Sun Outage Period Beginning

[lfmusiclover]

It just occurred to me that we are entering a (roughly) week long period where the sun may cause interference with TWC and the local forecast. This interference is known as a sun outage. These sun outages occur in a roughly week long period at the beginning of both fall and summer. They do not affect TWC exclusively. Any TV signal may be affected. There really is no remedy either, as the sun's radio waves are simply far stronger than any man made wave. For more about these outages, check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_outage

So you know what this means: its time to be ready to record TWC in the event an outage occurs! If you capture any outage, please be sure to share with us!

[wxmancanada]

They wont last a "week long period" they will happen for a few days for about 15 minutes each day... In my experience, with dishes 31" and bigger, the outage will only last for a peak of about 6 minutes (Cable headends use 6ft + dishes so they will be out for about that time) while DTH users such as Dish Network / DTV can expect a full 15 min.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, we experience temporary service outages because of the path of the sun. We call it sun transit. It’s when the sun passes directly behind our satellites and interferes with the signals.

These service outages are minor. The worst case is about 15 minutes a day for about 10 days. Often it only lasts three days. Sun transit can also interfere with transmission of various channels because other satellites, used to broadcast these signals, are also affected by sun transit.

[lfmusiclover]

They wont last a "week long period" they will happen for a few days for about 15 minutes each day... In my experience, with dishes 31" and bigger, the outage will only last for a peak of about 6 minutes (Cable headends use 6ft + dishes so they will be out for about that time) while DTH users such as Dish Network / DTV can expect a full 15 min.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, we experience temporary service outages because of the path of the sun. We call it sun transit. It’s when the sun passes directly behind our satellites and interferes with the signals.

These service outages are minor. The worst case is about 15 minutes a day for about 10 days. Often it only lasts three days. Sun transit can also interfere with transmission of various channels because other satellites, used to broadcast these signals, are also affected by sun transit.

I actually shortchanged the time period. The time frame is more like a month, according tho the folks at TWC. They cited September 25th-October 19th. Though when any one person experiences one depends on their geographic location.

[Mike M]

The Weatherscan @ Camden, NJ was freezing a few times around 5PM this afternoon. Could this be symptoms of a sun outage?

[beanboy89]

Here's a nice little site that I found that can calculate when a location will experience a sun outage:

http://www.satellite-calculations.com/SUNcalc/SUNcalc.htm

Just select the satellite (TWC is on AMC 10 or AMC 11), choose a location, then click calculate.

Mike, that was likely not a sun outage. Here are the results from Philadelphia on AMC 10:

Predicted Outage| Start    | End           | Duration| Start       | End
Date                  | UTC      | UTC          |             | PC Local| PC Local
mm/dd/yyyy      |hh:mm:ss| hh:mm:ss|mm:ss   | hh:mm:ss| hh:mm:ss 
--------------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|------------
10/03/2008       | 21:11:55 | 21:14:15 | 02:20    | 17:11:55 | 17:14:15
10/04/2008       | 21:08:37 | 21:16:57 | 08:20    | 17:08:37 | 17:16:57
10/05/2008       | 21:07:08 | 21:17:53 | 10:45    | 17:07:08 | 17:17:53
10/06/2008       | 21:06:14 | 21:18:09 | 11:55    | 17:06:14 | 17:18:09
10/07/2008       | 21:05:49 | 21:17:59 | 12:10    | 17:05:49 | 17:17:59
10/08/2008       | 21:05:48 | 21:17:28 | 11:40    | 17:05:48 | 17:17:28
10/09/2008       | 21:06:07 | 21:16:32 | 10:25    | 17:06:07 | 17:16:32
10/10/2008       | 21:07:11 | 21:15:01 | 07:50    | 17:07:11 | 17:15:01

[lfmusiclover]

The Weatherscan @ Camden, NJ was freezing a few times around 5PM this afternoon. Could this be symptoms of a sun outage?

Chances are, yes. 

[Mike M]

Interesting. I better keep my eyes peeled during those times. These would make interesting clips if anything unusual occurs.

As for the AMC satellites, remember that IntelliStars use the AMC-10 satellite, whereas the legacy Stars use the AMC-11.

[lfmusiclover]

Yep that would be interesting. And like I said, if anyone catches anything, please do share. They'll make interesting additions to the site. 

[wxmancanada]

AMC 10 and AMC 11 are correct, while TWC HD is on both AMC 4 and AMC 6.

[jtmal0723]

The Weatherscan @ Camden, NJ was freezing a few times around 5PM this afternoon. Could this be symptoms of a sun outage?

I'm surprised you're getting the one in Camden... my TWC is pulling one from Woodbury/Clayton, NJ for some reason for the past week... It's making me angry because those cities are too far from me for there to be any accuracy 

[Mike M]

What about Weatherscan? Are you still getting the Camden one, or a different one? I'm still seeing the Camden Weatherscan here in Marlton, like how it's always been, and I live farther from Camden than you do.

[jtmal0723]

What about Weatherscan? Are you still getting the Camden one, or a different one? I'm still seeing the Camden Weatherscan here in Marlton, like how it's always been, and I live farther from Camden than you do.

I do get the Camden one for Weatherscan.

[wxmancanada]

Clearly I have too much time on my hands.

[Mike M]

[lfmusiclover]

That's hilarious.