Solar Outages (Internet+Cable)

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Each spring and fall, cable companies and other video providers experience a technical phenomenon called ?solar outages? or "sun outages." For a period of about two weeks, the sun causes solar interference to all geostationary satellite signals. As the sun's path across the sky gets lower each day, there are times when it is in a direct line behind a communication satellite that is sending TV network signals to a receiving satellite dish here on earth. When this occurs the interference from the sun overrides the signals from the satellite, and a sun outage occurs.

Sun outages occur in late February and early March and again late September-early October and can last as long as 15 minutes a day and take place over a period of 15 days. At first, the outage is minimal, and gradually worsens to the point of total outage. Once it reaches its peak, the interference will gradually decrease, becoming less noticeable each day after. Some channels will experience pixilation or "freeze frames" in the picture before and after the peak times.

Unfortunately, this is a naturally occurring phenomenon. As the sun outage passes naturally, your television signals will be restored. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Just got that message from my internet/cable provider.

My internet and TV just went out for about 10-15 minutes or so. I went to the website to make sure all my bills were in order, and got that message one the front page.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of this.