Author Archives: Dave

Noise From Grow light Ballasts

In the last few years we are seeing more Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) caused by grow light ballasts.

Two years ago a fellow Amateur Radio operator had a grow light operation move into his neighborhood. The grow light ballast caused RFI that covered the entire HF Band and was 40db/S9 on 40 meters.

Talking to the grower was futile and the problem continued. Mike Gruber with the Amateur Radio Relay League offered his assistance and contacted the FCC on behalf of the Amateur Radio operator. After the grower received a second letter from the FCC, the grower moved his growing operation to another neighborhood. The process took almost a year to accomplish.

Since then a Marijuana Task Force has been created. Colorado Springs City Councilman Larry Bagley is the lead. Councilman Bagley is interested in hearing about your RFI issues in the Amateur Radio community.

If you are currently having or have had in the past, RFI issues caused by grow light ballasts please email Councilman Bagley with the details. His information is:

Councilman Larry Bagley
Marijuana Task Force
LBagley@springsgov.com

GGARC Support of Colorado Springs Labor Day Balloon Festival

“Splash” over Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs, CO

For the past several years, the Garden of the Gods Amateur Radio Club’s (GGARC) repeater hosted over 20 local and out of state hams in their use of the repeater for hot air ballooning communications. Two to four balloons, their pilots and crews migrate from Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico to Colorado Springs to participate in the annual Colorado Springs Labor Day Balloon Festival. The festival hosts over 60 balloons coming in from all over our country.

Pilots and crews use the GGARCs repeater to communicate with each other in “The Chase”. Navigating a myriad of streets in the Colorado Springs and surround area can prove to be difficult for out-of-towners in their quest to safely recover their pilots, passengers and hot air balloons. Three years ago, the “Splash” balloon drifted towards downtown and was unable to find a safe location to land amid the trees and power lines. Running low on fuel, the pilot was able to communicate with the chase crew on the repeater in order to secure and safely land atop the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Our local club members and area hams enjoy hearing other hams and their adventures every Labor Day balloon festival. The Splash pilot (KC5IPK) took GGARC member Ron Goldsberry’s (WB0BLO) granddaughter Courtney on a balloon ride a couple years ago. It’s really comforting to know the GGARCs repeater was there to aid in their communication needs. We hope our club is able to provide this invaluable service to our ham radio ballooning friends for years to come.

Gerry Dunn (NM0Q)

Kevin’s Presentation re. Radios

Here is that list of items Kevin reviewed at the GGARC meeting today. Download the PDF at this link: BaofengRadioAccessoryLinks_v2-1

Also, here is the website he mentioned that contains help with the Baofeng line of radios: Miklor.com

Thanks,
Kevin
K0BBA

ARES Using Repeaters to Support Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Event

Our 447.35 MHz and 146.910 MHz repeaters will be used by Pikes Peak Amateur Radio Emergency Service to support Garden of the Gods 10 Mile race comms June 14th 6:00AM ~ 11:00AM. Please keep non-essential traffic to a minimum during this time. Better yet, come out and see the race.