Wireless Signals and Things That Obstruct Them

HI

I am a programmer by trade and I have an idea that will reduce our work load in the grow room. I am trying to determine how each of my devices should communicate but I remember AT&T told me that the ballasts emit an interference that messes with WIFI signals. Is this true for all wireless technology? Is there a range around the ballasts that I can avoid and still use some technology. Also, Do the reflectors and bulbs give off interference?

I was hoping to use RF since I'm not transmitting much very far but is capable of a big enough range for you larger ops.


K

unshielded hid ballasts can totally shut down a wifi signal

a few people have been caught growing due to people losing wifi signal and the looking around that was done to work out why

You can probably shield the ballasts normally more expensive ones have a much thicker casing

I think its mostly new HF digital types that do it but I don`t know for sure

Yeah ballasts (and lights in general) radiate at frequencies that interrupt transmissions in the 2.4GHz range. One option is to use 5GHz and hope the ballasts don't have strong harmonics in that range. Alternatively, you could use 802.15.4 (zigbee) in the 900MHz range, or an alternative wireless protocol that is outside of 2.4GHz. Basically, anything in the 2.4GHz range will be affected.

You should check out what some existing companies are doing, like La Crosse. I have some of their wireless temp/humidity/water detection sensors in various rooms/tents. They use RF from the sensor in the room to communicate to a hub which sits in my wiring closet, the hub connects to a router (or switch in my case) to the internet via Ethernet. RF is probably more reliable in these environments.

@GroErr yeah good call it looks like they are using 433MHz and 900Mhz ISM bands for their sensor products. Those would be well out of the affected range.

Cheers guys and thanks!