[RFI] Grow Lights Coming to NJ - What can we do?

[Dave]

See:

https://www.nk7z.net/rfi-snapshots/grow-lights/

for SDR Spectrograms of several different grow lights...  Time runs 
along the vertical axis, and frequency along the horizontal axes.  The 
B/W Spectrograms show a 24 hour period of time.

There seems to be so many lights that are not compliant, that is has 
become a loosing battle for me, and I suspect others...  With the lack 
of FCC and customs intervention/enforcement on incoming, and existing 
items, it has become a reactive issue for the FCC, not a proactive issue 
as far as I can tell.

This places me, (and soon you), in the unenviable position of RFI first 
contact.  We must locate, inform, try and solve, all prior to contact 
with the ARRL or the FCC.  Given that the state of Oregon has said it 
believes that most growers are "exporting" the product to areas where it 
is not legal I may be placing myself in the unenviable position of 
dealing with an illegal drug dealer when/if I contact the person(s) 
involved.  I truly dislike this, and it is a crying shame that Amateurs 
are placed in that position.

It took about two years here in Oregon for the lights to become a real 
pain...  In some areas, I find several grow light operations per 
block...  I suspect they are the small tomato lights sold by the big box 
stores to people for growing, for personal use.  They all seem to be 
driven by a high power Switching Mode Power Supplies...

The ARRL took a lot of time, and documented several instances of Big Box 
Stores selling non compliant lighting to homes, (Part 18 vs. Part 15), 
and passed this on to the FCC.  As far as I know, the FCC did nothing... 
  Perhaps Ed Hare can comment in more detail on that subject, as I 
believe he was involved.  The ARRL is doing all it can as far as I see 
things, but the problem is completely out of hand here...

I now work DX during the off hours of the lights.  They typically run 
for 12 to 18 hours a day, depending on where in the growing cycle their 
owners are.

Most seem to wipe out 40 meters, 80 Meters, 20 Meters, and in some cases 
15...  Usually all at once...

As you can tell, I am not happy about this at all...  I used to have an 
S4 noise level on 40 Meters-- looking at my S meter now, I see, S9 +10 
db, from a grow operation two blocks away.  This has gone on for five to 
ten years, now.  At some point, my wife and I will pack up and move to 
the country...  I contacted the person currently generating my strongest 
source of RFI once several years ago, it got better for about a month, 
then returned.

Frankly I am a bit worried if he gets turned in, I will find a lit road 
flair coming through my front window at 2 AM one morning...  This is one 
of at least three grow operations all within a mile of me...

In working with some growers I have had great luck, but about 20% of 
them could care less...  The entire process is now basackwards, as we 
are the contact point, with teh grower, which is a horrid position to be 
in as far as I am concerned.  So, I leave it alone, and operate when the 
lights are off, as I suspect a lot of folks are doing.

Good luck...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 11/3/21 6:39 AM, Christopher Wawak wrote:
> [please keep this topic ONLY to RFI of grow lights, and not politics, your
> thoughts on cannabis, your lumbago, or anything like that. I am replacing
> "cannabis" with tomato from now on.]
> 
> I recently read that NJ's Governor is open to TOMATO home-grow, which
> typically involves noisy lights (as I understand it). Tomatoes are recently
> legal in New Jersey. Whether growing them at home is ultimately allowed or
> not, grow light RFI is coming to NJ neighborhoods. I understand it's pretty
> bad!
> 
>  From folks out west, what can I expect from grow light noise? Wiping out
> the entire spectrum, or a few spurs here and there? I live in a moderately
> tight suburban neighborhood.
> 
> Since we know that it's coming, how can I work with my lawmakers to make
> them informed of the impending impact of grow light RFI on the amateur
> radio service and other services? Can we teach grow light users and vendors
> about RFI-clean installations?
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> -- Chris KC2IEB
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