[RFI] My RFI battle....

Tom Thompson tlthompson at qwest.net
Sat Mar 22 13:54:29 EDT 2014


Ken,

I have tracked down many grow light operations here in Colorado.  Go to 
my web site http://www.tomthompson.com and look under Amateur Radio.  
You will find information on loop antennas for tracking it down and also 
ballast filters for reducing the RFI.  There is also a recording of the 
RFI before and after the filter is installed.  I cannot emphasize enough 
of for you to get out there with a shortwave receiver and a loop antenna 
and FIND the source.  Listening to recordings is not nearly as helpful 
as just tracking it down.  I have tracked down 9 grow operations so far 
of which 5 are still operational.  I have mitigated all 5 with the 
filter described.

The initial measurements that Larry, W0QE, and I made several years ago 
were instrumental in Mike Gruber making his excellent measurements and 
filing a complaint with the FCC, so I have had a lot of experience with 
this.  Again...don't write about it,  FIND IT!!

Tom   W0IVJ

On 3/22/2014 9:38 AM, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
> After further "research", I am beginning to wonder of one of my neighbors
> has begun a "grow operation".
>
> One reason I am beginning to lean that way is that Washington State just
> passed a law legalizing the use of pot, and I live in Moscow, Idaho which is
> only 7 miles from the town of Pullman, Washington, which houses
> Washington State University, and in which town there has recently been a lot
> of "discussion" about how to implement Washington's new law.
>
> Pot use and sales is (still) illegal in Idaho, but I can visualize some
> "entrepreneur" firing up an operation here to make some money over there.
>
> Does anyone have a recording of the interference caused by those "grow
> lights" that the ARRL was so up-tight about?
>
> I hope to finally begin an attempt at DFing this obnoxious garbage today.
>
> Ken W7EKB
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