[SFDXA] ARRL to FCC: "Grow Light" Ballast Causes HF Interference, Violates Rules

[Mickey Baker]

We had some of the same thoughts. "So much for my dreams of a low noise DX
QTH in Colorado..."

73,

Mickey N4MB


On Sat, Mar 15, 2014 at 2:18 PM, Hank Phillips <aa4hp at titustek.com> wrote:

> The DEA may welcome this signature of large indoor growth activity where
> it is still illegal.....
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Bill
> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2014 1:59 PM
> To: aSFDXA; qcWA69 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [SFDXA] ARRL to FCC: "Grow Light" Ballast Causes HF Interference,
> Violates Rules
>
>  From Chuck W4ROA:
>
>
>     ARRL to FCC: "Grow Light" Ballast Causes HF Interference, Violates
> Rules
>
>     The ARRL has formally*complained*
>     <
> http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/Complaint%20Letter%20re%20Lumatek%20RF%20Lighting%20Device.pdf
> >to
>     the FCC, contending that a "grow light" ballast being widely
>     marketed and sold is responsible for severe interference to the MF
>     and HF bands. The League urged Commission action to halt sales of
>     the Lumatek LK-100 electronic ballast and to recall devices already
>     on store shelves or in the hands of consumers. In a March 12 letter
>     to the Commission's Enforcement Bureau and its Office of Engineering
>     and Technology, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said the
>     ARRL's own laboratory testing revealed that the Lumatek device
>     exhibited excessive conducted emissions, in violation of the FCC's
>     rules.
>
>     "ARRL has received numerous complaints from Amateur Radio operators
>     of significant noise in the medium and high frequency bands between
>     1.8 MHz and 30 MHz from 'grow lights' and other RF lighting devices
>     generally," Imlay told the Commission. "The level of conducted
>     emissions from this device 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." An extensive*/Conducted Emissions
>     Test Report/*
>     <
> http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/Lumatek%20Cond%20Emissions%20Test%20Report%20Pt18b%20Rev%20D.pdf
> >detailing
>     the ARRL Lab's test results was attached to the League's
> correspondence.
>
>     "[T]he/Report/concludes from the conducted emissions tests that the
>     six highest emissions from the device in the HF band vastly exceed
>     the quasi-peak limit specified in Section 18.307(c) of the Rules,"
>     Imlay related. The ARRL further pointed out that, while a FCC
>     sticker has been affixed to the device, it lacked FCC compliance
>     information. FCC Part 18 rules require RF lighting devices to
>     provide an advisory statement with the device, notifying users that
>     it could interfere with radio equipment operating between 0.45 MHz
>     and 30 MHz.
>
>     The League noted that the device is imported into the US and
>     marketed and sold by Sears, where ARRL purchased its test sample, as
>     well as by Amazon.com and other retail outlets. The ARRL also called
>     on the FCC to consider enforcement proceedings against the importer,
>     Hydrofarm Horticultural Products of Petaluma, California.
>
>     "ARRL respectfully requests that your office take the appropriate
>     action with respect to this device without delay," Imlay's letter
>     concluded. Copies of the correspondence were sent to the importer.
>
>     In separate correspondence to FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, seeking his
>     review of the complaint, Imlay said the Lumatek unit was "typical in
>     terms of its performance, and many other types of 'grow lights' are
>     being imported, marketed, sold and deployed now." One of Pai's main
>     interests is the revitalization of the AM Broadcast Band, where
>     noise can be an impediment to reception. "It is not at all an
>     exaggeration that even one of these electronic ballasts operated in
>     a residential neighborhood makes any AM Broadcast reception
>     impossible," Imlay asserted. The League included a copy of its test
>     report with the letter to Commissioner Pai.
>
>     "Marked increases in the noise floor at MF and HF, year-over-year,
>     are well-known to active Amateur Radio licensees, and it is devices
>     such as the Lumatek LK-1000 and its progeny that are major
>     contributors to this noise pollution," Imlay added.
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> ______________________________________________________________
> South Florida DX Assoc.
> SFDXA WebSite: http://www.SFDXA.com
> SFDXA Repeater 147.33+ 103.5 Tone
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