Howdy, anybody had any issues with wireless connections and Ballast?

bobhoop · May 30, 2012

Im shopping for a new light set up and I've read different opinions about interference with magnetic and digitial Ballest. My grow room is in the center of a townhouse and I was wondering if it would cause RF interference with 3 internet Netflix wireless TVs upstairs. Thanks for you imput.

Coho · May 30, 2012

No issues with mine. Screws up certain AM reception on a radio near it. digital. My magnetic does nothing.

bobhoop · May 31, 2012

Coho said:
No issues with mine. Screws up certain AM reception on a radio near it. digital. My magnetic does nothing.

So..howdy Coho...what Ballest and bulb and reflector setup would you recommed? Im going to replace my t5 with a little more heavy hitter, my new grow area can be 3x3 or 4x4 . I dont see any use for any thing bigger because its just for personal use, and im just stocking up for future retirement use. Thanks for you imput..I just figured if you have had both ballest which one you liked best. :-P

jujubee · May 31, 2012

My digital ballasts makes my powerline ethernet stuff not work, but wireless is fine. The powerline ethernet stuff works fine with my magnetic ballasts.

I have had good results with a 600w in a 4x4 tent.

Coho · May 31, 2012

I will go with reliable magnetics from now on. I got Virtual Sun 600 and 400 with no issue. Switchable with HPS and MH, hangers, cheap timer, hood, cooltubes. Was like $230. Get a 600 for 4x4. More efficent and like $20 more. Get a good centifugal fan. 6" tube. Fast shipper. I use their tent for veg and a Secret Jardin for flower.

bobhoop · May 31, 2012

Hmmm...I was wanting to go'"state of the art" but I've I read the same thing a couple of times about Cable tv interference, wireless, and ethernet problems with dig. Read one story where the cable tv people came out with some kind of gauge to find out why the neighbors cable wouldn't work for most of the day. I may just go with old school magnetics if this is the case. I'll have to check out Virtual Sun......thanks man :-P

missnu · May 31, 2012

For real I have a magnetic ballast sitting not 2 feet from out cable modem and router with no interference at all...it is also right behind our television, and no problems with any remotes or anything...

missnu · May 31, 2012

I have a digital ballast on the other side of all the same equipment..no interference from either one...

On another note speaking of interference...my son had this neat little thing that was a remote control car and there were pictures you could draw and the car would move as you drew...so kids love it...anyway he couldn't play with it near any of the televisions in the house because it would change the channel or volume depending on how he colored...so if you saw the little car move you knew you had to fix the TV...lol

missnu · May 31, 2012

So all this stuff is all packed together...and it is all together right there...my hubby is a cable tech, so he would know, and he tells me where to put things....it is his job to fix things like that...so whoever told you such a thing was a liar...

missnu · May 31, 2012

Uhhh...all we use is wireless internet...so perhaps that is why no interference...wait though, the control box for our dog's underground fence is also in the same area, and nothing interferes with it...I just haven't seen any interference and I have a huge concentration of other electronics very close to both a digi and magnetic ballast...

brotherjericho · May 31, 2012

Most of the better digitals have worked out the RF interference issue, so don't go cheap and you should be OK

.

bobhoop · May 31, 2012

lol.......pleaze take care of the kids toys....the car sounds really kool......so your saying no problem with either ballest? :-P

jpockets420 · Jun 1, 2012

I have an htg remote electronic ballast. It makes my surround sound buzz sometimes, I can barely get a cell phone signal near my garden and my digital cable breaks up sometimes. I also get random wireless internet disconnects that I have no proof of it being from the ballast, but after some head scratching from the techs I came to the conclusion that it had to be the the ballast. I have heard in the past that digital ballasts can interfere with cable signals in and around your area and have heard techs can pinpoint where the disturbance originates from. Whether this is true or not..I dunno. Just something I heard from another grower. I guess it all depends how the ballast is built. Mine is cheap so I get problems sometimes. I also live in a small apartment and everything is within 20 feet of the garden.

miztaj · Dec 3, 2012

Yes they can interfere with cable and internet. I recently switched carriers and now have that exact problem with a lumatek digital ballast. Gonna try and shield it, if all else fails going to buy a magnetic.

Sir.Ganga · Dec 3, 2012

Im running 14 Lumitex digital ballasts right under my enertainment set up with no issues at all. Buy a brand name and don't cheap out and you will be fine using digitals. My modem is on the same wall 2 feet away from the ballasts.

Good Luck

miztaj · Dec 3, 2012

Well ive had no problems with it until I switched isp providers. Old company only used shielded coax, new company uses unshielded cat5 cable.
I seem to get more interference from the output cord and big ass magnum hood raher than the ballast itself. Lumatek claims its shielded. An electrician friend of mine says the output cord and hood seems to be acting as an antenna for the ballast. Gonna give lumatek a call. Maybe they'll honor what they print.

racerboy71 · Dec 3, 2012

i've been running a digital ballast for a few years now and never have any issues at all.. cable's fine, wifi is great, etc, etc..

fyi, i run a galaxy brand ballast, 400 watter..

Krondizzel · Dec 3, 2012

I have 2 400w digital ballasts and 2 1000w magnetics.

No issues with WiFi, cable, phone, other circuits, etc.

The only time I ever had a WiFi problem... Was right before I died on the video game I was playing :mrgreen:

racerboy71 · Dec 3, 2012

Krondizzel said:
I have 2 400w digital ballasts and 2 1000w magnetics.

No issues with WiFi, cable, phone, other circuits, etc.

what brand digi's are you running kron?

Krondizzel · Dec 3, 2012

You know... I'm not sure. I picked up 2 ballasts, 2 MH bulbs, 2 HPS bulbs, and 2 hoods for 200$. Got em off Ebay. It's a dimmable one, but I wont be dimming a 400 lol

Howdy, anybody had any issues with wireless connections and Ballast?

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