Marijuana grow-lights cause problems for ham-radio operators

Marijuana grow-lights cause problems for ham-radio operators

The marijuana industry and Uncle Sam haven't been on the same page for 80 years, but these days, in a unique bit of weirdness, it's not the U.S. Department of Justice that could create a problem for pot growers: It's the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC regulates the country's electronic communications, which is relevant because it turns out that, bizarrely, light ballasts used in the growing of cannabis emit radio-frequency interference that screws up amateur-radio transmissions being sent by local ham operators, a licensed, legally protected practice.

In a March 12 letter to the commission, the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio, complained that interference from grow lights was greatest in the medium- and high-frequency bands between 1.8 and 30 megahertz, and that it comes in no small amount.

"The level of conducted emissions from this [Lumatek LK1000 grow light] is so high that, as a practical matter, one RF ballast operated in a residential environment would create preclusive interference to Amateur radio HF communications throughout entire neighborhoods," wrote general counsel Christopher Imlay to acting chief of the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division John Poutasse in the hopes the agency would halt sales.

Read the full Colorado Springs Independent article
http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprin...s-for-ham-radio-operators/Content?oid=2893921








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I was subjected to the RFI from these lamps some time back, tried to reason with the guy and got nowhere until I involved OFCOM. They were very helpful and threatened him with a warrant, the RFI disappeared the next day.

 

I recently decided to increase my internet speed with AT+T. They sent me a new modem and the new speeds are great. I also found out that it put an S9 signal between 3 and 5 MHz on my radio. A solid S9 of white noise across that spread. I tried the aluminum foil around the case of the modem, but I suspect that the leads are radiating too. FYI The model number is 3600 HGV 2 wire Gateway. The funny part is the fact that it has an FCC ID of PGR2W3800HP. I wonder what the FCC Spec is for interference ?

 

Try shielded cat5 cable, to shielded connectors..

 

If I have my facts and dates correct, Oregonians of a certain age will legally be able to each grow up to 4 plants starting in July of this year. I fully expect to have noise problems in my neighborhood; my neighbors are already chomping at the bit to roll their own...

...and I'm sure they could care less about interference to Amateur Radio. Dare I say it will take a 'joint' effort by all hams to win this battle!

73 John Kill 7 Fat Doobies

 

Wow. Really?
That's all we needed. A bunch of self-righteous hams jumping on the anti-cannabis bandwaggon.

 

The only pot here is my AF and RF Gain controls

But the battle is against the noise producing lights, not those lighting up...

 

Not so much. Just practical concern for a potential wide-spread new interference source.

 

Find the offenders electrical transformer and rip it with a large caliber bullet.

 

Noisy pot light.

There is nothing wrong with growing pot, it has many medicinal purposes, although I would bet you that the ballast, and lights are made in China. Why not American made, American grown, keep it all here at home.

 

For every grow light warming marijuana plants, there are a hundred wall warts, tv's, computers, network devices, dog fences, security lights and other consumer electronic crap spewing interference onto the bands. If the feds give a rip about interference, they'll attack these first rather than looking for back door ways to get at those who might grow some bud in their basement. Much ado....

 

Does anyone here happen to have a picture of what grow light RFI looks like on a band scope?

 

Had it explained to me how many of the lights bought are over the internet and not subject to the FCC compliance regulations to be sold in the united states as retail items even though many will have a placard stating they are compliant. My comment was that's miserable coverage allowing internet sales to be out of compliance standards.

For the internet modem if it is cable modem look for cable leakage. The way internet speeds as so great is the actual band width is say 7mhz-300mhz like time warner uses for cable tv and internet lines using coax. If there is a leak in your house or even a power pole where the coax cable connects you are going to get interference. If it is the modem possibly getting a ground on the cases internal ground and or your aluminum foil.

 

Amateur Radio and consumer electronics will never get along, never have and never will. Just my 2 cents...

 

This is a great example of why hams should be ambassadors: They should politely go to their neighbor's house, introduce themselves as hams, bring attention to the problem where the neighbor's pot-growing lights could potentially draw the wrath of the FCC/the feds, then offer to fix the problem in exchange for some weed. It's a win-win!