RFI
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [RFI] cops zero in on noisy grow light ballasts

To: garyk9gs@wi.rr.com, rfi@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] cops zero in on noisy grow light ballasts
From: Tom Thompson <w0ivj@tomthompson.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 12:04:25 -0700
List-post: <rfi@contesting.com">mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Gary,

You make a good point. So far most the growers I have found have been students and they have not been confrontational. I have been very careful to point out that I do not care what they are growing, but I do care about the RFI. Sometimes it takes several visits to establish rapport. On my first visit to one neighbor, I asked him if he had any electrical device on a timer. He responded that he resented that I knew what was going on in his house. He is now a friend and has offered to go with me when I first approach a grower since he knows most of them in the neighborhood. It took about a year to establish that relationship. Because marijuana growing is legal in Colorado, it does make the situation a bit less volatile.

My hope is that as the grow light ballast become more prevalent, the industry will realize that they have a problem and fix it. We have already seen some movement in that direction with some commercial filters and at least one FCC part 18 compliant ballast.

Tom   W0IVJ

On 2/3/2016 11:42 AM, Gary K9GS wrote:
This whole thread on grow light RFI scares the hell out of me.

If this is an illegal growing operation why would you want to confront your neighbor with knowledge that you know about their illegal activities? Or what happens if you mention something to your neighbor and the police happen to raid his house? He is going to think that you were the one that turned him in. He or his partners could come after you.

I hope we never have to read about some poor ham getting shot by his neighbor with an illegal growing operation.



On 2/3/2016 12:00 PM, Tom Thompson wrote:
Ed,

When I find a grow operation in my neighborhood that is causing RFI, I point out the fact that they are advertising their grow cycle. Mentioning this generally changes their demeanor, and makes them eager to place a filter on their ballast.

Tom   W0IVJ

On 2/3/2016 10:17 AM, Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:
Actually, the formal name of ARRL now is ARRL, with American Radio Relay League still maintained, of course.

Now, as to the noisy grow lights, in some areas, growers are concerned that law enforcement may find them, but they are even more concerned that people can use RF noise to identify that there is a growing operation in a particular house. With the 16hour on/off cycles during the growing season and a switch to 12 hour cycles as the crop is nearing harvest, they not only know what it is, but they know when it is ready for harvest. That has gotten the attention of growers even in states where it is legal to grow under state law.

Ed Hare, W1RFI



-----Original Message-----
From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John Brosnahan W0UN
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2016 7:47 PM
To: Joe Wolfe; RFI@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] cops zero in on noisy grow light ballasts

Joe,

RE:    ARRL and National Association for Amateur Radio

I understand your concern about confusion with the name, but I would only question the capital letters, because the name American Radio Relay League is a bit quaint. When I was first license in 1959 it did not seem to be all that relevant to the actual role of the national organization, even though I even made BPL once. While traffic WAS relayed at the time, it was such a small percentage of what hams do and needed in a national organization, that the name seemed inadequate at best. And certainly difficult to explain to non-hams.

In 2016 the name is even less relevant to what the role of the national organization is now about. While I am a traditionalist in many senses of the word, I would not be against the ARRL changing their name to better reflect what it is they are and what they do.

Just google "National Association for Amateur Radio" and you will see it reference the ARRL and used to explain what the ARRL actually is not only on social media but by the ARRL itself.

2 cents worth.

73  John W0UN



On 1/15/2016 8:27 PM, Joe Wolfe wrote:
Least the article could have done, is get their facts straight, I
mean, the author is supposed to be a law enforcement officer.

"National Association for Amateur Radio"  Who the heck is that?  I
guess he means the ARRL.

I know! I know!

The gist of the story is the RFI we have been dealing with, is now
being used by the police to find illegal grows, which, once word gets
out, could be a big boon to us...HEH, the farms will shut down and in
the end, quiet radio returns to our communities!

Joe - W7RKN

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rob
Atkinson
Subject: [RFI] cops zero in on noisy grow light ballasts

Old story but only heard about it today:

http://www.policeone.com/drug-interdiction-narcotics/articles/8224280-
How-co ps-are-catching-grow-ops-with-AM-radios


_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi



_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi



_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi


--
73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

************************************************
_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi



_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>