Why Your TV Signal May Drop
A sun outage, also known as solar satellite interference, is a natural phenomenon that can temporarily disrupt satellite-based TV signals. It occurs twice a year, during the spring and fall, when the sun is in a direct line with a satellite and a receiving dish on Earth.
| Date | Start Time (Local) | Duration (hh:mm) | End Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-Sept-25 | 15:04 | 0:07 | 15:11 |
| 10-Sept-25 | 15:00 | 0:13 | 15:13 |
| 11-Sept-25 | 14:58 | 0:17 | 15:15 |
| 12-Sept-25 | 14:57 | 0:20 | 15:17 |
| 13-Sept-25 | 14:55 | 0:22 | 15:17 |
| 14-Sept-25 | 14:54 | 0:23 | 15:17 |
| 15-Sept-25 | 14:53 | 0:24 | 15:17 |
| 16-Sept-25 | 14:53 | 0:24 | 15:17 |
| 17-Sept-25 | 14:52 | 0:24 | 15:16 |
| 18-Sept-25 | 14:52 | 0:24 | 15:16 |
| 19-Sept-25 | 14:52 | 0:23 | 15:15 |
| 20-Sept-25 | 14:53 | 0:22 | 15:15 |
| 21-Sept-25 | 14:53 | 0:20 | 15:13 |
| 22-Sept-25 | 14:54 | 0:17 | 15:11 |
| 23-Sept-25 | 14:55 | 0:14 | 15:09 |
| 24-Sept-25 | 14:58 | 0:08 | 15:06 |
More About Sun Outage
1. How do sun outages affect my TV?
When the sun aligns with a satellite, the solar radiation acts as a powerful source of background noise that can overwhelm the satellite's signal. This can cause a range of visual and audio issues, including:
Pixilation or "sparkles" in the picture
Picture freezing or tiling
Audio distortion
Temporary loss of a channel or groups of channels
2. When do sun outages occur?
For those in the Sothern Hemisphere, sun outages typically happen in March and September/early October. The specific timing varies by location and satellite. The interference lasts for a few minutes each day and typically occurs during daylight hours.
3. How long does a sun outage last?
The duration of the signal disruption for any single channel is usually brief, lasting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. The outages are most pronounced at the peak of the event and are less severe on the days leading up to and following it. The entire period of potential solar interference usually lasts about a week or two weeks each season.
The estimated timing and duration of impacts to service is below for Samoa.
4. Can a sun outage damage my TV?
No. Sun outages do not cause any physical damage to your TV or satellite equipment. It is a temporary interruption of the signal that resolves on its own once the sun and satellite are no longer in alignment.
5. What should I do during a sun outage?
The best course of action is to be patient and simply wait for the event to pass.
Do not reboot equipment: Restarting your TV box or other devices will not fix the issue, as the problem is with the satellite signal, not your home equipment.
Wait for it to pass: The signal will return to normal once the sun's position changes.
6. Can sun outages be prevented?
No, sun outages cannot be prevented by end-users or TV providers, as they are caused by the natural alignment of the sun, Earth, and satellites. The event is a predictable, astronomical phenomenon. Some providers mitigate the effect by using backup antennas in different geographical locations, but brief interruptions are still common.
1. How do sun outages affect my TV?
When the sun aligns with a satellite, the solar radiation acts as a powerful source of background noise that can overwhelm the satellite's signal. This can cause a range of visual and audio issues, including:
Pixilation or "sparkles" in the picture
Picture freezing or tiling
Audio distortion
Temporary loss of a channel or groups of channels
2. When do sun outages occur?
For those in the Sothern Hemisphere, sun outages typically happen in March and September/early October. The specific timing varies by location and satellite. The interference lasts for a few minutes each day and typically occurs during daylight hours.
3. How long does a sun outage last?
The duration of the signal disruption for any single channel is usually brief, lasting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. The outages are most pronounced at the peak of the event and are less severe on the days leading up to and following it. The entire period of potential solar interference usually lasts about a week or two weeks each season.
The estimated timing and duration of impacts to service is below for Samoa.
4. Can a sun outage damage my TV?
No. Sun outages do not cause any physical damage to your TV or satellite equipment. It is a temporary interruption of the signal that resolves on its own once the sun and satellite are no longer in alignment.
5. What should I do during a sun outage?
The best course of action is to be patient and simply wait for the event to pass.
Do not reboot equipment: Restarting your TV box or other devices will not fix the issue, as the problem is with the satellite signal, not your home equipment.
Wait for it to pass: The signal will return to normal once the sun's position changes.
6. Can sun outages be prevented?
No, sun outages cannot be prevented by end-users or TV providers, as they are caused by the natural alignment of the sun, Earth, and satellites. The event is a predictable, astronomical phenomenon. Some providers mitigate the effect by using backup antennas in different geographical locations, but brief interruptions are still common.