I’ve been an avid paranormal investigator with the group SouthernSpooks for five years now. Recently someone told me about an iPhone app that has been gaining popularity over the past year, the Ghost Radar developed by Spud Pickles. They had been getting positive results with their tests of the app. So I read over the Ghost Radar Stories on the Spud Pickles’ page and decided that it might be worth giving a try. After all, it only cost 99 cents.
What is Ghost Radar?
According to Spud Pickles, the Ghost Radar can be used with an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, BlackBerry or an Android. Supposedly this app can detect the paranormal by monitoring electromagnetic fields, sounds, and vibrations. They claim that it can analyze the quantum flux around the device it’s downloaded to.
The theory is that if you are near an “intelligent” ghost, it will be able to react with the sensors on your device through the app and create words that you can read. Ghost Radar should allow you and an “intelligent” ghost to communicate.
This app reminds me of Frank Sumption’s device called “Frank’s Box”. According to the creator of the box, “The random events, or audio, works I think because some kind of resonance on the quantum level is taking place, kind of like using the quantum soup of the universe as a carrier.” Frank’s device allowed him to hear real-time EVP.
Although the Ghost Radar claims it does not pick up EVP, it does claim that the words that pop up on the device screen are manipulations of the surrounding quantum flux resulting in real-time communication. They do disclaim that their app should be used as “entertainment” only because not everyone is a paranormal scientist who uses the app.
Putting Ghost Radar to the TEST
I downloaded the Ghost Radar to my iPhone and let it run through its several minute adjustment time. The instructions that came with the app state that it takes several minutes for the app to calculate the surroundings and gives off false readings during this time. I turned off the word option through this adjustment time so as to not believe I was communicating with an entity. Every time you turn this app back on it has to go through its initializing process and adjustment period. I think many people forget this when using this app. It doesn’t matter if it was only off for a few seconds, it has to reboot.
I ran the app periodically everyday for two weeks and recorded any words, where I was, what time of day it was, the weather, and if the words correlated with anything in the room with me. I kept the app on its VOX setting because it gives you a level meter for its “sensors” and shows if it is being “manipulated” to form letters or words.
To be honest, there were very long periods of silence and no variables in the quantum flux levels. I tried the device in my living room, in an abandoned graveyard, a school parking lot, and even at McDonalds; with the thought that some ghosts might visit these locations out of human habit!
I compared my readings to those that are on the numerous message boards on the web. Betty was a common name found on the message boards and so was the word combination: water or rain, dripping, dry or dried. I found this very odd since the person who told me about this app convinced me it was worth trying out because their Ghost Radar also recorded a similar word combination while they were showering. My iPhone recorded it as I heard my husband closing the shower door behind him.
Ghost Box, Fun or Fact?
Although some of the words that Ghost Radar recorded did have significance to me, many others were too random to mean anything. The two most convincing sessions with the Ghost Radar were while my husband went to shower and later that same night while watching Tomb Raider on television. I asked aloud if there was really anything in the room with us would they describe the movie I was watching. The VOX beeped out word after word: danger, fight, gold, and jacket. It was significant that the current scene was with Laura Croft in a gold jacket fighting off the bad guys in an ancient temple.
Even though some of the word combinations were very convincing, I still have to say that this is a FUN device meant for entertainment purposes only. I wasn’t able to back any Ghost Radar readings with any EVP from a digital recorder or video. I also do not believe that the devices that can download this app are equipped to measure a quantum flux field. Frank’s Box is a complicated device that has to have crossed wires and integrated microphones and speaker just to work correctly. Your standard smart phone is not built to measure electromagnetic fields just yet.
My suggestion is that the Ghost Radar is still relatively new and needs to have extensive long period testing before it can be called fact. I raise the challenge to all ghost hunters to try and back up the Ghost Radar readings with EVP and/or video. Till then, this is just one fun app.
