When you think of the sun, you probably imagine its warm glow and maybe even catching a tan. But did you know the sun can also interfere with your TV signal? It’s due to an unusual phenomenon called Solar Satellite Interference.

Solar Satellite Interference, also known as a “sun outage” or “sunspot,” happens when the sun’s solar activity disrupts satellite signals. It’s like a form of eclipse, but instead of a large object blocking the sun, it’s the sun’s radiation overwhelming the satellite’s signal. These satellites, which transmit TV programs, can be temporarily knocked offline when the sun passes directly behind them, allowing solar radiation to interfere with their ability to send signals back to Earth. During this time, affected TV channels are temporarily interrupted until the sun and satellite no longer align.

What are sunspots? Sunspots refer to solar activity that interferes with signal transmissions between satellites and Earth, often affecting television broadcasts.

But I use fiber, not satellite! Even though your TV service might come through fiber, many TV channels are broadcasted across the country by satellite. When solar interference happens, the disruption originates from the satellite, affecting the content before it reaches your fiber network.

Can this be fixed? Unfortunately, there’s no solution to prevent solar satellite interference—it’s a natural event caused by the sun’s position in the sky.

How long does it last? This interference typically occurs in the mid to late afternoon and can last anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes per channel. Not all channels are affected simultaneously, and the issue resolves itself once the sun and satellite are no longer aligned.

When does this happen? Solar interference usually occurs around the equinoxes, during late summer and early fall (September and October) and late winter to early spring (February and March). In the northern hemisphere, outages happen before the March equinox and after the September equinox, while in the southern hemisphere, they occur after the March equinox and before the September equinox.

In summary, a sun outage is a temporary interruption of geostationary satellite signals caused by solar radiation overwhelming the satellite’s ability to transmit. Although it’s a rare and brief event, it’s something to keep in mind when your TV signal is suddenly disrupted!