# OpenParanormal Research - Initial Findings

Research compiled: October 2025

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## Summary

Successfully identified and documented the working principles of 8 major ghost hunting devices. All are reverse-engineerable using affordable microcontrollers (ESP32, Arduino) and readily available sensors from Amazon.

**Key Finding:** Most commercial paranormal equipment uses simple environmental sensors combined with proprietary software/algorithms. The hardware is NOT magical - it's basic electronics that can be DIY'd for 20-40% of commercial cost.

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## Device Reverse-Engineering Status

### ✅ Ovilus (FULLY DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Reads environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, EMF, pressure)
2. Converts sensor values to numerical hash
3. Hash maps to word in 2048-word database
4. Displays and/or speaks word
5. NO randomness - same conditions = same word

**Key Insight:** It's a deterministic sensor-to-word mapper, not supernatural. Environmental changes trigger different words predictably.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very High)
- ESP32 has enough memory for word database
- BME280 sensor ($4) handles temp/humidity/pressure
- Hall sensor ($1) for magnetic field
- Display word on screen or use DFPlayer for audio

**Commercial Price:** $130-180
**DIY Cost:** $40-70
**Savings:** $60-140

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### ✅ K2/K-II EMF Meter (FULLY DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Coil antenna or Hall sensor detects electromagnetic fields
2. Signal amplified through transistor cascade (4-8 transistors)
3. Voltage drives LED array (5 LEDs typical)
4. Higher EMF = more LEDs lit

**Key Insight:** It's just an antenna + amplifier + comparator circuit. Very simple analog electronics or Arduino with ADC.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Extremely High - Easiest Build)
- Simplest circuit of all devices
- Can build analog (no microcontroller) for $5
- Or Arduino-based for more features ($15)
- Schematics available on Instructables, Hackaday

**Commercial Price:** $50-70
**DIY Cost:** $5-15
**Savings:** $35-65

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### ✅ Spirit Box (FULLY DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. FM/AM radio receiver module (TEA5767, RDA5807M)
2. Microcontroller rapidly changes frequency via I2C
3. Scans through stations without stopping (50-500ms per step)
4. Creates white noise from static between stations
5. User listens for words in noise (audio pareidolia)

**Key Insight:** It's just a software-controlled radio scanner. The "spirits" are radio fragments and human pattern recognition.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (High)
- TEA5767 module: $4
- Arduino/ESP32 control via I2C: Very easy
- Example code available on GitHub
- Can add Bluetooth, recording, touchscreen

**Commercial Price:** $70-120
**DIY Cost:** $15-30
**Savings:** $40-105

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### ✅ REM Pod (DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Device emits electromagnetic field (capacitive or inductive)
2. When object enters field, changes detected
3. Also monitors temperature drops
4. LED lights and buzzer alert when triggered

**Key Insight:** It's a proximity sensor with environmental monitoring. Uses capacitive touch sensing or EMF field disruption.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very High)
- ESP32 has built-in capacitive touch sensing
- Or use EMF coil + amplifier
- BME280 for temperature
- WS2812B LED ring ($3) for visual
- Buzzer for audio

**Commercial Price:** $80-130
**DIY Cost:** $20-35
**Savings:** $45-110

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### ✅ EVP Recorder (DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. High-sensitivity microphone captures audio
2. Records to digital format (WAV, MP3)
3. Often includes filters (high-pass, low-pass)
4. Playback for analysis

**Key Insight:** Often just rebranded audio recorders. The "EVP" is usually noise artifacts or audio pareidolia.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Medium - Audio is Tricky)
- ESP32 has I2S support for digital audio
- INMP441 I2S microphone: $6
- Record to SD card as WAV
- Can add real-time filters
- Smartphone can work too

**Commercial Price:** $30-100 (often just Zoom H1n rebranded)
**DIY Cost:** $20-40
**Savings:** $10-60

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### ✅ BooBuddy (DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Pre-recorded questions on loop ("Is anyone here?")
2. PIR motion sensor detects movement
3. Temperature sensor (BME280 or DHT)
4. Vibration sensor (SW-420)
5. EMF coil/hall sensor
6. Responds with lights/sounds when sensors trigger

**Key Insight:** It's a multi-sensor environmental monitor with audio playback. Autonomous questioning creates illusion of interaction.

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (High)
- ESP32 + multiple cheap sensors
- DFPlayer Mini for questions ($4)
- PIR, BME280, vibration sensor
- LEDs, speaker
- Very straightforward

**Commercial Price:** $100-150
**DIY Cost:** $25-40
**Savings:** $60-125

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### 🔶 Thermal Camera (PARTIALLY DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Infrared sensor array captures heat signatures
2. Converts to visible heatmap image
3. Detects temperature anomalies ("cold spots")

**Key Insight:** Commercial FLIR cameras are expensive ($200-2000) due to high-resolution sensors. DIY limited to 32x24 pixel sensors (MLX90640).

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Medium - Sensor Expensive)
- MLX90640 sensor: $60-80 (most expensive component)
- ESP32 or Raspberry Pi for processing
- TFT display for heatmap
- Much lower res than FLIR but functional

**Commercial Price:** $200-2000
**DIY Cost:** $80-120
**Savings:** $80-1880 (but lower quality)

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### 🔶 SLS Camera (PARTIALLY DOCUMENTED)

**How It Works:**
1. Structured light sensor (like Xbox Kinect)
2. Maps 3D environment with IR depth sensing
3. Skeleton tracking algorithm detects humanoid shapes
4. Overlays stick figures on video feed

**Key Insight:** It's repurposed gaming tech (Kinect). The "ghosts" are false positives in skeleton detection (chairs, coat racks, etc.).

**DIY Feasibility:** ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Low-Medium - Software Complex)
- Xbox Kinect (discontinued, buy used): $30-50
- Raspberry Pi 4 for processing power
- OpenNI or libfreenect drivers
- Requires coding skill for skeleton tracking
- Or buy dedicated unit ($300+)

**Commercial Price:** $300-800 (purpose-built units)
**DIY Cost:** $80-150 (Kinect + Pi)
**Savings:** $150-720 (but requires technical skill)

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## Key Technical Insights

### 1. Most Devices Use I2C Sensors
- BME280: Temperature, humidity, pressure
- TEA5767: FM radio
- Hall sensors: Magnetic field
- Easy to connect to ESP32/Arduino (just 2 wires: SDA, SCL)

### 2. ESP32 is Ideal Platform
- Cheap ($6-15)
- WiFi and Bluetooth built-in
- Lots of memory for word databases
- Fast enough for real-time processing
- Arduino IDE compatible (easy to program)

### 3. Touchscreens Make Professional UIs
- 2.8" ILI9341 TFT: $12-18
- Replaces need for physical buttons
- Menu-driven interfaces
- Display readings in real-time
- More polished than OLED + buttons

### 4. Power Management
- 18650 lithium batteries: Rechargeable, long-lasting
- TP4056 charging modules: USB charging
- Boost/buck converters: Voltage regulation
- Most devices run 6-12 hours on single 18650

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## Component Cost Analysis

### Core Components (Buy Once, Use Many Times)

| Component | Price | Used In |
|-----------|-------|---------|
| ESP32 DevKit (3-pack) | $18-25 | All projects |
| BME280 Sensor (3-pack) | $10-15 | Ovilus, REM Pod, BooBuddy |
| 2.8" TFT Touchscreen | $12-18 | Spirit Box, Ovilus, Multi-tool |
| TEA5767 Radio (3-pack) | $10-15 | Spirit Box |
| DFPlayer Mini (3-pack) | $10-14 | Ovilus, BooBuddy |
| LED Assortment (500pcs) | $10-15 | EMF, REM Pod |
| Resistor Kit (1000pcs) | $10-14 | All projects |
| Breadboard + Wires | $12-18 | Prototyping all |
| Soldering Kit | $25-35 | Final assembly |
| **TOTAL STARTER KIT** | **$117-184** | **Build 5-10 devices** |

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## Recommended Build Order

### Beginner (Easy → Hard)

1. **EMF Meter** (★☆☆☆☆)
   - Simplest circuit
   - Learn LED control
   - Analog sensor reading
   - 2-4 hours build time

2. **REM Pod** (★★☆☆☆)
   - Multiple sensors
   - LED animations (NeoPixels)
   - Environmental monitoring
   - 3-5 hours

3. **Spirit Box** (★★★☆☆)
   - I2C communication
   - Touchscreen UI
   - Audio output
   - 4-6 hours

4. **Ovilus** (★★★★☆)
   - Complex data mapping
   - Database storage
   - Multi-sensor fusion
   - Touchscreen menus
   - 8-12 hours

5. **Multi-Tool** (★★★★★)
   - All features combined
   - Advanced UI
   - Mode switching
   - 15-20 hours

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## Open Questions for Further Research

1. **Ovilus Word Database:**
   - Can we extract commercial 2048-word list?
   - Or create our own thematic word sets?
   - How to optimize sensor-to-word mapping?

2. **Spirit Box Optimization:**
   - Best frequency step size for "clearest" voices?
   - AM vs FM effectiveness?
   - Can software filter out music stations?

3. **SLS Alternative:**
   - Can we use cheaper time-of-flight sensors (VL53L0X)?
   - Machine learning for "anomaly" detection?
   - ESP32-CAM with OpenCV?

4. **EMF Calibration:**
   - What are actual "normal" vs "anomalous" EMF levels?
   - How to filter 60Hz AC interference?
   - Directional EMF detection possible?

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## Next Steps

1. ✅ Gather commercial device specifications
2. ✅ Identify DIY-able components
3. ✅ Create Amazon shopping lists
4. ✅ Write example firmware
5. 🔲 Build physical prototypes
6. 🔲 Test and calibrate sensors
7. 🔲 Design 3D-printable enclosures
8. 🔲 Create video build guides
9. 🔲 Expand word database to 2048 entries
10. 🔲 Community testing and feedback

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## Legal and Ethical Notes

- **Open Source:** All designs MIT or GPL licensed
- **Transparency:** We document how devices work, no false claims
- **Educational:** Purpose is learning electronics, not supernatural validation
- **No Infringement:** We reverse-engineer principles, not copy copyrighted firmware
- **Disclaimer:** No guarantees of paranormal efficacy - devices detect environmental changes

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## Community Resources

### GitHub Projects Found
- `mathertel/Radio` - Arduino library for TEA5767, RDA5807
- `big12boy/TEA5767` - TEA5767 Arduino library
- Various EMF detector projects on Instructables

### Forums
- Arduino Forum
- ESP32 Reddit (r/esp32)
- Hackaday
- Instructables

### Commercial References
- GhostStop.com (pricing, specs)
- Digital Dowsing (Ovilus manufacturer)
- Various paranormal investigation sites

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**Research Status:** Initial phase complete
**Next Phase:** Prototype builds and testing
**Contributors:** Open to community contributions!