Tech Department Makes the Group

Hey guys, kevin from DPS here, i couldn't help but notice a total lack of tech discussion going on around here, I dont care what anyone (Donn) tells you the tech department is the most important part of any group, especially groups that look to gather scientific data, you cant gather scientific data without scientific instruments. So feel free to pick our brains about anything tech and hopefully we can help get you guys rolling in the right direction. What all have you guys got at this point???

Hey Kevin.

You are totally right there, which is the reason why a lot of our positions on the team are based entirely around the equipment themselves.

All of the equipment Tony and I (the founders) own can be found on our website: www.ghosthuntersofstartlingtruth.com

I've actually only just ordered everything (minus the camera), so I have yet to receive them in the mail. Currently, I don't have any questions that I can think of, but I'll let you know in the future if they arise.

Mainly, I'd like to get in the future some handheld transceivers for means of communication between the team during investigations. I'd also like a thermal imaging camera, but that will never happen, given they are thousands of dollars.

Personally i think thermal cameras are way over-rated. The ratio between the amount of money you spend on the device and the evidence you get from it is rediculous. You get more evidence from a hundred dollar digital recorder(i recomend one with a usb hook-up) than you do from a seven thousand dollar thermal camera. When we go down to waverly, i do actually get to go , there will be a guy that works with thermal cameras for his real job, he will have two or three of them, and the resolution on his are 3-4 times better than the ones taps uses! We use just regular cheap handheld walkies for communication during the investigation, the range depends on the size of the places you go, its good to get ones with sub-channels on each channel, to cut down on outside interference. BTW you will love the Lutron, they are awesome, the only problem with them is being able to see the reading in the dark, i made mine backlit so you can see it in the dark.

That's what a lot of people have said actually, about thermal cameras. I just think they'd be loads of fun to play around with! But that's a really a good point you made. For the amount of money you'd be spending on one of those, you really aren't likely to get a whole lot back from it. Maybe it'd be more of a sufficient piece of equipment for ghost hunters if the price were in the hundreds range rather than the thousands.

That's exciting that you'll be going, Kevin. I really wish your teams the best of luck! And wow! That's amazing that that man will be there with not only more than one thermal camera, but ones with such amazing resolution. And I'm sure he obviously knows a lot about them since it's his job.

Yeah, I was thinking of just getting some cheap ones whenever I get the money. Different channels are a must, I would say.

Oh so the Lutron isn't backlit? I thought that in the description somewhere I had read that it was. That's too bad. How were you able to make yours backlit?

You can get a pretty good deal on I/R cameras on ebay. They are good quality but not the best. Also keep in mind that the thermometer only measures the surface temp. of objects. So as you move around the I/R beam will travel across many surfaces. Each may have a different surface temp. Do you know it it also measure atmospheric or ambient temp. ?

Kevin....I love you!!

Ah, there are some pretty good deals for infrared cameras on eBay. What, exactly, is the difference in infrared and thermal? What do you see when looking through an infrared camera?

XD lol

An IR camera uses the infrared wavelength of light, which is invisible to the naked eye, it's there we just cant see it. The IR cameras can though, so in the dark it looks exactly like it would in daylight, only it has a greenish tint because of the filtering. When your getting an IR camera the bast thing to get is one with a hard drive, it is so much easier to do evidence review and transfer videos, sony has the best IR capable cameras, but the illumination on them is still somewhat crappy. DPS sells illuminator for handheld cameras that will greatly extend the IR range of handhelds, for a lot less than the crappy ones that sony sells. Now thermal on the other hand registers heat signatures, it is basically the same as an IR camera but it measures surface temperature and transfers it to an image the reflects the heat variations. Another cool thing with IR cameras, if your into this sort of thing, is that with the right filter, older sony IR's can actually become somewhat x-ray-ish. They will see through thin materials, thats why sony switched to the new SuperNightSHot plus or whatever they call it these days, it is a different filter so the x-ray effect isn't as strong.

So, basically, by looking through the IR camera, it's like you're looking at your surroundings as if it were a greenish day? XD Thanks a lot for all the info and suggestions. I need to look into it some more. I'll probably check eBay and compare prices and do a little more reading.

Hand held I/R cameras are great as long as you have a good illuminator. But the hand held cameras can be a bit expensive. You can get security type cameras for much cheaper. They can be as low as $30. You could run the camera right to a VCR or a DVR. Just make sure the VCR records!

Kevin really is the man when it comes to this stuff. I was over at his place last night helping him make custom I/R illuminators for groups going to Waverly. He pretty much designed it all from scratch!

Ah, okay! I see.

Oh were you? Wow, that's really cool of him!

Donn underestimates himself, anyone can do it you just have to be really smart and know what your doing! Well....maybe donn is right where he thinks he is! The reason i like handhelds with hardrives instead of tapes, is because if you arent using it for a handheld, you can set it up and use it as a stationary to record all night, it is really more versatile than a camera with tapes.
We have a research and development department linked to our tech department, we basically develop new technologies or try to modify things to suit our needs, if you guys have any theories or anything you want to try out, less us know we'd love to try and work out some new theories. Donn wants to call it the paranormal myth busters!!! But he's a weirdo!

XD "...anyone can do it. You just have to be really smart and know what you're doing." LOL Sounds like not anyone can do it then, there, Kevin.

That'd be cool, to just leave it on recording throughout the night. That makes sense. I'd love to get one of those someday. What are the brands you recommend? Sony?

You guys have your own research and development department? Wow, that's impressive. Lol, Paranormal Myth Busters would be amazing. That's really great of you guys though. Since you possess the knowledge and creativity to create new devices, why not, right? I'll certainly let you know if there's something I think of that we could use that would be handy. Thanks!

Sony led the way in nightshot cameras, they actually call it nightshot on their cameras, a few other brands make ir capable handhelds, but i've seen a few that weren't as good, not really sure which is better. The main thing for me is that its kindof like buying an ipod, macs might totally suck(a topic for debate i'm sure) but you cant get the wide variety of accesories and ease of use with the other brands of MP3 players. It's the same thing with sony cameras, they may not be the best cameras but they offer better support and accesories than the other companies.

all i need is an IR for my Xl2 and i'd be good to go, i guess i could just get one off of ebay. There about 15 bucks, so not to expensive for something we are going to need.

We've tried some of the one's off ebay. Most don't work that great. But every once in a while you can find a good deal. How many LED's did the $15 ones have? All I have to say is we were damn lucky to get Kevin! We got custom IR's out the yin yang!!

Lucky!

Kevin_DPS wrote: When we go down to waverly, i do actually get to go , t

don't rub it in kevin...

Kevin, I tested the IRs you gave me, and they work very well, what I noticed was that they lit a small area very well, the ones i have are not intense but they do work better over longer distances.

so what I get is a very well lit area with your LEDs , that once you film near a wall etc it get very bright, but over say 8 feet I get very little of the effect.

therefore I have decided to build one with your LEDs in the centre, surrounded by my ones, It might make for a better all round effect.
basically use LEDs of differing angles to cover different areas

If you want I'll send you over a pack of the ones I use. what do you think.

Hey, between the two of you, we might be able to fashion one useful irishman. I'll let the world know the secret.

Stew_DPS wrote:we might be able to fashion one useful irishman. .

Fashion! what do you know about Fashion? you look like someone from the Waltons.

Good Night Steww.

Good night Stoner, Good night Donn-Boy, Good night Kevin-Bob