Solar Flares Interrupt TV Signal for next two weeks
March 3, 2022
March 3, 2022
It’s that time of year for sun outages they started on Monday and will
continue for two weeks. Different satellites are effected throughout the
day. The first satellite is effected around 10 and the last one is
4:00pm. Outages last from 5 to 20 minutes. If a channel is tiling or out
wait 20 minutes and if it start working then it was a sun outage.
Randy
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Twice a year, you may experience some degree of television interference due to “sun outages.” Such outages are caused by a phenomenon called a “solar satellite interference.” These brief outages occur when the sun is in a direct line behind a satellite transmitting cable signals.
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Sun Outages
Spring is nearly here, and with it comes warmer weather, more daylight, and…TV signal interruptions?
Yes, as the sun gently nudges winter out of the way until next year, it will cause brief, unavoidable TV service outage. These sun outages are expected to last approximately 8 minutes per channel.
What is a Sun Outage?
Twice each year, TV customers may experience some degree of television interference due to sun outages, which are caused by a phenomenon known as “solar satellite interference.” These brief outages occur when the sun passes directly behind the satellites that transmit cable signals for any provider, not just Blue Ridge. When the sun is aligned with a transmitting satellite, solar flares and radiation emitted by the sun disrupts the satellite’s signal and causes a brief signal outage.
Unlike satellite TV customers, whose service can be disrupted unpredictably throughout the year by rain, snow, or other inclement weather, cable TV customers only face these sun outages for brief, predictable periods during spring and autumn.
What To Expect During A Sun Outage
During the sun outage, customers may experience a pixelated picture, picture freezes, or audio distortions for a brief period of time. Fortunately, sun outages don’t impact internet or phone service.
You can still watch TV recordings stored in your TiVo or DVR without any trouble during sun outages. Be aware, however, that programs being recorded during sun outages will likely be affected.
When your TV service is disrupted on these days and during this time, you’re likely experiencing a sun outage. You don’t have to do anything to restore your service but wait a few minutes for the event to end.