A Little Light Humor

Lumatek LK-1000 electronic ballastRF Cafe visitors are amongst the most intelligent and most clever folks on the World Wide Web. I receive many e-mails, and an occasional phone call, from people in response to items I post on the website. Whenever appropriate, I ask permission to use it for content, with an offer to give full credit and attribution for the idea. I have been surprised at how often the person prefers to keep the communications private, which I always honor. That's too bad because, believe me, you have missed out on some really good insider information over the years.

Yesterday, March 17, 2014 (St. Patrick's Day, don't 'ya know), I posted a headline from the Amateur Radio Relay League website, "ARRL to FCC: 'Grow Light' Ballast Causes HF Interference, Violates Rules." The ARRL urged the FCC action to halt sales of the Lumatek LK-1000 electronic ballast and to recall devices already on store shelves or in the hands of consumers. "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."

Upon seeing the headline, Mr. Harold Kravatsky wittily remarked to me, "Look on the positive side. If a modulator is added to the ballast it can be used as a community broadcasting station. The receivers don't even have to be tuned. Any frequency will work." It is the essence of ultrawideband (UWB) communications! Thanks, Harold!

Posted  March 6, 2014