Compass

Can a common, inexpensive hiking compass be a better ghost hunting tool than a EMF meter? Ghost hunting can be an expensive or inexpensive endeavor. EMF levels seem to actually pull the compass needle away from magnetic true North. A needle deviance of more than 30 degrees usually indicates a "hot" or anomalous spot for otherworld, ghostly or spirit manifestations. Simply put when a ghost is near, the compass arrow spins around and can't find north.

It may seem like a small item, but a compass serves multiple purposes. Of course it may be used to find your way, but it may also be used to detect odd magnetic fields. If you experience an area with activity, look for magnetic fields in the area to zero in on the disturbance. For those who cannot afford the electronic devices immediatly, the compass can be purchased in any sporting goods department in your area. They can range in price from as little as $10.00 to $100.00 It is commonly believed that carrying one of these devices into a haunted location will direct you to the ghost or energy field and then spin while the field is present.

You can use a compass to detect major magnetic fields, but it is a very difficult process. To detect them correctly and quickly you absolutely need an EMF detector. They come in several varieties. The more expensive the more features and sensitivity. Although you can skimp with cost on many papranormal items, you really can't skimp with an EMF detector. Invest in a good one. But it is suggested in any feild start with the most affordable item you can purchase learn how to use it then move on to the more sufisticated equipment.

Although compasses themselves are cheap itemsevery Ghost Hunter or Paranormal Investigation Group or Ghost hunting Book usually recommends you get a quality compass. Normal, cheap compasses tend to place the needle too close to the bottom of the compass or in a configuration which makes using them impossible if you are on any angle or moving to that end, you need to use a compass that is professional and will work if it is off-balance or shaken. Many also recommend getting both a digital and old fashioned needle version because digital compass detection is different from traditional magnetic detection.

Brunton Classic Compass

A compass can make an inexpensive alternative to the EMF detector. A ghostly anomaly will turn the needle at least 30-35* away from magnetic North. Again, you must rule out the possibility of an electrical source. The downfall to using this device is that it has no light and you must always be aware of the direction of magnetic North.

A compass (or mariner's compass) is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the earth. It consists of a magnetised pointer free to align itself accurately with Earth's magnetic field, which is of great assistance in navigation. The cardinal points are north, south, east and west. A compass can be used in conjunction with a clock and a sextant to provide a very accurate navigation capability. This device greatly improved maritime trade by making travel safer and more efficient. The compass was developed in China more than seventeen hundred years ago, however the original inventor remains in dispute; legend has it was invented by emperor Huang Di.

The first thing you need to learn, are the directions. North, South, East and West. Look at the figure and learn how they are. North is the most important. There are several kinds of compasses, one kind to attach to the map, one kind to attach to your thumb. The thumb-compass is used mostly by orienteers who just want to run fast.

A compass can be any magnetic device using a needle to indicate the direction of the magnetic north of a planet's magnetosphere. Any instrument with a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction can be considered a compass. A compass dial is a small pocket compass with a sundial. A variation compass is a specific instrument of a delicate type of construction. It is used by observing variations of the needle. A gyrocompass or astrocompass can also be used to ascertain True north.

Modern navigational compasses hold a magnetized needle inside a fluid-filled capsule; the fluid causes the needle to stop quickly rather than oscillate back and forth around magnetic north. Other features common on modern handheld compasses are a baseplate with rulings for measuring distances on maps, a rotating bezel for measuring bearings of distant objects, and a sighting mirror that lets the user see both the compass needle and a distant object at the same time. Further, some modern compasses include an inclinometer for measuring gradients and are adjustable to account for varying Magnetic declination.

Mariner's compasses can have two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a compass card. These move freely on a pivot. A lubber line, which can be a marking on the compass bowl or a small fixed needle indicates the ship's heading on the compass card.

Suunto Clipper L Micro Compass Hailing from Suunto's Micro series, the Clipper L micro compass attaches conveniently to a watch band or hand strap, making it an invaluable navigational tool for on-the-go users. More importantly, the Clipper's liquid-filled capsule, jewel bearing, and rotating dial are accurate and precise whether you're navigating on city streets or country roads. The compass even comes with a luminous bezel for low-light conditions. Plus, the compass--which measures a mere 1.2 by 0.94 inches (W x L)--takes up virtually no space in your pocket. So go small without sacrificing accuracy with the Clipper L.

Traditionally the card is divided into thirty-two points (known as rhumbs), although modern compasses are marked in degrees rather than cardinal points. The glass-covered box (or bowl) contains a suspended gimbal within a binnacle. This preserves the horizontal position.

Large ships typically rely on a gyrocompass rather than a magnetic compass for navigation, and increasingly electronic fluxgate compasses are used on smaller vessels.

Compasses are available marked in mils - a unit of measurement commonly used by the military.

Small compasses found in clocks, cell phones (e.g. the Nokia 5140i) and other electronic gear are Solid-state electronics usually built out of two or three magnetic field sensors that provide data for a microprocessor. Using Trigonometry the correct heading relative to the compass is calculated.

Often, the device is a discrete component which outputs either a digital or analog signal proportional to its orientation. This signal is interpreted by a controller or microprocessor and used either internally, or sent to a display unit. An example implementation, including parts list and circuit schematics, shows one design of such electronics. The sensor uses precision magnetics and highly calibrated internal electronics to measure the response of the device to the Earth's magnetic field. The electrical signal is then processed or digitized.

Because the Earth's magnetic field varies at different latitudes, compasses are often balanced during manufacture. Most manufacturers balance their compass needles for one of five zones, ranging from zone 1, covering most of the Northern Hemisphere, to zone 5 covering Australia and the southern oceans. This balancing prevents excessive dipping of one end of the needle which can cause the compass card to stick and give false readings.

Silva Lensatic 360 Compass Traditionally used by the military due to its highly accurate bearings in land navigation, the Silva Lensatic 360 compass offers a classic design that will stand up to your most rigorous hikes or orienteering outings. It's protected in a black powder-coated aluminum housing. The liquid-filled compass features 2-degree increments, sighting-slit unit/top cover, and a quality lens in sighting arm to magnify dial reading. Luminous points on rotating bezel aid readings under low light conditions. It measures 3.1 by 2.1 by 1 inches and weighs 3 ounces.

Guidelines for compass use in "haunted" locations, and during ghost hunts:

Use only compasses with free-swinging needles. If the needle tends to get stuck pointing in one direction, it's not helpful.

Before you start walking, line up North so the red part (or point) of the needle is over the arrow painted on the compass.

Learn to use the compass in a not haunted site, first. Your backyard is a good place, if there are no electrical wires nearby (underground and overhead, too).

The first time you try this, walk in as straight a line as possible, directly towards North or towards South.

Expect the needle to bob and bounce as you walk. This is normal. However, when you pause, it will always return to North.

Keep the compass as flat as possible. If you hold it an an angle, your reading may not be accurate and/or the needle may become stuck.

If North seems to move, pause. Check how you're holding the compass. North NEVER changes direction!

Eliminate interference from magnetic deposits (a metal detector can help) and from electrical sources, including power lines. They will "attract" the compass' needle.

Remember: North NEVER changes its location. Even a slight 10-degree shift is an anomaly, if you've eliminated all other influences. Profoundly haunted sites have shown needle-swings of up to 90 degrees.

If you think you have an anomaly, retrace your steps and see if it repeats. Usually, it will... but only for awhile.

Brunton Nexus Rally Compass Brunton's rally compass is ready for the rough road and uneven terraen ahead. This direct reading, disk compass can be illuminated for nighttime navigation and it mounts on your dashboard for visible reading. This compass could be the difference between finding a ghost and ending up lost.

Check again, another day. Unfortunately for documentation purposes, a true haunting usually does not repeat the compass anomalies in the same places, day after day. A repeating "anomaly" is usually the result of electrical or magnetic interference with the compass' action.