THE MINI BOX - 2007 RELEASE

Would you describe the MiniBox, its function and capabilities?

Physically, the Mini-Box is a black plastic box that measures 7.5” tall by 4.25 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep, The device has knobs to control volume, sensitivity and scan rate, with mini-plugs to allow the unit to feed a digital record, input a microphone and run either a remote speaker or headphones. There is also an antenna mount on top of the unit and a removable charger plug to feed the self-contained battery pack and an on-off toggle switch.

Electronically, the unit is completely solid state, based on one printed circuit board, which allows the operator to “scan” the entire AM broadcast band at a rate of their choosing. The final device is extremely sensitive, with virtually no noise factor to contend with as seen in early models of the now famous Franks Box. The device is completely shielded from outside interference and extremely stable. It can run approximately 40 hours on one charge of the internal batteries.

To understand how the device works you have to understand the earlier experiences of Frank Sumption and before him, the ITC SpiritComm group. Basically, the theory is that when scanning the frequencies between operation broadcast stations, you will hear voices. The exact identification of these voices is the center of great debate, but for over 25 years numerous groups have built similar devices to varying success in order to capture them on a recording.


What inspired your creation?

The long and short of it is that I, as Coordinator of the ASUP, wanted to do my own team’s investigation of the phenomenon reported by others involving the box. For two years, I communicated with numerous individuals attempting to secure one. When it came to my attention that at least one individual was “selling” reading from the box to member of the public and making claims that suggested they were communicating with the dead, I requested the ASUP’s Research and Development team to take on the task of fabricating their own device for study. Director of R&D for the ASUP is Ron Ricketts, an electrical engineer by profession, who then set in motion the research and creation of the box. In November, 2007 the prototype box was completed with modifications that had been suggested over the creation period. That box was sent to the annual TAPS conference at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado for others in the field to see and try out. Among those who tested the box was Frank Sumption, among others, all of whom reported the new Mini-Box far out performed the original devices.


How has it been tested?

It is important here to stress, that the actual testing of the box has not yet begun. There have been short run tests of the device by ASUP field personnel, as well as folks at both the Stanley Hotel and later at the Queen Mary conventions. The device does communicate, it will answer some questions very clearly and in context, but no one at ASUP is making claims of the device successfully communicating with the dead. They simply do not know with whom they are communicating, but have already ruled out the common explanations of possible Matrixing of verbal sounds to explain the phenomenon. Again, electronically, this device is extremely stable, it was not built on any existing radio designs or from old radio parts and does a good deal more than simply scan the broadcast band. It is a scientific instrument. Real testing of the device will begin in January, 2008, based on a series of preplanned field tests. First the device will be taken into public settings, for instance a secondary school, a college, a graduate school, a senior citizens center and various community clubs. This will be done to gain a baseline response to people other than paranormal investigators and the research leaders will not make any claims or offer explanations beyond a brief history of the device.

Second phase testing will take place within the context of recognized paranormal research groups themselves, again to gain feedback on how the device is seen by those who do have a background in the field. The third phase will take the devices out into the field, both active sites and historically active locations to see how the device reacts to these locations. Throughout this testing a second blind group will be doing intensive work with the device in a lab setting, under controlled conditions. After all of this, the group hopes to be able to spread some light on exactly what the box does, as well as how it might be utilized.

The devices are also being sold through a vendor, ParanormalSystems.com, at close to cost to anyone who wants to test them and those individuals and groups are being asked to offer their feedback about personal experiences with them. This is being done in response to the original problem reported by me, when I expressed interest in testing the device and was refused. I believe that the more testing the better and that no one should be precluded from having access to the device.


What has the public’s opinion of this creation been so far?

The reaction to the device so far is overwhelmingly positive. The only negative comment has come from one person who is still “selling” readings for hundreds of dollars and even charging people to come see a box, while the ASUP has been showing the device publically wherever we have been invited. The ASUP has never charged for its service, being a non-profit research and educational corporation, and has been skeptical of anyone who wants to profit from reported paranormal talents. To that end, ASUP is not responsible for selling the Mini-Box and does not profit one cent from its sale to others. They did set guidelines for the sale of the device through ParanormalSystems.com, limiting any profit margin they may make from marketing it.

Frank Sumption, who created the original Frank’s Box has been very supportive of our efforts and has given the Mini-box rave reviews, as have a host of other legitimate paranormal researchers. While ASUP requested that the list of those purchasing the device be shielded from the public in order to protect their testing of the Mini-Box it is fair to say that the first 20 units were all sold to legitimate researchers.


What is the background of the creators?

Good question. There is a common thread to be found through all the original designers from the very beginning of this endeavor; all of the designers, including Frank Sumption, Ron Ricketts, myself and the entire R&D team at ASUP are active Amateur Radio Operators, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. Sumption has said in numerous interviews that he originally envisioned his device to be much like a ham radio, but rather than talking to someone in the next county or across an ocean, the communications would be between the living and the dead. While that has not been conclusively proven, the design has evolved into a sophisticated piece of technology.
I requested my members to become licensed hams several years ago, because I recognized that with the evolution of technology in the paranormal research field, investigators should have both a knowledge of their subject, but also an basic understanding of electronics, to that end all the ASUP board members are hams, as well as a majority of the field investigators. I was first licensed more than 35 years ago; Ron Ricketts for about the same number of years. Ricketts is also an engineer, with a long list of patents in his name. I am a retired journalist and college instructor, with a background in criminology, and probably best known as the debunker of the Amityville Horror. Other members of the R&D team are educators, electronics technicians and otherwise involved in state of the art technology.


Where is the Mini-Box being marketed and sold?

Anyone interested in purchasing a Mini-Box can contact www.ParanormalSystems.com for pricing and ordering information. For a more in-depth discussion of the history of the box, SpiritComm and Frank Sumption, I might suggest your readers check the December edition of TAPS Paramagazine for April Slaughters excellent article on the topic.