pulses per minute is considered to be normal background radiation.

G.E.I.S.T.

G.E.I.S.T. which stands for Geophysically Equipped Instrument of Scientific Testing is a computer-based monitoring system capable of monitoring, recording and testing the environment without anyone being present at the time. Designed and built by Stan Suho, G.E.I.S.T. is hooked up to a laptop computer and through a 'polling device'. Attached to the 'polling device' are various instruments that can register static electricity (negative ions), electromagnetic disturbances, radiation, smells, infrared and ultraviolet lights and much more. If an anamoly is detected, it will register the event to the hard-drive of the computer and even take a photograph of the event, if it is set up so. It can be used indoors or outdoors and has proven itself in numerous field investigations.

Magnetic Field Detector MFD-1

Environmental Electronics, Inc., (PO Box 980, Goshen, IN. 46527).

MFD-1 was designed by a respected electrical engineer who became concerned about the possible health risks associated with long-term exposure to low-level magnetic fields. He invented MFD-1 when he could not find an affordable instrument to measure his exposure.

It detects and measures the strength and direction of many of the low level electromagnetic fields which have been linked to serious illnesses. MFD-1 is very sensitive and has a range of 0.25 milliGauss to 57 milliGauss.

     Bandwidth: 20-10,000 Hz
     Range: 0.25-57 mG
     Power: One 9V battery
     Battery life: Nominally 20 hrs
     Dimensions: 1 x 2 5/8 x 6 11/16
     Weight: 7 oz

Negative Ion Detector (Static Field Detector)

(Popular Electronics, May 1993). Can be used to detect the presence and indicate the relative amount of free ions in the air. Designed to indicate ion emissions from ion generators, high-voltage leakage points, static-electricity sources, electric-field gradients and in other situations where the presence of ions or a measurement of their relative flux density is required. The front cover features, a sensitivity control with on-off switch, a high-flux indicator lamp, and a panel meter. An antenna, mounted on the top of the unit, serves as an external ion collector.


Night Vision Binoculars

(Moonlight Products, 5965 Pacific Center Blvd., Suite 711, San Diego, CA. 92121, 619-625-0300). Moonlight MPN 30K Night Vision Binoculars are professional quality, starlight devices that provide extremely powerful viewing in very low ambient light conditions. The 2nd generation night vision binoculars use the principle of intensifying natural moonlight and starlight. They provide up to 30,000X light amplification and feature quality optics with a 2.5 X image magnification.

     Dimensions: 
          Length: 8.0" (203 mm)
          Width: 5.5" (140 mm)
          Height: 3.6" (91.5 mm)
     Weight: 2.53 lbs. (1147.58 g)
     Image Intensification: Maximum 30,000X
     Visual Magnification: 2.5 power
     Field of View: 15 degrees minimum
     Focusing Distance: Fixed (15 Feet (4.57 m) - Infinity)
     Interpupillary Distance: 58-74 mm
     Operating Voltage: 3 volts (2 ea. AA batteries)
     Operating Temperature: -30 to +30 C
     Resolution (on the optical axis): Not less than 33 mm -1

Tremolo Meter (Voice-Stress Analyzer)

(Popular Electronics, March, 1996, Vista, PO Box 1425, Bolingbrook, IL. 60440, 708-378-5534) This device can be used when interviewing a victim of an alleged haunted house to see if he/she is under undue stress or is fabricating the encounter. It can be used in person or after the fact by replaying any tape-recorded conversations. It directly measures the percentage of amplitude modulation in a voice.


Tri-Field Meter

(AlphaLab, 1280 S. Third West, Salt Lake City, UT. 84101, 808-874-9126) It detects changes in extremely weak static (or "natural") electric and magnetic fields. It signals with both a tone and the movement of a needle-type gauge if either the electric or magnetic field changes from previous levels. A radio and microwave detector is also included, which reads radio power directly if any transmitters are nearby. Because man-made AC electric and magnetic fields are very common and could interfere with readings of static fields, the meter has been designed to ignore the AC fields of power lines, appliances, etc.

This meter was designed to satisfy the need for natural field measurements in specialized research areas. It can detect "geomagnetic storms" caused by unusual solar activity interacting with the ionosphere (which results in rapid changes of up to 10% in the Earth's magnetic field), as well as the electrical activity of ordinary thunderstorms. Ball lightning should in theory be associated with a strong magnetic field, and magnetization of metal has been reported with some UFO sightings. When set on MAGNETIC, the Natural EM Meter will signal the movement of any strong magnetic source in the sky, even if the sky is cloudy or the source dips behind a hill. Because construction materials generally do not block magnetic fields, the meter can be placed indoors and work equally well. Due to the built-in tone, it can be used in the dark.

The meter is sensitive to changes of as little as 0.5% of the strength of the Earth's magnetic field, and the tone will sound whether the field increases or decreases. If the magnetic field then becomes stable for more than about five seconds, the tone will stop and the needle will return to zero. The meter will remain at rest until the field changes again. The threshold level, or "squelch", of the tone is adjustable. The user determines the amount of change in the magnetic field (within a 0.5 second interval) required to sound the tone. If the field changes by the threshold amount, the tone will come on at a low pitch. If the amount of change is larger, the tone's pitch will be higher.

When the dial is set to ELECTRIC, the meter is sensitive to electric fields as weak as 3 V/m (volts per meter). To illustrate just how feeble this is, a 10'x10'x10' room filled with a field of this strength has a total amount of energy equivalent to that required to lift a single grain of table salt 1/50th of an inch. Indoors, electric fields typically fluctuate 1 or 2 V/m. By setting the minimum sensitivity to change at 3 V/m, we have designed the meter to disregard this "background noise". Human beings and animals usually emit an electric field which is easily detectable using the Natural EM Meter. In fact, the meter can be used as a motion-activated intruder alarm. It is so sensitive that it can detect the presence of a person through a wall. Though it is not foolproof in this capacity, (sometimes a person will carry no electric charge and thus be "invisible" to the meter) its sensitivity is of interest to researchers in the field of parapsychology, especially "ghost hunters".

Radio/Microwave directly reads radio waves from 100 KHz to 3 GHz.

You can buy it directly at:

Tritium-charged Compass.

All compasses point to true north unless they come into contact with a strong magnetic or electromagnetic field. Then they will deflect in the direction of that field deviation. They can be a cheap EMF detector. This one is equipped with radio-active charged Tritium which allows it to be used in total darkness.


Raytek Raynger ST.

(Specialized Products Company, 3131 Premier Dr., Irving, TX. 75063, 800-866-5353, $199.00) Low-cost Noncontact temperature measurement tool. ST2L, Raynger ST hand-held, battery- operated noncontact thermometer is compact, rugged and simple to operate. This everyday maintenance tool is easy for anyone to use without special training. It doesn't need focusing or calibrating. Simply aim, pull the trigger and read the temperature. Since you don't have to touch what you're measuring, temperatures of hazardous, hard-to-reach and moving materials can be taken without getting burned or shocked and without contamination.

The ST Thermometer spots heat problems early in electrical and mechanical systems, machinery and equipment as well as helps avoids costly repairs. Proven circuitry assures accuracy and repeatability, even for targets as small as 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. ST2L measures temperatures from 0 to 750 F (-18 to 400 C). Black and grey Raygner ST is powered by a single 50-hour, 9- Volt battery with low-battery indicator. LCD backlight reduces battery life. The 9.5 ounce unit is 5.4"x1.6"x7.7".

                      ST2L Specifications
Temperature range        0 to 750 F (-18 to 400 C)
Nominal D:S              8:1
Accuracy                 2% of reading or 3 F
Repeatability            1% of reading by 1 digit
Response time            500 ms
Spectral response        7 to 18 microns nominal
Emissivity               Pre-set 0.95
Temperature Display      1 F or C switch selectable
Ambient operating range  32 to 120 F (0 to 50 C)

Sony Nightvision Camera

Sony 8mm Nightvision Cameras is an efficient way of monitoring and recording an investigation in total darkness. The cameras emit an invisible Infrared illumination which is then picked up by the cameras optics and transfered into a viewable image. The beam of Infrared light does not interfer with the investigator's own nightvision as it is invisible to the naked eye.

Cameras are mounted on tripods and connected to RF Modulators which are then hooked up to televisions or monitors. In that way, the investigator can see, in "real time", what the camera is recording and what may be going on in the room that is being monitored at the time. RF Modulators can be purchased from any Radio Shack and work with the RGB cables provided with the camcorder. The Ghost Research Society has used this set-up in the past to record floating orbs and objects normally invisible to the naked eye. Nightvision goggles are enhanced while using the camcorder.


Ghost Research Society (www.ghostresearch.org)
© 2000 Dale Kaczmarek. All rights reserved.
Web site created by Dale Kaczmarek and Matt Hucke.