Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- howto:growequipmentrfi [2020/08/29 12:22] – va7fi
+++ howto:growequipmentrfi [2021/06/05 12:29] (current) – va7fi
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ~~NOTOC~~
-====== Grow Equipment RFI [SOLVED] ======
+====== Grow Equipment RFI ======
 ===== The Hunt =====
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 The next day, they contacted me to tell me that they think they found the issue:
-<WRAP indent>
+<QUOTE>It appears to be us causing the interference, but we don't know what we can do about it.  We are attempting to build an indoor garden for growing in the winter (based on the current global events), and so we picked up some growing equipment. [...] What we don't understand though is that it is one light and one ballast. How could that cause interference? [...] Any ideas?
-<< It appears to be us causing the interference, but we don't know what we can do about it.  We are attempting to build an indoor garden for growing in the winter (based on the current global events), and so we picked up some growing equipment. [...] What we don't understand though is that it is one light and one ballast. How could that cause interference? [...] Any ideas? >>
+</QUOTE>
-</WRAP>
 We coordinated a quick turn-off-and-back-on test and confirmed that it was indeed their growing equipment:
@@ Line 34: / Line 33: @@
 I offered to do a bit of research to see if the RFI could be filtered for their equipment.  They told me they're using a [[https://www.hydroponics.net/i/133472 |Hilux Grow Light (AHS 1000)]] (a High Pressure Sodium Bulb) and a BCBallast (NL-HS1000/CGD2E) that I couldn't find any information about.  Reading up a bit, it seems that it's the cheaper ballasts (not the bulbs) that are to blame for most of the RFI.
-This [[http://tomthompson.com/radio/GrowLight/GrowLightBallastFilter.html |site]] explains various experiments with filtering the input and output of the ballast and links to [[https://growershouse.com/nanolux-rf-filter-set-reduce-rf-interference |this set of filters]] that seems promising.  Failing that, the [[https://www.galaxyballasts.com/shop/product/galaxy-commercial-electronic-ballast-208-240-volt |Galaxy Ballasts]] seem to have very good filtering and low RFI.
+This [[http://tomthompson.com/radio/GrowLight/GrowLightBallastFilter.html |site]] explains various experiments with filtering the input and output of the ballast and links to [[https://nanoluxtech.com/rf-filter-set/ |this set of filters]] that seems promising.  Failing that, the [[https://www.galaxyballasts.com/shop/product/galaxy-commercial-electronic-ballast-208-240-volt |Galaxy Ballasts]] seem to have very good filtering and low RFI.
 After explaining how important it is to stop using their equipment until the RFI issue is resolved (and pointing them to the [[https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/R-2/FullText.html |Radiocommunication Act]]), they agreed to keep their light off until they get a filter set.
@@ Line 46: / Line 45: @@
 Before my neighbour got back to me the next day, I sent an email to the [[https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01742.html |ISED Canada Lower Mainland District Office]] to see what the next steps would be in case they didn't want to cooperate:
-<WRAP indent>
+<QUOTE>
-<< To: [[ic.spectrumsurrey-surreyspectre.ic@canada.ca]]
+To: [[ic.spectrumsurrey-surreyspectre.ic@canada.ca]]
 Hello,
@@ Line 55: / Line 54: @@
 I talked to one of them to ask them if they had recently bough a new piece of equipment on a timer but they couldn't think of anything.  A few minutes after I got home, the noise stopped for a minute and started again (I had never noticed it stop between 7p ad 1pm before).
-I'll continue trying to work with them to isolate and hopefully fix the equipment that's causing the interference, but in the event that they refuse to cooperate, what would be the next steps.  The noise is so bad that it's making the 80m and 40m band unusable for 18 hours a day in a 200 m radius of that house.
+I'll continue trying to work with them to isolate and hopefully fix the equipment that's causing the interference, but in the event that they refuse to cooperate, what would be the next steps?  The noise is so bad that it's making the 80m and 40m band unusable for 18 hours a day in a 200 m radius of that house.
 Thanks,
 Patrick Truchon, VA7FI >>
-</WRAP>
+</QUOTE>
 I got a response six days later:
-<WRAP indent>
+<QUOTE>
-<< Hello Patrick,
+Hello Patrick,
 I have received your email concern regarding interference on 80m and 40m.
@@ Line 76: / Line 75: @@
 <Name Redacted> >>
-</WRAP>
+</QUOTE>
-I informed him that my neighbour and resolved this issue and he responded "That is great to hear. Very interesting resolution!"
+I informed him that my neighbour and I resolved the issue and he responded: "That is great to hear. Very interesting resolution!"