Helen A.S. Popkin

If there’s one thing for which Steve Gonsalves has irrefutable proof, it’s that people want to believe. As technology manager for The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) on the SciFi Channel documentary-style series, “Ghost Hunters,” he’s regularly approached by fans bearing that universally understood object of paranormal evidence — The Wonky Photograph.

You know what I’m talking about. Back in the dark ages before digital cameras, every family had a drawer full of “paranormal evidence”: The baby with flash-induced “halo,” little Timmy with his chronic case demonic red-eye, bright orbs floating across the family Christmas portrait, that blurry thumb-like apparition you certainly didn’t see in the room when you took the picture — and the most frightening of all — the freaky double exposure wherein you and your evil twin or maybe your very soul exist within the same frame.

Still, some people are so anxious to believe, they don’t much appreciate it when Gonsalves points out the flaws in their substantiation. “I tell them, you can think it’s a vortex, but I can clearly see the strands of fiber from your camera strap,” Gonsalves said in a telephone interview.  “They get mad — sometimes even angry. They definitely want to have a paranormal picture.”

And hey, who can blame them? On the surface, it seems somewhat plausible that the miracle of technology, which provides so much for the living, might also offer some kind of connection to the dead. Heck, even crusty ol’ inventor Thomas Edison wanted to build a telephone to the afterlife.  (Imagine the roaming charges!)

It’s no wonder people consult Gonsalves. He did, after all, leave a profession in law enforcement for a successful TV career ghost hunting with cameras, tape recorders, thermometers and even more complicated gizmo thingies.

If Edison thought about it, and a regular guy like Gonsalves, who by his own admission, has no exceptional technical prowess, it’s only natural loads of folks would follow suit.

Beginner’s ghost hunting kit Hey, just because it’s pseudo science doesn’t mean it isn’t good spooky fun — especially when you can ghost hunt with regular junk laying around your house. Tape recorder To catch those spooky EVPs (electronic voice phenomena). Compass To identify electro-magnetic field fluctuations as you would with a much pricier EMF detector. When the needle starts spinning, you know your EMF is wonky, too. Still-shot camera To capture ghostly phenomena. Video camera To capture moving ghostly phenomena. Flashlight Because what’s the point of ghost hunting unless you’re doing it in the dark — and you don’t want to bump your head.

While a 2005 Gallup Poll revealed that a third of Americans (admitted that they) believe in an afterlife, there are no official numbers to gauge how well the ghost-busting equipment biz fares in revenue. However, a Google search for “ghost hunting gear” reveals plenty of merchants looking to make a dime on wannabe spirit searchers.

You’ll find dedicated e-tailers such as GHOST MART (best e-tailer name EVER), as well as plenty of  piecemeal offerings on Amazon. Such supernatural sellers hawk anything from basic gewgaws, your run-of-the-mill voice-activated microcassette recorders for instance, to pricey DVR surveillance set-ups for the most serious (or perhaps gullible) ghost hunters.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves’ “Ghost Hunters” Gear Guide videos on SciFi.com grab more viewers than even free show excerpts and behind-the-scenes footage. In these brief Webisodes, Gonsalves runs through the basic arsenal of paranormal detection. Here’s an abbreviated list with approximate prices (and a few skeptical comments) added:

EMF detector ($25-$400) Detects electro-magnet field fluctuations, which theoretically occur when energy-based spirits are hanging around. Of course, there are lots of other reasons for EMF fluctuations — from exposed wires to the Northern Lights.

Digital video camera (with infrared illuminator) ($35-$3,000) Captures images in dark rooms not visible to the human eye, such as moving objects, forming mists and floating orbs.

Digital thermometer ($70-$200) Reads ambient and surface temperatures, which helps detect free floating cold and hot spots/fluctuations which, as everybody knows, could be caused by a ghostly presence.

Portable tape recorder ($12-$700) Captures EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), such as spirits speaking from the other side which weren’t audible during the recording.

White noise generator ($50-$1,400) Creates pure static which is believed to work as a catalyst for EVP recordings by providing noise through which spirits can verbalize. It also filters out background noise for clearer recordings.

Ion generator (TAPS had its custom made.) Allegedly charges the atmosphere, theoretically providing spirits with bonus energy through which they can manifest.

Ghost Hunters / Sci Fi Channel Steve Gonsalves, technology manager for The Atlantic Paranormal Society on the SciFi Channel documentary-style series, “Ghost Hunters,” sets up some ghost-busting equipment.

Wireless audio kit with software (Around $800) Transmits audio into a computer where it can be amplified to detect EVP recordings. Baby monitors work, too.

DVR system (with infrared camera, DVR and monitor) ($6,000-$7,000) Digital, time-stamped real-time paranormal surveillance with a whole lot of storage. Runs all night without the need to change tapes.

Thermal imaging camera ($6,000 to $50,000) You know, like “Predator” uses. Reveals and records cold and hot spot fluctuations — and you know what that means. Gho-izzy in the hizzy!

Polygraph machine ($1,000 to $10,000) B.S. detectors that signal when the person reporting the haunting is lying. Oh, wait! Ghost hunters never use those.

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